[Applause] 400 years ago most of the people
400 years ago most of the people
400 years ago most of the people believed that the earth was carefully
believed that the earth was carefully
believed that the earth was carefully placed at the center of the universe and
placed at the center of the universe and
placed at the center of the universe and that everything else the heavens were
that everything else the heavens were
that everything else the heavens were orbiting around us somehow this
orbiting around us somehow this
orbiting around us somehow this difference led people to believe that
difference led people to believe that
difference led people to believe that the earth and the sky were completely
the earth and the sky were completely
the earth and the sky were completely different things
different things
different things but you know one day Galileo Galilei he
but you know one day Galileo Galilei he
but you know one day Galileo Galilei he took his new telescope he did out there
took his new telescope he did out there
took his new telescope he did out there did new observations about the night sky
did new observations about the night sky
did new observations about the night sky and what he saw is that these
and what he saw is that these
and what he saw is that these observations agreed very well with
observations agreed very well with
observations agreed very well with mathematical models of copper-nickel
mathematical models of copper-nickel
mathematical models of copper-nickel which basically said that we were not at
which basically said that we were not at
which basically said that we were not at the center of the universe but rather
the center of the universe but rather
the center of the universe but rather that we were orbiting around the Sun as
that we were orbiting around the Sun as
that we were orbiting around the Sun as well as everything else out there so it
well as everything else out there so it
well as everything else out there so it turned out that actually we were not
turned out that actually we were not
turned out that actually we were not that special after all and why am I
that special after all and why am I
that special after all and why am I telling you this because actually over
telling you this because actually over
telling you this because actually over the last hundred years we’ve been living
the last hundred years we’ve been living
the last hundred years we’ve been living a very similar situation for thousands
a very similar situation for thousands
a very similar situation for thousands of years most of the people believed
of years most of the people believed
of years most of the people believed that the motion that the behavior of
that the motion that the behavior of
that the motion that the behavior of atoms of objects of everything that is
atoms of objects of everything that is
atoms of objects of everything that is inner matter was behaving according to
inner matter was behaving according to
inner matter was behaving according to deterministic rules basically that there
deterministic rules basically that there
deterministic rules basically that there is no randomness no unpredictability in
is no randomness no unpredictability in
is no randomness no unpredictability in these atoms in these objects so we think
these atoms in these objects so we think
these atoms in these objects so we think about baseball right we take the ball we
about baseball right we take the ball we
about baseball right we take the ball we throw it in that direction we expect the
throw it in that direction we expect the
throw it in that direction we expect the ball is going to go out there right we
ball is going to go out there right we
ball is going to go out there right we do not expect that the ball is going to
do not expect that the ball is going to
do not expect that the ball is going to start doing random stuff in there but
start doing random stuff in there but
start doing random stuff in there but for some reason that escapes our
for some reason that escapes our
for some reason that escapes our understanding these deterministic rules
understanding these deterministic rules
understanding these deterministic rules didn’t seem to apply to us somehow we
didn’t seem to apply to us somehow we
didn’t seem to apply to us somehow we can make decisions we can behave in
can make decisions we can behave in
can make decisions we can behave in unpredictable ways we have desires and
unpredictable ways we have desires and
unpredictable ways we have desires and this led a lot of people to believe that
this led a lot of people to believe that
this led a lot of people to believe that ourselves and matter are very different
ourselves and matter are very different
ourselves and matter are very different things
things
things even though we are made of matter of
even though we are made of matter of
even though we are made of matter of course but you know observations that
course but you know observations that
course but you know observations that have been done over the last decades
have been done over the last decades
have been done over the last decades tell us that actually these atoms seems
tell us that actually these atoms seems
tell us that actually these atoms seems to be a bit naughty and that every time
to be a bit naughty and that every time
to be a bit naughty and that every time that we go out there and we
that we go out there and we
that we go out there and we at them they seem to be improvising they
at them they seem to be improvising they
at them they seem to be improvising they seem to be showing every time a
seem to be showing every time a
seem to be showing every time a different face
different face
different face they are very unpredictable over the
