How did a radical new theory of nature – quantum mechanics – revolutionize our world? Where might it take us next? And why do we still not understand it?

In this exhilarating and sometimes mind-bending book, renowned scientist and author Paul Davies tells the captivating story of how, starting with an iconic mathematical equation in the 1920s, a radical new theory of nature – quantum mechanics – emerged into the modern world. Today, we stand on the verge of the second great revolution in quantum technology.

Quantum 2.0 reveals how exotic states of matter that have no equivalent in the everyday world are being utilized to enable forms of teleportation and ‘spooky’ telepathic links between distant locations. Powerful new tools such as quantum computers, quantum cryptography, and the quantum internet have attracted billions of dollars in investments, igniting a rapid quantum arms race. And on the horizon appears the most astonishing and transformative prospect of all – quantum AI.

However, behind this dazzling promise lies a paradox. Although quantum mechanics is the most successful scientific theory ever, quantum systems possess properties that defy intuition and challenge everyday notions of reality. Albert Einstein could never fully accept it. And decades after Erwin Schrödinger introduced his famous cat paradox, scientists remain divided on how to interpret the strange quantum realm, where ghostly particles generate minuscule forces in nanotechnology, cause black holes to evaporate – and may even be responsible for the universe's accelerating expansion. Indeed, cosmologists believe the signature of a quantum process is still imprinted in the residual glow of the Big Bang.

Quantum 2.0 gently guides the reader from fundamental concepts to the forefront of research, inviting us all to explore the new frontier of quantum physics and its incredible implications.

Pages: 320, Dimensions: 14.7x14.7cm