Back to Show
PBS Space Time
Does Consciousness Influence Quantum Mechanics?
Season 6
Episode 5
It’s not surprising that the profound weirdness of the quantum world has inspired some outlandish explanations. One particularly pervasive notion is the idea that consciousness can directly influence quantum systems - and so influence reality. Today we’re going to see where this idea comes from, and whether quantum theory really supports it.
Support Provided By
Season

17:23
How is it possible to tell if a space rock will one day collide with the Earth?

15:58
Did you know that many of us have up to 4% neanderthal DNA?

16:35
What if the Big Bang was just an endless cycle?

19:39
Why are billions suddenly being pumped into fusion startups?

16:36
The universe should've collapsed after the Big Bang, but a light Higgs boson let us exist.

14:30
Maybe dark energy doesn't exist?

18:32
Dark matter has eluded us for many decades but we may be able to discover more now.

15:35
What do you get if you combine something that’s infinitely massive and negative infinitely massive?

13:39
What does an electron really look like?

16:35
Is there a limit to how much energy you can cram into, or pull out of one patch of space?

17:19
I’d like to invite you to an even higher level of nerdom!

11:43
Gravitational tsunamis exist and we’re on the verge of being able to detect them.