The book's central goal is to answer, "What is reality?" through the lens of modern physics. It explores how quantum events are governed by rather than the deterministic laws of classical physics.
: Werner Heisenberg’s principle states that you cannot simultaneously know a particle's exact position and momentum. The more accurately you measure one, the less you know about the other.
: Often called "spooky action at a distance," this describes particles so deeply linked that a change in one instantly affects the other, regardless of distance. The Schrödinger's Cat Paradox
: Gribbin explains that light and subatomic particles exhibit properties of both waves and particles depending on how they are measured.
: This is the idea that a quantum system exists in all possible states simultaneously until it is observed.
John Gribbin’s In Search of Schrödinger’s Cat is a foundational work of popular science that demystifies quantum mechanics. First published in 1984, it remains a classic guide for laypeople because it explains how subatomic rules—often described as "weird" or counterintuitive—underpin the entire modern world.
The book’s title refers to Erwin Schrödinger's famous 1935 thought experiment. It features a hypothetical cat in a sealed box with a radioactive source that may or may not trigger a vial of poison. Go to product viewer dialog for this item. In Search Of Schrodinger's Cat: Updated Edition