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Key points
- Erwin Schrödinger suggested a controversial thought experiment called "Schrödinger's Cat."
- Superposition means something is neither conclusively one way or another.
- We humans often find the liminal space in between two states too difficult to bear.
In 1935, quantum physicist Erwin Schrödinger suggested a controversial thought experiment to highlight the paradoxical nature of time in quantum mechanics.1 In the experiment, he supposed that particles (e.g., things) exist simultaneously in two states (e.g., both alive and dead) until some point in time where an observer (e.g., a human) observed what was going on, which resolved the issue. This alone didn’t make the experiment controversial; the concept of “superposition” remains a mainstream theory of quantum physics to this day. What made it controversial was his suggestion that a cat, in a box with a radioactive atom, Geiger counter, vial of poison, and a hammer, is both alive and dead simultaneously until the box is opened and the cat is observed. Lovers of felines were horrified.
Fast forward to today, to a modern experiment let’s call "Schrödinger's Tree." Our story begins with an unassuming Money Tree (Pachira aquatica)2 shipped to someone by a friend as a housewarming gift, blissfully unaware of the quantum adventure that awaited it. Due to an address error, it was sent on an unknown course—into darkness and isolation—for eight long weeks, embodying a state of superposition—neither conclusively alive or dead, but existing in the in-between state of uncertainty. Never giving up their search for the tree, the intended recipient wondered: Was it alive, or was it dead? During this period, the tree's true state remained a mystery, hidden in a box possibly far away from its intended home. The answer would only be learned at the moment in time when they finally opened the box.
The story of Schrödinger's Tree is both a real-world experiment worthy of quantum physics and a profound lesson about the significance of not coming to conclusions when faced with the ambiguous nature of time as it unfolds. As time passes while we wait for something to occur, the suspense grows. Will it or won’t it occur? And then, at some point, in keeping with human nature, we get tired of waiting. We decide it’s not going to happen. The tree is dead. We’re ending the experiment without ever opening the box because existing in the liminal space in between two states is too difficult to bear while living lives of instant assessments and quick judgments—when all we can ever really say about any unfolding event is that it hasn’t happened yet.
At its heart, the story of Schrödinger's tree reminds us to approach the unfoldment of time with patience and an open mind. Just as particles defy definition until observed; the events of our lives remain beyond our grasp until given time to unfold fully. Practicing the art of superposition means not rushing too quickly into judgments about anything. Instead, taking time, allowing events to unfold naturally, and living in the uncomfortable in-between state, we open ourselves to experiencing time and events as they unfold—sometimes in the most unpredictable ways.
Epilogue: Schrödinger's tree arrived alive.
References
1. In particular, the Copenhagen interpretation, developed by scientists Niels Bohr and Werner Heisenberg.
2. Pachira aquatica (Money Tree) is a hardy plant that can withstand low light conditions and infrequent watering.