they are very unpredictable over the
they are very unpredictable over the last five years I’ve been working on
last five years I’ve been working on
last five years I’ve been working on developing quantum technologies for
developing quantum technologies for
developing quantum technologies for cybersecurity and computation but last
cybersecurity and computation but last
cybersecurity and computation but last year on November 30th of 2016
year on November 30th of 2016
year on November 30th of 2016 together with colleagues from more than
together with colleagues from more than
together with colleagues from more than 15 universities around the world we
15 universities around the world we
15 universities around the world we wanted to do a new experiment to prove
wanted to do a new experiment to prove
wanted to do a new experiment to prove whether or not atoms could improvise and
whether or not atoms could improvise and
whether or not atoms could improvise and for doing these experiments we needed
for doing these experiments we needed
for doing these experiments we needed something very very very special what
something very very very special what
something very very very special what very special for a physics experiment is
very special for a physics experiment is
very special for a physics experiment is we needed people we needed thousands of
we needed people we needed thousands of
we needed people we needed thousands of people and why we needed them to make
people and why we needed them to make
people and why we needed them to make choices so we built this videogame and
choices so we built this videogame and
choices so we built this videogame and then we asked people to log in and then
then we asked people to log in and then
then we asked people to log in and then we were asking them to make choices
we were asking them to make choices
we were asking them to make choices between zeros and ones as fast as they
between zeros and ones as fast as they
between zeros and ones as fast as they could we were taking all these choices
could we were taking all these choices
could we were taking all these choices then and we were sending them to 13
then and we were sending them to 13
then and we were sending them to 13 experiments that were prepared all over
experiments that were prepared all over
experiments that were prepared all over the world this project was called the
the world this project was called the
the world this project was called the big Bell test and this is the story that
big Bell test and this is the story that
big Bell test and this is the story that I want to share with all of you today
I want to share with all of you today
I want to share with all of you today the story on how thousands of people and
the story on how thousands of people and
the story on how thousands of people and their choices helped us testing the laws
their choices helped us testing the laws
their choices helped us testing the laws of physics but let me start by going
of physics but let me start by going
of physics but let me start by going first at the beginning of the 20th
first at the beginning of the 20th
first at the beginning of the 20th century
century
century when most of these ideas started in
when most of these ideas started in
when most of these ideas started in those days a new theory emerged and
those days a new theory emerged and
those days a new theory emerged and basically for the first time in physics
basically for the first time in physics
basically for the first time in physics it was telling us that atoms could
it was telling us that atoms could
it was telling us that atoms could improvise that atoms had
improvise that atoms had
improvise that atoms had unpredictability and this theory was
unpredictability and this theory was
unpredictability and this theory was quantum mechanics which basically
quantum mechanics which basically
quantum mechanics which basically describes everything happening in the
describes everything happening in the
describes everything happening in the scale of atoms and photons and this tiny
scale of atoms and photons and this tiny
scale of atoms and photons and this tiny world you know the idea that quantum
world you know the idea that quantum
world you know the idea that quantum mechanics was forcing us to give up the
mechanics was forcing us to give up the
mechanics was forcing us to give up the idea of the Turman ISM that atoms were
idea of the Turman ISM that atoms were
idea of the Turman ISM that atoms were had to follow a strict rules bothered a
had to follow a strict rules bothered a
had to follow a strict rules bothered a lot of people and fascinating discussion
lot of people and fascinating discussion
lot of people and fascinating discussion emerged in the physics community of
emerged in the physics community of
emerged in the physics community of these days for instance it’s very famous
these days for instance it’s very famous
these days for instance it’s very famous the discussion between these two
the discussion between these two
the discussion between these two gentlemen one of them is a very
gentlemen one of them is a very
gentlemen one of them is a very understand and the other one is Niels
understand and the other one is Niels
understand and the other one is Niels Bohr two of the most important figures
Bohr two of the most important figures
Bohr two of the most important figures of modern physics you know the
of modern physics you know the
of modern physics you know the conversations were fascinating and this
conversations were fascinating and this
conversations were fascinating and this that’s what we are going to do now have
that’s what we are going to do now have
that’s what we are going to do now have a quick look at what they say
