How to See Quantum with the Naked Eye

How can you train yourself to be a quantum detector? Quantum interactions happen at impossibly small scales. But the life-size effects are all around you. You can detect quantum mechanics all over — if you know how to look for it.

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ADVANCED SCIENTIFIC NOTE: Quantum mechanics would be much more obvious if we had very sensitive eyes. If your eyes identified each photon individually, you would see them land as described in the video, and only build up to this wave pattern. The pattern that we see can be explained classically by waves, it is *ultimately* a quantum phenomenon. The only reason it's hard to tell is because our light detectors (eyes) aren't quite sensitive enough.

CREDITS:

Host, Producer: Greg Kestin

Researcher: Samia Bouzid

Writers: Samia Bouzid, Greg Kestin

Scientific Consultant: Louis Deslauriers

Editorial Input from: Julia Cort, Ari Daniel

Animation and Editing: Greg Kestin

Special thanks: Entire NOVA team

From the producers of PBS NOVA © WGBH Educational Foundation

Funding provided by FQXi

Music provided by APM

Footage of bridge and man holding child: Videoblocks

[Jsjdn]

Is it weird that when I was little, I used to squint my eyes while looking at street lights and turn my head from side to side, like there was a dance party with cool lights going on. Did anyone else do that?

[novapbs]

Woah, "eye" did not see this coming! Also, I love the DIY slit experiment.

[youtubeuser]

*gasp* A YOUTUBE AD

THAT ACTUALLY ENJOY!

[WhatThePhysics]

Hey all! If, you want to see diffraction patterns with your phone/iphone light, you can look at it really side-on. That is, turn on your camera light, tilt your phone so it is perpendicular to you, and squint really hard. You should be able to see it :)

[hajare]

I’ve always seen the streaks but I never knew what they were, I just thought something was wrong with my eyes.also mind blown🤯

[odenstyle]

Have you ever had tears and your eyes and have squinted to the point where it looks like you’re looking through a microscope.

[johannbach]

I already saw these when I was 6, i never knew.

[MichaelTheDacian]

1:23 In the right sun light, and with the right fokus and normal eyesight, it's possible to watch this field with the naked eye. And this is exactly how I see it. The light particles are just wandering around and some of them interact and spin around each other and the disappear.

[saltybutterbiscuit]

This is actually super interesting. I've always wondered about what those little lines were, and this perfectly cleared that up! Finally, a YouTube ad actually worth watching.

[Ahlisvh]

Stop you’re under ARREST!

what WHY?!

because you broke the law of physics

**you noticing that you’re floating**

*Feels good to be a gangster*

[CandiiShillai]

At night, when my family is driving down a highway, I would always squint and shake my head around lol

[rowanporter]

I've actually noticed these streaks on street lights and on bright lamps, always wondering what they were and if others saw them too, so this explanation was actually so cool!

[AlbertKundrat]

AMAZING Explanation! I have never seen SQUINTING, so commonplace in connecting with all EYES, give such a revealing INSIGHT into QUANTUM Phenomena!

[mahinoriart]

I have been seeing streaks since I was a toddler and was confused of what they were. Sometimes it bothers me though. Thanks for explaining!

[crimsonarrow]

I already saw them everywhere whithout knowing what they were well now i know

[samc]

Omg thank u I always wondered why there was a line in lights like that

[anklerobber]

I’ve always done that when I was little, I didn’t realize it was so scientific

[CosmiX_Loka]

I've seen these throughout my life, and now I actually know why, thanks for answering a life long question :D

[amannoufel]

one of my friends asked us why we are seeing the laughed hard and told him to go clean his glasses

[jasjeetsinghplaha]

I love your videos give me one reason. Thank you :)