Greetings, gamers! It’s time for a lesson in science... Quantum mechanics, specifically.
As you already know, the Nekoverse came into existence after a “human-scale Schrödinger’s experiment gone wrong”, and now here we are. If you aren’t familiar with this famous experiment, we’re here to break it down for you. After all, origin stories are one of the most important factors in understanding a storyline. This will give you a clearer view into the magical(ly scientific) world of Nekotopia, and perhaps even make you empathetic towards the Neko residents of this lovely metaverse.
So, here goes...
There was this guy named Erwin Schrödinger who thought thinking about quantum states for large objects was simply foolish. So he came up with a thought experiment to counter the “Copenhagen Interpretation” of quantum physics. The experiment has since played a big role in modern pop culture, and is an inspiration for many great things, like Nekotopia!
Simply put, Schrödinger said that if you put a cat and something that could kill the cat (a radioactive atom, in this case) in a box and closed it, you’d have no way of knowing whether the cat was dead or alive, unless you open the box. So, in a way, the cat is both “dead and alive” to you, until you’re physically proven otherwise. He used this experiment to correlate to how scientific theory is tested and proved – you don’t know the true end result until it is tested and proved, so both realities exist to you in a way.
Basically, physics is divided into two main parts: classic physics, and quantum mechanics. The former talks about physical interactions that can be seen, like why balls bounce when they drop. It also encompasses predictions of physical interactions. Though, there are some interactions that classic physics can’t explain – like light being turned into electricity. Quantum mechanics is a tool for physicists to explain why “unexplainable” things happen.
The Copenhagen Interpretation is used to explain what happens to the smallest part of an atom without actually observing or measuring it. Instead, mathematics is used to show the likeliness of something happening to the particle. For example, the particle could be 50% in one place at one time, or 50% to be in one place at another time.
But, in true reality, the only way to be sure about the particle’s whereabouts is to actually observe it. In the Copenhagen Interpretation, you can assume the particle is “there and not there”. You only know for sure when you actually observe the particle, though.
So, while the Copenhagen Interpretation makes sense in quantum physics, it isn’t really applicable to “real world” physics. So, Schrödinger decided to prove that thinking about quantum mechanics this way would lead to absurd situations, like say, a cat in a box with radioactive material.
Schrödinger’s Experiment is a truly fascinating thought experiment, in and of itself. This is why it was our inspiration behind Nekotopia.
We can’t wait for you to be engulfed in this wonderful world with us!
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