Explainer 2024-01-12
What quantum mechanics actually says (and doesn't say)
A careful explainer on superposition, measurement, and the role of the observer.
Read article → Flagship Hub
Quantum ↔ Cosmic
Reality spans scales that behave very differently—from quantum measurement to cosmic structure. This hub links the physics of fundamentals with the tools we use to model them: simulation, information, and "virtual" representations that shape what we can predict and build.
From quanta to galaxies—mapping reality across scales
The Quantum
Subatomic particles, wave functions, and the probabilistic foundations of matter.
The Virtual
Models, simulations, and information representations that shape our predictions.
The Cosmic
Galaxies, spacetime curvature, and the largest structures in the universe.
Hub Sections
Quantum Foundations
- Measurement and observation
- Uncertainty and probability
- Entanglement and non-locality
- Quantum information as a lens
- Interpretations and interpretations
Matter & Materials
- Condensed matter intuition
- Emergence and phases
- Extreme conditions physics
- Topological phenomena
- Many-body quantum systems
Space-Time & Gravity
- General relativity basics
- Black holes and horizons
- Gravitational waves
- Curved spacetime
- Tests of gravity
Cosmology
- Cosmic microwave background
- Structure formation
- Dark matter as evidence
- Dark energy as puzzle
- The expanding universe
Computation & Simulation
- Numerical modeling methods
- Error bars in simulations
- What "predictive" means
- Quantum simulation
- Limits of computation
Frontiers
- Competing theories
- New instruments coming
- What experiments might decide
- Open questions
- Speculation vs evidence
How We Approach This Hub
Virtual as Representation
We treat models, simulations, and digital twins as tools for inference and prediction. Understanding their limits—what they can and cannot tell us—is essential for scientific reasoning.
Real as Constraint
Observations and experiments force us to accept conclusions that may contradict intuition. We separate what the evidence compels from what remains genuinely uncertain.
Recent Articles
View All Evidence Brief 2024-01-09
Black holes: what we actually know
Observational evidence, theoretical expectations, and persistent mysteries.
Read article → Methods 2024-01-06
Simulating the universe: promises and limits
How computational models work, what they predict, and where they break down.
Read article → Analysis 2024-01-03
Dark matter and dark energy: the evidence
What observations require these concepts, and what alternatives exist.
Read article →Evidence and Speculation
Physics across scales can feel like science fiction. We use "what is supported vs. speculative" labeling heavily in this hub. Quantum mechanics and cosmology both contain genuinely weird features—but we distinguish firmly established physics from theoretical extrapolations that may or may not be true.
Explore the other flagship hub
If you're interested in physics and the fundamental, you may also find our AI × Biology hub compelling—where computational methods are reshaping biological discovery.
Visit AI × Biology