So far, the best thing you'll read in 2021 has quantum mechanics (and no math)

[View this email in your browser]( [Open Ars Technica in your browser]( It used to be that quantum effects were confined to physics laboratories and delicate experiments. But one of the quietest revolutions of our current century has been the entry of quantum mechanics into our everyday, from MRI machines at hospitals to the hard drives on each of our desks. Modern technology increasingly relies on quantum mechanics for its basic operation, and the importance of quantum effects will only grow in the decades to come. As such, the time has come to explain quantum mechanics—or, at least, to explain its basics. And luckily, [University of Washington physicist Miguel F. Morales]( was up to the task. Throughout 2021, Morales has taken the top of arstechnica.com every Sunday for his "Curious Observer's Guide to Quantum Mechanics," a seven-part series outlining some of the crucial ideas (that have been observed and experimentally verified) in modern quantum mechanics. If that sounds overwhelming, fear not—Morales walks readers through all of it without any math. It's been a can't miss learning exercise for all of us (editors included). The final edition of the Curious Observer's Guide will go live this week, on Sunday, February 21. So for the latest Orbital Transmission, we're helping those who haven't been following along to catch up. All stories in the series are available at Ars right now, but we've identified a few particular highlights to further emphasize. If you're still thinking why bother, well, let Morales convince you himself. "Quantum mechanics needs to leave the physics building and start to be more broadly understood, because otherwise the public is just going to throw its hands up and say the machines in our lives are magic," Morales [recently told the UW media team](. "It’s not magic. There is real science behind this, and it can be made accessible for a general audience." —[@NathanMattise]( Dealmaster's Deal of the Week Dealmaster's Deal of the Week Apple MagSafe Charger for $34 at Amazon (normally $39) This is the lowest price we've seen for Apple's new wireless charger for the iPhone 12. You'll need a [20W USB-C PD charger]( to get the most power out of it, but [we recently recommended]( the MagSafe Charger for connecting to iPhone 12 devices without fuss and providing the fastest wireless charge possible. This deal is also available at [Walmart](. [$34 at Amazon]( Orbital Transmission 02.17.2021 Orbital Transmission 02.17.2021 [(image) ]( Particles seem to have more moves than Jagger [Read Full Story »]( Particles seem to have more moves than Jagger We've long heard the very beginning is a very good place to start, and in part one Morales wastes no time digging into the quantum nitty gritty. If quantum mechanics is essentially the study of how small particles move and interact, "How do particles move?" seems like the most basic of questions. All it takes is a simple laser pointer and some tinfoil (or a nearby body of water and something to toss in) to see an unorthodox quantum mechanical effect in action. And over the course of a surprisingly breezy and easy to follow ~4,500 words, Morales makes it possible to understand the fundamental mystery of quantum mechanics: particles move like waves and hit like particles. (Read on, trust us, and you'll understand.) [Read Full Story »]( [(image) ]( "How big is a particle?" There's a lengthy answer to that [Read Full Story »]( "How big is a particle?" There's a lengthy answer to that Let's skip ahead to part three and another deceiving question: “How big is a particle?” It's a subtle (and, unsurprisingly, complex) topic. Again utilizing a few light sources likely sitting in your house, Morales demonstrates the length of a particle wave is given by the range of colors (and thus energies) it has. Length is not a set value for a particular kind of particle, and photon lengths range from microns (white light) to a few cm (a laser pointer). [Read Full Story »]( [(image) ]( Quantum mechanics, aka proof the world can be much stranger than we expect [Read Full Story »]( Quantum mechanics, aka proof the world can be much stranger than we expect In quantum mechanics circles, things get spooky when two topics in particular come up: entanglement and measurement order. Together, these two ideas create some of the most counterintuitive effects in quantum mechanics. But Morales' promise with "A Curious Observer's Guide" is that even the headiest of quantum concepts discussed have a strong basis in reality. When it comes to these two particular quantum spooks, the biggest application of note is likely cryptography and everything about these concepts is backed by hundreds of observations. "Sometimes the world is much stranger than we expect it to be," Morales writes. "These are the most counter-intuitive aspects of quantum mechanics; it doesn’t feel like this is how our world should work. But it does." [Read Full Story »]( [(image) ]( The most sold out pan on the Internet is back [Read Full Story »]( The most sold out pan on the Internet is back The most sold out pan on the internet Our Place’s Always Pan is back in stock for a hot second. Get yours now before they’re gone again. #Sponsored [Read Full Story »]( [(image) Condé Nast Spotlight | The breaking news and top stories everyone is talking about. All in one place. The most popular stories from Vogue, GQ, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, Wired, Architectural Digest and more. 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