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Monday, April 18, 2011

Quantum Leap: Bits of Light Teleported to Another Place

Quantum Leap: Bits of Light Teleported to Another Place


An illustration of the quantum teleportation of
An illustration of the quantum teleportation of 'Schrodinger's Cat' wave packets of light. CREDIT: Science/AAAS

Our world is getting closer to "Star Trek" every day, it seems. Scientists announced today (April 14) they've been able to teleport special bits of light from one place to another, a la "Beam me up, Scotty."
While the advance doesn't necessarily mean we'll ever be able to teleport people, it does represent some pretty nifty, mind-bending physics.
Teleportation requires taking advantage of a quirk of quantum physics called entanglement. Two particles can be bonded so that even when separated by large distances, they communicate instantly, and what happens to one affects the other. (It's a situation so bizarre Einstein called it "spooky action at a distance.")

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