What does it mean to be ‘quantum’? A physicist explains the basics behind Einstein’s spooky actions at a distance

Particles’ properties at the quantum level could one day enable faster computing and better cybersecurity.

By: Aldo Romero, West Virginia University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: July 15, 2026

Words: 1,627

Last Updated: 5 days, 19 hours ago

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By Aldo Romero, West Virginia University

Imagine shining a flashlight across a dark room. You can predict exactly what the light will do: travel in a straight line from one point to another. That seems obvious, because in the world we see around us, light appears to follow a single, clear path.

Quantum mechanics paints a far stranger picture.

If you zoom in to the atomic scale, light does not behave as though it follows only …

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