God does not play dice you know this is
God does not play dice you know this is what other Einstein or something like
what other Einstein or something like
what other Einstein or something like this whatever Einstein told Niels Bohr
this whatever Einstein told Niels Bohr
this whatever Einstein told Niels Bohr ones and basically he was making crystal
ones and basically he was making crystal
ones and basically he was making crystal clear that he didn’t like the idea that
clear that he didn’t like the idea that
clear that he didn’t like the idea that objects could behave in unpredictable
objects could behave in unpredictable
objects could behave in unpredictable ways that atoms could be improvising
ways that atoms could be improvising
ways that atoms could be improvising he believed that any reasonable physical
he believed that any reasonable physical
he believed that any reasonable physical Theory should be able to make this kind
Theory should be able to make this kind
Theory should be able to make this kind of predictions and quantum mechanics
of predictions and quantum mechanics
of predictions and quantum mechanics didn’t allow us so he concluded that
didn’t allow us so he concluded that
didn’t allow us so he concluded that quantum mechanics was not telling the
quantum mechanics was not telling the
quantum mechanics was not telling the whole story and that new and better
whole story and that new and better
whole story and that new and better theories were yet to come in which atoms
theories were yet to come in which atoms
theories were yet to come in which atoms didn’t improvise and you know in
didn’t improvise and you know in
didn’t improvise and you know in response what Niels Bohr said is
response what Niels Bohr said is
response what Niels Bohr said is Einstein be careful when you tell god
Einstein be careful when you tell god
Einstein be careful when you tell god what to do and he probably believed that
what to do and he probably believed that
what to do and he probably believed that whether we like it or not this is what
whether we like it or not this is what
whether we like it or not this is what happens in there in the scale of atoms
happens in there in the scale of atoms
happens in there in the scale of atoms so we better get used to these new ideas
so we better get used to these new ideas
so we better get used to these new ideas unfortunately this was 1920’s 1930’s and
unfortunately this was 1920’s 1930’s and
unfortunately this was 1920’s 1930’s and there was no way to test who was right
there was no way to test who was right
there was no way to test who was right so everything remained in the
so everything remained in the
so everything remained in the philosophical domain but you know in
philosophical domain but you know in
philosophical domain but you know in 1964 everything changed dramatically
1964 everything changed dramatically
1964 everything changed dramatically when John Bell who was a physicist at
when John Bell who was a physicist at
when John Bell who was a physicist at CERN in Switzerland he groped one of the
CERN in Switzerland he groped one of the
CERN in Switzerland he groped one of the most important and profound theorems of
most important and profound theorems of
most important and profound theorems of the history of physics and made a major
the history of physics and made a major
the history of physics and made a major contribution to this debate
basically he allow us to prove who was
basically he allow us to prove who was right whether it was Einstein who
right whether it was Einstein who
right whether it was Einstein who believed that quantum mechanics was not
believed that quantum mechanics was not
believed that quantum mechanics was not the whole story and that new and better
the whole story and that new and better
the whole story and that new and better theories were to come in which atoms
theories were to come in which atoms
theories were to come in which atoms didn’t improvise or whether it was Niels
didn’t improvise or whether it was Niels
didn’t improvise or whether it was Niels Bohr who said that
Bohr who said that
Bohr who said that this is worthless and we better get used
this is worthless and we better get used
this is worthless and we better get used to these ideas and what do we need to do
to these ideas and what do we need to do
to these ideas and what do we need to do about tests let me ask you a question
about tests let me ask you a question
about tests let me ask you a question first I cannot see you but raise your
first I cannot see you but raise your
first I cannot see you but raise your hand if you’ve ever heard about the
hand if you’ve ever heard about the
hand if you’ve ever heard about the concept of entanglement or screen better
concept of entanglement or screen better
concept of entanglement or screen better screaming entanglement is one of the
screaming entanglement is one of the
screaming entanglement is one of the most exotic properties of quantum
most exotic properties of quantum
most exotic properties of quantum mechanics and basically it tell us that
mechanics and basically it tell us that
mechanics and basically it tell us that we can take two atoms two electrons two
we can take two atoms two electrons two
we can take two atoms two electrons two tiny particles separate them as much as
tiny particles separate them as much as
tiny particles separate them as much as we want we can even put one in one
we want we can even put one in one
we want we can even put one in one extreme of the Milky Way and the other
extreme of the Milky Way and the other
extreme of the Milky Way and the other one in the other that what’s going to
one in the other that what’s going to
one in the other that what’s going to happen is that when we look at one of
