Portals to a New Reality - by Vlatko Vedral (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

An Oxford physicist "seeks to shatter complacency" (David Deutsch) in modern physics and show why five revolutionary experiments in quantum physics promise to open the gates separating us from a true understanding of the universe

For the last century, physics has been treading along the paths set by the same two theories--quantum theory and general relativity--and, let's face it, it's getting pretty boring. Most scientists are simply chasing decimal points in laboratories, unable to explore the theories at large scales, where serious discrepancies could emerge.

The situation is a lot like the one physics was in in 1890, right before Planck, Einstein, and Bohr blew the roof off Newtonian physics. As Vlatko Vedral argues in Portals to a New Reality, that means we are on the brink of a revolution. Vedral shows how quantum information theory has opened radically new avenues for experiments that could upend physics. They can sound very strange--one essentially involves entangling a human with Schrödinger's cat--but they lay bare elements of our theories that are particularly problematic, such as the widespread belief that nothing truly exists unless it is observed.

At present these experiments are thought experiments, albeit fascinating ones. But nothing, save inertia and a lack of ambition, stands in our way. Now is the time to rewrite the understanding of the universe.

Review Quotes

"Quantum mechanics is the most successful scientific theory in history, yet there is much unfinished business. For a start, it is hard to merge with our best theory of gravitation. Worse, quantum mechanics seems to make no sense when describing 'reality.' I can think of no better person to reconceptualize physics through a quantum lens than Vlatko Vedral. His profound insights and grasp of technical subtleties make him pre-eminent among scientists now propelling quantum mechanics into its second century."--Paul Davies, author of The Mind of God

"This is a typically fearless contribution from Vlatko Vedral: a lucid, compellingly argued collection of bold ideas that defy the standard ways of thinking. At a time when the field feels like it is stuck for ideas, Portals to A New Reality opens the door on what could prove an exciting future for fundamental physics."--Michael Brooks, author of The Art of More

"In Portals to a New Reality, Vlatko Vedral opens five provocative gateways to the future of physics. With clarity and wit, he challenges the limits of conventional thinking, arguing that the next great revolution won't come from ever-larger colliders or far-flung speculation, but from quantum information theory itself. From entangled cats to quantum gravity and the nature of time, Vedral explores how understanding quantum information could unify physics--and transform our view of life, the universe, and everything. A bold manifesto for those who believe real progress begins with asking better questions."--Artur Ekert, Mathematical Institute, Oxford University

"Vlatko Vedral is a revolutionary in the best sense: where others see stagnation and impasse, he sees signposts - or "portals", as he calls them - to a future in which our very conception of reality will be overturned. In this stimulating and provocative book, Vedral seeks to shatter complacency by identifying five portals to a radically new understanding of reality."--David Deutsch, author of The Beginning of Infinity

"No, not magic mushrooms; something far more reliable and compelling: a lucid, unflinching, and undeflected commitment to the pursuit of a quantum theory of reality."--Peter Atkins, Oxford University

About the Author

Vlatko Vedral is a professor of physics at the University of Oxford, known for both his theoretical work and experimental collaborations on quantum information and entanglement. He is also the author of DecodingReality, as well as several textbooks on quantum physics and general relativity. He lives in Oxford, UK.