A renowned physicist signals a new revolution in fundamental physics, and along with it a new description of reality.

For the last century, physics has followed the paths laid out by two theories—quantum mechanics and general relativity—and, let's face it, it is becoming increasingly boring. Despite the fact that these groundbreaking theories are fundamentally in conflict, most scientists simply chase decimal points in laboratories. To achieve the deeper understanding of reality we desire, we need new ways to explore and critically evaluate our best ideas about the universe on small and large scales.

The situation is very similar to that of 1890, just before Planck, Einstein, and Bohr revolutionized Newtonian physics. As Vlatko Vedral argues in the book "Portals to a New Reality," this suggests that we are on the brink of a new revolution. Vedral first explains the current state of our understanding regarding quantum mechanics and general relativity. Then, he shows how the theory of quantum information has opened radically new pathways, providing us with a series of extraordinary experiments that could overthrow physics.

These experiments may sound very strange—one essentially involves linking a person with Schrödinger's cat—but they reveal aspects of our theories that are particularly problematic, such as the widely held belief that nothing truly exists unless observed. At the moment, these approaches are in the form of exciting mental experiments, but nothing, besides inertia and lack of ambition, stops us.

This revolution has been in the making for a century—it is finally time to rewrite our understanding of the universe.

Pages: 304, Dimensions: 16.1x16.1cm