happen is that when we look at one of
happen is that when we look at one of them wouldn’t we measure one of these
them wouldn’t we measure one of these
them wouldn’t we measure one of these particles there is an immediate effect
particles there is an immediate effect
particles there is an immediate effect on the other without information
on the other without information
on the other without information traveling from one place to the other
traveling from one place to the other
traveling from one place to the other you know and this is kind of
you know and this is kind of
you know and this is kind of mind-blowing there is nothing even close
mind-blowing there is nothing even close
mind-blowing there is nothing even close in our everyday life experience and this
in our everyday life experience and this
in our everyday life experience and this is why it’s hard to find good examples
is why it’s hard to find good examples
is why it’s hard to find good examples but somehow is like these particles
but somehow is like these particles
but somehow is like these particles create a connection that in the future
create a connection that in the future
create a connection that in the future when we separate them we cannot do
when we separate them we cannot do
when we separate them we cannot do something to one of them without the
something to one of them without the
something to one of them without the other one noticing but going back to
other one noticing but going back to
other one noticing but going back to what we need for doing a belters we need
what we need for doing a belters we need
what we need for doing a belters we need three things one entangled particles
three things one entangled particles
three things one entangled particles second good measurement devices to
second good measurement devices to
second good measurement devices to measure these particles and three a
measure these particles and three a
measure these particles and three a method to make choices about which
method to make choices about which
method to make choices about which measurements we are going to do to these
measurements we are going to do to these
measurements we are going to do to these particles over the years technological
particles over the years technological
particles over the years technological progress has been made and it turns out
progress has been made and it turns out
progress has been made and it turns out that we are very good at building these
that we are very good at building these
that we are very good at building these devices but in the big Bell test we
devices but in the big Bell test we
devices but in the big Bell test we wanted to do something different
wanted to do something different
wanted to do something different we wanted to find an alternative to
we wanted to find an alternative to
we wanted to find an alternative to making questions using machines or using
making questions using machines or using
making questions using machines or using computers and that’s why we asked humans
computers and that’s why we asked humans
computers and that’s why we asked humans to help us that’s why we built this
to help us that’s why we built this
to help us that’s why we built this videogame that way we asked people to
videogame that way we asked people to
videogame that way we asked people to make choices between zeros and ones and
make choices between zeros and ones and
make choices between zeros and ones and that’s how we used all these choices and
that’s how we used all these choices and
that’s how we used all these choices and experiments to test the laws of physics
experiments to test the laws of physics
experiments to test the laws of physics all the experiments happened in November
all the experiments happened in November
all the experiments happened in November 30th of 2016 last year and I have to
30th of 2016 last year and I have to
30th of 2016 last year and I have to confess that before the day I was scared
confess that before the day I was scared
confess that before the day I was scared to death you know we were preparing for
to death you know we were preparing for
to death you know we were preparing for over a year for this experiment a lot of
over a year for this experiment a lot of
over a year for this experiment a lot of people was putting passion and not a lot
people was putting passion and not a lot
people was putting passion and not a lot of hours to make it happen
of hours to make it happen
of hours to make it happen but at the end of the day if people
but at the end of the day if people
but at the end of the day if people didn’t show up all this effort was for
didn’t show up all this effort was for
didn’t show up all this effort was for nothing but then November 30 has arrived
nothing but then November 30 has arrived
nothing but then November 30 has arrived and the response from people was amazing
and the response from people was amazing
and the response from people was amazing this is a density plot that shows were
this is a density plot that shows were
this is a density plot that shows were the decisions where the choices were
the decisions where the choices were
the decisions where the choices were coming from a November 30th basically
coming from a November 30th basically
coming from a November 30th basically from all over the world over the course
from all over the world over the course
from all over the world over the course of the project more than hundred
of the project more than hundred
of the project more than hundred thousand people registered into the
thousand people registered into the
thousand people registered into the video game and only in November
video game and only in November
video game and only in November thirtieth nineteen million choices were
