What if I told you that science is flirting with the idea of changing the past by going back in time? No science fiction: pure quantum mechanics. A group of scientists from Cambridge University conducted an experiment that could open new horizons in the field of physics.But let's see calmly.
The dilemma of the perfect gift
I'll help you understand better what the experiment done in Cambridge consists of. Imagine having to send a gift to a friend, but receiving his wish list only the day after you have already sent it. What to do? It would be great to be able to go back in time to make a different choice: don't send any gifts until you have a list of what your friend would like.
Quantum entanglement is a phenomenon in which the fundamental properties of quantum particles are shared between two or more particles. Changing a property in one particle causes the same change in the others. The scientists of Cambridge University, driven by David Arvidsson-Shukur of the Cambridge Hitachi Laboratory, they used this principle to simulate a way of altering past events.
Back in time: the "trick" succeeds only one time out of four
You will have read it in the title: we are not talking about a time machine in the traditional sense (like the one that astrophysicist Ron Mallett he says he built). These are simulated experiments that are based on the known laws of quantum mechanics. The research, however, opens the door to new possibilities and questions. What would it mean for our understanding of the universe if we could actually change the past?
First of all, the simulation shows that the probability of success in changing events would be 25%. The researchers propose using a filter that would allow unwanted results to be discarded, thus increasing the chances of success. And then, in a certain sense it is a good thing that the success rate is not 100%: the circumstance would have thrown Einstein's theories of relativity and everything that science has built on them into chaos.
The experiment
In the experiment, the team simulated the entanglement of two quantum particles. One of these particles was then used in a separate experiment. After completing this experiment, the researchers gained new information that would influence their previous actions. At this point, they manipulated the second particle to retroactively alter the past state of the first, thus changing the outcome of the experiment. This manipulation was possible thanks to quantum entanglement, which allowed researchers to "communicate" with the past, going back in time.
And the other 75%?
Scientists are optimistic about this new perspective on how we might “fix” the past to create a better future. As he said Arvidsson-Shukur himself, “these simulations do not allow you to go back and alter your past, but allow you to create a better future by correcting yesterday's problems today.”
That sounds a little convoluted to me. Are you trying to understand something? I'll link the search here. Take it slow: ultimately it's about understanding how the past, present and future are interconnected in ways we could only imagine before. And it could have applications in various fields, from quantum computing to cryptography.
And you, what do you think? Would you be ready to take the risk, counting on only a 25% chance, to go back in time and try to change? The ball is in your court. Let me know.
