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Quanta Magazine ·For the curious

Where Does the Quantum World End and Ours Begin?

by Steven Strogatz and Janna Levin

Published 2026-09-17 15:09:33+00:00

Why doesn't a table act like the quantum waves it's made of?

0:00 / 51:57 · Narrator Vindemiatrix

Context

Quantum mechanics works flawlessly in a lab, yet its strange rules vanish completely in daily life. In an interview published on 17 September 2026, physicist Jonathan Halliwell sits down with Quanta Magazine to trace the exact boundary where a fragile microscopic state turns into a solid object, like a table or the moon. The conversation bypasses the heavy math to ask a stubborn question. Why does the universe hide its strangest mechanics from plain sight, and what happens when a scientist decides to just sit with the mystery?

Show notes

An overview of how the wave-like behavior of quantum systems transitions into the solid objects of the macroscopic world. The discussion explains the process of decoherence, showing how interactions with the environment disperse fragile quantum states without the need for a conscious observer. It also covers tests of macroscopic realism and the value of accepting multiple perspectives when facing scientific uncertainty.

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