thirtieth nineteen million choices were
thirtieth nineteen million choices were made you know if I would have had to do
made you know if I would have had to do
made you know if I would have had to do all those choices myself it would have
all those choices myself it would have
all those choices myself it would have cost me eight hours a day five days a
cost me eight hours a day five days a
cost me eight hours a day five days a week four years you know so we needed a
week four years you know so we needed a
week four years you know so we needed a lot of people to make this experiment
lot of people to make this experiment
lot of people to make this experiment possible
and what did we find actually a couple
and what did we find actually a couple of days ago we received one of the
of days ago we received one of the
of days ago we received one of the latest and emails from one of the groups
latest and emails from one of the groups
latest and emails from one of the groups with the result and putting everything
with the result and putting everything
with the result and putting everything together we can very confidently say
together we can very confidently say
together we can very confidently say that atoms are unpredictable but
that atoms are unpredictable but
that atoms are unpredictable but basically they can improvise or somehow
basically they can improvise or somehow
basically they can improvise or somehow that ball was right and that God looks
that ball was right and that God looks
that ball was right and that God looks to be playing dice but you know the most
to be playing dice but you know the most
to be playing dice but you know the most important thing about this experiment is
important thing about this experiment is
important thing about this experiment is not that we proved that atoms are
not that we proved that atoms are
not that we proved that atoms are unpredictable we somehow expected this
unpredictable we somehow expected this
unpredictable we somehow expected this the most important thing is that in
the most important thing is that in
the most important thing is that in order to prove something you always need
order to prove something you always need
order to prove something you always need to state your assumptions you cannot
to state your assumptions you cannot
to state your assumptions you cannot prove it in absolute terms and in our
prove it in absolute terms and in our
prove it in absolute terms and in our case the only thing that we have to
case the only thing that we have to
case the only thing that we have to trust is that we humans can make
trust is that we humans can make
trust is that we humans can make decisions so if we believe if you
decisions so if we believe if you
decisions so if we believe if you believe that we can make decisions then
believe that we can make decisions then
believe that we can make decisions then we are sure that atoms can improvise and
we are sure that atoms can improvise and
we are sure that atoms can improvise and I’d like to conclude by commenting on a
I’d like to conclude by commenting on a
I’d like to conclude by commenting on a couple of things the first one has to do
couple of things the first one has to do
couple of things the first one has to do with a question that a lot of people has
with a question that a lot of people has
with a question that a lot of people has been asking over the last couple of
been asking over the last couple of
been asking over the last couple of months and is okay but how can we use
months and is okay but how can we use
months and is okay but how can we use this Bell test in practice you know
this Bell test in practice you know
this Bell test in practice you know first of all Bell Theorem transform the
first of all Bell Theorem transform the
first of all Bell Theorem transform the way that we understand the world it has
way that we understand the world it has
way that we understand the world it has given us tools that were not there
given us tools that were not there
given us tools that were not there hundred years ago and it allow us to
hundred years ago and it allow us to
hundred years ago and it allow us to understand the universe in a much more
understand the universe in a much more
understand the universe in a much more deeper level on the one hand this is
deeper level on the one hand this is
deeper level on the one hand this is opening new research directions like
opening new research directions like
opening new research directions like quantum information theory and on the
quantum information theory and on the
quantum information theory and on the other hand it’s enabling exciting
other hand it’s enabling exciting
other hand it’s enabling exciting application like quantum cryptography
application like quantum cryptography
application like quantum cryptography what can we do with quantum cryptography
what can we do with quantum cryptography
what can we do with quantum cryptography well we can build communication systems
well we can build communication systems
well we can build communication systems that cannot be hacked then anyone can
that cannot be hacked then anyone can
that cannot be hacked then anyone can spy on them and in a society as ours
spy on them and in a society as ours
spy on them and in a society as ours that is built on top of information this
that is built on top of information this
that is built on top of information this is of crucial importance and the second
is of crucial importance and the second
is of crucial importance and the second comment goes back to what we were saying
comment goes back to what we were saying
comment goes back to what we were saying at the beginning we said that for
at the beginning we said that for
