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<blockquote data-quote="EzekielRaiden" data-source="post: 8544087" data-attributes="member: 6790260">Dyscalculia would like a word.But, even barring that, I guarantee you that at absolute best only some people understand and can manipulate quantum physics. We rely on it every day (e.g. many phone touchscreens make use of electron tunneling, an inherently quantum-mechanical effect, to achieve a thinner device with no loss of function), but if you asked someone to explain why electromagnetic radiation propagates through space, the vast majority of human beings would have no idea. Even those who actually have the necessary math background often don't know. And it would be very difficult to explain to someone who doesn't already have at least a year's worth of both calculus and physics classes under their belt (preferably more)--aka, initiation into the foundational mysteries. Richard Feynman, one of the greats of modern quantum theory, explicitly said in his lecture The Character of Physical Law, &quot;On the other hand, I think I can safely say that nobody understands quantum mechanics.&quot; Our knowledge of QM has not advanced so dramatically in the decades since he said that (just under 60 years ago) to change this very much. It may be the case now that some understand it, but likely not even a majority of actual quantum physicists, and definitely not a majority of people who make use of it in their daily lives.Which is a perfectly valid stance to take (hence why I tried to cover the gamut of options above). Fortunately, I'm not seeing much in the way of &quot;wow you really missed a key response option here&quot; replies, so it seems I did at least a passable job.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="EzekielRaiden, post: 8544087, member: 6790260"] Dyscalculia would like a word. But, even barring that, I guarantee you that [I]at absolute best[/I] only some people understand and can manipulate quantum physics. We rely on it every day (e.g. many phone touchscreens make use of electron tunneling, an inherently quantum-mechanical effect, to achieve a thinner device with no loss of function), but if you asked someone to explain [I]why[/I] electromagnetic radiation propagates through space, the [I]vast[/I] majority of human beings would have no idea. Even those who actually have the necessary math background often don't know. And it would be very difficult to explain to someone who doesn't already have at least a year's worth of both calculus and physics classes under their belt (preferably more)--aka, initiation into the foundational mysteries. Richard Feynman, one of the greats of modern quantum theory, explicitly said in his lecture [I]The Character of Physical Law[/I], "On the other hand, I think I can safely say that [I]nobody[/I] understands quantum mechanics." Our knowledge of QM has not advanced so dramatically in the decades since he said that (just under 60 years ago) to change this very much. It may be the case now that [I]some[/I] understand it, but likely not even a majority of actual quantum physicists, and [I]definitely[/I] not a majority of people who make use of it in their daily lives. Which is a perfectly valid stance to take (hence why I tried to cover the gamut of options above). Fortunately, I'm not seeing much in the way of "wow you really missed a key response option here" replies, so it seems I did at least a passable job. [/QUOTE]

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