The Royal Institution
What makes quantum mechanics the strangest — and most successful — theory in all of science? Physicist Jim Al-Khalili takes you through 100 years of quantum revolution, from Heisenberg’s 1925 breakthrough to the technologies reshaping our world right now.
This Discourse was recorded at the Ri on 7 November 2025, in partnership with the Institute of Physics.
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Watch the Q&A session (exclusively for Science Supporter members): https://youtu.be/4Wq-zLITyxg
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In this Ri Discourse, Jim covers the full sweep of quantum mechanics — the history, the weirdness, and what’s coming next:
→ The quantum pioneers: Planck, Einstein, Bohr, Schrödinger, Heisenberg
→ The EPR paradox and Einstein’s “spooky action at a distance”
→ Bell’s theorem — and the experiment that proved Einstein wrong
→ Quantum superposition, tunnelling, and entanglement explained
→ The first quantum revolution: how quantum physics built the laser, the computer and MRI
→ The second quantum revolution: quantum clocks, ghost imaging, quantum sensing and more
→ Quantum computing: what it actually is, how close we are, and what it will change
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Jim Al-Khalili CBE FRS is a quantum physicist, author, broadcaster and science communicator. He is Distinguished Emeritus Professor of Physics at the University of Surrey, where he continues research in quantum foundations and quantum biology. He has written fifteen books, translated into over twenty-six languages, and is best known in the UK for his BBC Radio 4 programme, The Life Scientific.
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Discourses are one of the Ri’s oldest and most prestigious series of talks. Since 1825, audiences in the theatre have witnessed countless mind-expanding moments, including the first public liquefaction of air by James Dewar, the announcement of the electron by JJ Thomson and over 100 lectures by Michael Faraday. In more recent times, we have had Nobel laureates, Fields medal winners, scientists, authors and artists – all from the cutting-edge of their field. Discourses are an opportunity for the best and brightest to share their work with the world.
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The United Nations has proclaimed 2025 as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, to celebrate the centenary of quantum mechanics and the revolutionary work of the likes of Werner Heisenberg and Erwin Schrödinger. Together with the Institute of Physics, join us to celebrate the culmination of the International Year of Quantum at the penultimate Discourse of our Discover200 year.
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Chapters:
0:00 The Theory That Changed Everything
3:00 The Quantum Pioneers
13:18 Einstein’s Battle with Quantum Mechanics
27:00 The Experiment That Proved Einstein Wrong
31:22 Why Quantum Mechanics Is So Weird
40:58 How Quantum Mechanics Built the Modern World
53:51 Quantum Computing: How Close Are We?
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Product links on this page may be affiliate links which means it won’t cost you any extra but we may earn a small commission if you decide to purchase through the link.
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#QuantumMechanics, #JimAlKhalili, #MindBendingScience, #QuantumReality, #PhysicsExplained #QuantumPhysics #QuantumComputing #QuantumEntanglement #Physics #Science
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If you liked this, check out all our videos on quantum here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNVQfWC_evg&list=PLbnrZHfNEDZx5izbk_W_zFZ7wqEhs1dkB or sign up as a member to watch the Q&A for this talk, with Jim and the Institute of Physics: https://youtu.be/4Wq-zLITyxg
higs are the planc-tom 10^-36 meter distance I'm going with simple logic and proportion, starting from the similarity and proportion in geometry, the ratios of lengths to average values. We call strings multiples of Planck's length, right? I'm saying it's the shape of an atom. The reason is hidden in similarity and proportion. Am I the only smart one? Structures shaped like atoms, from atom to atom. I took the average length of a hydrogen atom and Oorth's length. x = Planck-atom-atom /H atom length = H atom length / Oorth-atom length (Planck-atom length) / (10^-10 meters) = (10^-10 meters) / (10^16 meters) (Planck-atom length) = 10^-36 meters = 1/10^26 our scale What's the point, right? I didn't know this number was the inflation number of the universe. Multiplying 10^-36 meters by Planck's atom gives us x = 10^26 meters, which gives us the length of the H atom. 10^-10 meters x 10^26 = 10^16 meters is the length of the Oort. Now, from this, I've named the atomic structure of the universe "univertom," which is 10^42 meters. From this, I can say that the proton ratio extends from the solar system to Helios, representing a giant proton. I can describe the structure of the UUD within the proton as the flow of 600 million tons of plasma hydrogen per hour in the fusion stages of the sun's fusion core, I can call gluons fusion, I can explain why quarks must be in groups of three (I can explain this as the plasma flow progressing in 3-part fusion stages), I can make an analogy for the neutrino in the inner planet asteroid belt, I can call Saturn's muon or the Oort cloud an electron, and I can say that all asteroids create magnetic fields with their rotation around themselves, and the sum of the electric fields as they orbit the sun.
Fascinating.
Einstein was right. Parallel universes theory proves him right.
They have a mind of there own.
He should have had as much time as necessary.
Jim Al-Khalili, a born communicator!!!
The particle detector is probably releasing a slight residual radio frequency or static which interferes with the magnetic properties of the medium source used. Unless the particle detector was designed to be entirely shielded.
There wrong lol
Spooky physics is just another grift. Stop wasting everyone’s brain power on that slop. PCGCT and GWA removes the spooky and perplexing gibberish that has been pushed on humanity.
Great speech!! But we are mortal beings as humans. The question always is……death.
