As physics has progressed, its most fundamental theories have become more distant from everyday experience posing challenges for understanding, notably with quantum mechanics. This volume contains twenty-five essays written to address such challenges. The essays address issues in quantum mechanics, quantum cosmology and physics in general. Examples include: How do we apply quantum mechanics to the whole universe when all observers are inside? What do we mean by past, present, and future in a four-dimensional universe? What is the origin of classical predictability in a quantum universe? Could physics predict non-computable numbers? Short personal recollections of Murray Gell-Mann and Stephen Hawking are included.The essays vary in length, style, and level but should be accessible to most physicists.
As physics has progressed, its most fundamental theories have become more distant from everyday experience posing challenges for understanding, notably with quantum mechanics. This volume contains twenty-five essays written to address such challenges. The essays address issues in quantum mechanics, quantum cosmology and physics in general. Examples include: How do we apply quantum mechanics to the whole universe when all observers are inside? What do we mean by past, present, and future in a four-dimensional universe? What is the origin of classical predictability in a quantum universe? Could physics predict non-computable numbers? Short personal recollections of Murray Gell-Mann and Stephen Hawking are included.The essays vary in length, style, and level but should be accessible to most physicists.
