Hmmmmmm. 'Schrodinger's Credit Card' might've been a bit of an oblique reference for all 4 of you readers out there, except Cousin Brant.

So, here's a brief explan. Of particular importance (get it? get it?!) is the second paragraph.

Schrodinger's cat - a whatis definition Schrodinger's cat

Schrodinger's cat is a famous illustration of the principle in quantum theory of superposition, proposed by Erwin Schrodinger in 1935. Schrodinger's cat serves to demonstrate the apparent conflict between what quantum theory tells us is true about the nature and behavior of matter on the microscopic level and what we observe to be true about the nature and behavior of matter on the macroscopic level.

First, we have a living cat and place it in a thick lead box. At this stage, there is no question that the cat is alive. We then throw in a vial of cyanide and seal the box. We do not know if the cat is alive or if it has broken the cyanide capsule and died. Since we do not know, the cat is both dead and alive, according to quantum law, in a superposition of states. It is only when we break open the box and learn the condition of the cat that the superposition is lost, and the cat becomes one or the other (dead or alive).

We know that superposition actually occurs at the subatomic level, because there are observable effects of interference, in which a single particle is demonstrated to be in multiple locations simultaneously. What that fact implies about the nature of reality on the observable level (cats, for example, as opposed to electrons) is one of the stickiest areas of quantum physics. Schrodinger himself said, later in life, that he wished he had never met that cat.


later in that page, it has a link to well, here: For a lighter look, see "Schrodinger's Cat: Fun Quantum Physics Experiments You Can Do In Your Spare Time!"

Um, anyone know where I could purchase some cyanide?

Shit, I hope none of you are in the TIPS program.