I'm looking for something like Feynman's explanation for how a difraction grating works only for the absorbance of a colored chemical in solution. [more inside]
posted by Kid Charlemagne on Nov 4, 2009 - 2 answers

Can the Universe hold all of mathematics? [more inside]
posted by DU on Jun 23, 2009 - 107 answers

I'm reading Quantum: a Guide for the Perplexed and I'm enjoying the graphics, history and simplification of the math and science used to explain quantum mechanics. But I'm reasonably well versed in math and science - I took a year of college physics, linear algebra, and diff eq about ten years ago. Is there any chance of me learning to understand the equations and papers of Planck and Einstein that are the basis of QM? Are there any good books that could help walk someone like me through this stuff? Or am I stuck as a layperson unless I earn a degree in math or physics?
posted by Grundlebug on May 30, 2009 - 14 answers

How are the attributes of atomic and subatomic particles measured? [more inside]
posted by Citizen Premier on Sep 11, 2008 - 5 answers

On what grounds does one draw the line between quantum physics/mechanics and pseudoscientific claims about the powers of consciousness? [more inside]
posted by Nattie on Mar 29, 2008 - 37 answers

Have humans' evil brains yet conceived of ways to weaponize the ideas and implications relating to Quantum Mechanics? [more inside]
posted by basicchannel on Nov 16, 2006 - 18 answers

This site: http://www.skepticreport.com/print/quantum-p.htm ...suggests that Feynman's 'sum over all histories' approach to Quantum Electro-Dynamics has sidestepped the well known 'observer problem' in quantum mechanics (exemplified by the Wigner's Friend paradox). Is this true? [more inside]
posted by unSane on Dec 5, 2005 - 10 answers