Friday, February 6, 2009

Beam Me Two Feet To The Right, Scotty

Scientists have successfully transferred the quantum identity of an atom to another atom a few feet away. In other words, teleportation (cue Star Trek effects). This was done using the property of 'entanglement'; this is a tenent of quantum theory that says atom pairs that are separated can be changed by changing one of the pair. The other will reflect that change even across large distances.

This is obviously a long way from jumping into the transporter to visit the family in Georgia, but it's still pretty cool. I've heard of the entanglement property before, and always wondered if maybe it had something to do with the phenomenon of twins separated at birth growing up to have the same careers, haircuts and cars.

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