at the beginning we said that for thousands of years people believed that
thousands of years people believed that
thousands of years people believed that ourselves and matter were completely
ourselves and matter were completely
ourselves and matter were completely different things because somehow we
different things because somehow we
different things because somehow we could make decisions we could behave in
could make decisions we could behave in
could make decisions we could behave in unpredictable ways but matter had to
unpredictable ways but matter had to
unpredictable ways but matter had to follow the terminus the growth this is
follow the terminus the growth this is
follow the terminus the growth this is what we see in this case one but you
what we see in this case one but you
what we see in this case one but you know a lot of people also over the
know a lot of people also over the
know a lot of people also over the history has questioned our ability to
history has questioned our ability to
history has questioned our ability to make choice
make choice
make choice is our ability whether or not we have
is our ability whether or not we have
is our ability whether or not we have free will so basically there is another
free will so basically there is another
free will so basically there is another option in there in which neither
option in there in which neither
option in there in which neither ourselves nor people have the ability to
ourselves nor people have the ability to
ourselves nor people have the ability to make any unpredictable decision this is
make any unpredictable decision this is
make any unpredictable decision this is the second case and is what we
the second case and is what we
the second case and is what we understand as super determinism and
understand as super determinism and
understand as super determinism and basically it means that everything that
basically it means that everything that
basically it means that everything that happens in the universe everything that
happens in the universe everything that
happens in the universe everything that will happen in the universe was pretty
will happen in the universe was pretty
will happen in the universe was pretty established from the beginning of times
established from the beginning of times
established from the beginning of times and that not even ourselves make any
and that not even ourselves make any
and that not even ourselves make any decision of being here today that
decision of being here today that
decision of being here today that everything was written in the book of
everything was written in the book of
everything was written in the book of the universe this is these were the
the universe this is these were the
the universe this is these were the options that people had before quantum
options that people had before quantum
options that people had before quantum mechanics but then quantum mechanics
mechanics but then quantum mechanics
mechanics but then quantum mechanics open up new possibilities in which atoms
open up new possibilities in which atoms
open up new possibilities in which atoms could improvise and for instance this
could improvise and for instance this
could improvise and for instance this could be an option in which we cannot
could be an option in which we cannot
could be an option in which we cannot make any decision ourselves because we
make any decision ourselves because we
make any decision ourselves because we do not have free will but matter can do
do not have free will but matter can do
do not have free will but matter can do unpredictable stuff in there or this
unpredictable stuff in there or this
unpredictable stuff in there or this other option in which we have free will
other option in which we have free will
other option in which we have free will we can make decisions and atoms are
we can make decisions and atoms are
we can make decisions and atoms are unpredictable
unpredictable
unpredictable as a scientist I can not tell you that
as a scientist I can not tell you that
as a scientist I can not tell you that one is better than the other but what I
one is better than the other but what I
one is better than the other but what I can tell you is that what we proved with
can tell you is that what we proved with
can tell you is that what we proved with the big Bell test is that if we believe
the big Bell test is that if we believe
the big Bell test is that if we believe that we can make decisions then we are
that we can make decisions then we are
that we can make decisions then we are sure that atoms are unpredictable so
sure that atoms are unpredictable so
sure that atoms are unpredictable so basically is this fourth case or what is
basically is this fourth case or what is
basically is this fourth case or what is the same that case one which a lot of
the same that case one which a lot of
the same that case one which a lot of people used to believe for thousands of
people used to believe for thousands of
people used to believe for thousands of years is no longer a possibility because
years is no longer a possibility because
years is no longer a possibility because if we have the ability to make choices
if we have the ability to make choices
if we have the ability to make choices atoms are unpredictable and you know as
atoms are unpredictable and you know as
atoms are unpredictable and you know as a scientist I cannot tell you what to
a scientist I cannot tell you what to
a scientist I cannot tell you what to believe either because at the end of the
believe either because at the end of the
believe either because at the end of the day that’s your choice thank you very
day that’s your choice thank you very
day that’s your choice thank you very much
”
Be First to Comment