Jim manages to explain the most baffling things in a way that makes you at least begin to understand, which is perhaps all the uninitiated can hope for, informative and engaging!
Scientists explain; your body compose of quantum, quantum can be particle or wave according to your wish, if you determine it wishing it is particle then it shows you it is particle, if you determine it wishing it is wave then it shows you it is wave, now you want your quantum body changes from particle to wave but it is not, why? Scientists explain; quantum existed in pair, if its pair is in some Satan's body then it prevents its pair in your body from changing, you must meditates strong strong strong samathi to overcome its pair's influent then you may achieve your goal!? The Ethiopian Bible is indeed should be labelled Ethiopian Tipitaka, it descripts a being of blinding light that is the quantum wave body of The Buddha not Jesus Christ!? see documents of Tibet monk's rainbow body.
The short resume: Hello! A-a-a, am, a-a-a, am. Bye!
Thomas Patsalis. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Patrick Salis ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Interesting about the history, but he didn't actually explain anything about how things work or are thought to work, WHY we think these things are so. Just metaphors that don't really make sense. More quantum mysicism.
How can a photon communicate with another photon when time does not exist to a photon?
@6:10 In total 17 Nobel laurates incl. future ones. 🙂
– Back row (standing, left to right):
Auguste Piccard
Émile Henriot
Paul Ehrenfest
Édouard Herzen
Théophile de Donder
Erwin Schrödinger
Jules-Émile Verschaffelt
Wolfgang Pauli
Werner Heisenberg
Ralph Howard Fowler
Léon Brillouin
– Middle row (seated, left to right):
Peter Debye
Martin Knudsen
William Lawrence Bragg
Hendrik Anthony Kramers
Paul Dirac
Arthur Compton
Louis de Broglie
Max Born
Niels Bohr
– Front row (seated, left to right):
Irving Langmuir
Max Planck
Marie Curie
Hendrik Lorentz
Albert Einstein
Paul Langevin
Charles-Eugène Guye
C. T. R. Wilson
Owen Richardson
Did he mention Paul Dirac and John Bell?
Seems like quantum particles are making it up as they go along, just like the rest of us. Which is quite reassuring!
Tak powinni uczyć fizyki w szkołach
It is not basic teaching that what Quantum Mechanics actually is?
Quantum Mechanics is very difficult to understand.
I think a lot of the holographic models and theories offer a lot of good ideas.
One of the best I've found is Recursive Fractal Cosmology: The Triadic Emergence of Existence
It models the observable universe without the hang ups than the standard models have, nor the compartmentalization.
New ideas like this are gonna eventually get pushed to the front, if the old guard keeps saying, we'll never know.
Best
Physics is so racist.
The problem with all this and the idea that is not considered is “ light does not experience time. For light the instance it is emitted is the same instance it is detected
Information waves
This man is amazing. God bless you sir!
Just another theory not a fact – when will we get real science again 🙁
Great lecture❤
It's Not Sweden, It's Norway. Come on jim, excellent lecture with one huge word salad 🙂
The superconducting cooling is perhaps better served in the cold of space ? .. put the data centers elsewhere please.
Very nice, what if two measurements are done at same time,one measuring wave and another particle property
Has anyone yet said that quantum mechanics points to 'other universes'?
There is an idea that the soul which cannot be sensed, also exists 'elsewhere' – a universe that touches ours at any single point of time…
Quantum entanglement is mind boggling, but makes my think we can have instantaneous communication across the galaxy.
What if you take gravity from
When we talk about quantum entanglement and the instantaneous connection of particles, the possibility that one of the particles , for example in intergalactic space, and the other is near a massive star or black hole, where time beats slower, always comes to mind. How does simultaneity manifest itself in this case?
So the photons don't take on a particular trait, until they are measured?
Yes, yes, Jim is wonderful, brilliant, ad nauseum. But honestly, this presentation is far far beneath the quality of his scripted series on tv. Never heard Jim do "ums" and "ahs" before. Perhaps this is his first time doing this particular lecture because the pace, the searching for words, the grasping for facts, it's all sub par for Jim but perhaps it will get better after he's given it a few more times. Rehearse, Jimmy, Rehearse!!!
Still loving ya, tho, I've watched your telly shows over and over.
Incomprehensible results explained by intractable mathematics.
What a brilliant lecture, I have just turned 80 and he just inspires me to live a lot longer to see some of these things come to fruition.
I do have a common sense reason that quantum physics acts the way it does. If curious comment back
if the quantum mechanics works at microscopic levels it should work for macrocosmos
I feel AI will swallow the whole and turn a human genius level mind into a spectator with only a rough idea of what it knows. The rest of us may be hobbyists/
I had a grifter mark 2 in the 80s just like jim it was it was metallic blue 😁
SPOOKY DUM MAGETS
Сегодня мы начинаем эту лекцию по квантовой механике. В этом зале, на данный момент, всего лишь один единственный человек, который нихрена в этом предмете не понимает. Но к концу лекции, и все вы пристуствующие, так же сможете с лёгкостью заявлять, что тоже нихрена в этом предмете не понимаете.
И по этому вы уже завтра сможете со спокойной душой распространять это свое непонимание в этой удивительной области, фактически ни как не относящейся к реальной физике но с удивлением очень точно описывающей многие из необьяснимых загадок.
По этому приятного просмотра лекции от этого великолепного Джима Кхалили.
40-50 seconds in…erm what? He did what where!?😳😂