Podcast Summary: Vlatko Vedral, "Portals to a New Reality: Five Pathways to the Future of Physics"

Podcast: New Books Network
Host: Gregory McNiff
Guest: Vlatko Vedral, University of Oxford
Book: Portals to a New Reality: Five Pathways to the Future of Physics (Basic Books, 2025)
Date: October 31, 2025

Overview

This episode features an in-depth interview with Vlatko Vedral, a distinguished physicist whose new book, Portals to a New Reality, proposes that we stand on the brink of a radical breakthrough in our understanding of fundamental physics. Vedral argues that quantum information—the processing and entanglement of information at the quantum level—offers a fresh lens not just for technological innovation but for reconciling quantum mechanics, general relativity, and the philosophical puzzles of reality, time, and consciousness itself. Through "five portals," or experimental proposals, the book suggests new ways to test the deep unresolved questions at the heart of physics.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Motivation & Audience for the Book

• Vedral imagines his reader as a curious 16-year-old, interested in physics but with minimal prerequisite knowledge.
• Against a backdrop of claims that physics is stagnating, Vedral argues passionately:

  "We're at a very exciting place now, very exciting junction...on the verge of a huge breakthrough in physics, and in fact, probably within a decade or so of discovering a new theory in physics." (03:28)

2. Clarifying Quantum Fundamentals

Superposition, Entanglement, and the Uncertainty Principle

• Superposition: Any quantum object, even large molecules, can exist in many possible states at once.

  "An atom can exist in a multitude of different locations simultaneously." (05:13)

• Entanglement: Multiple quantum systems can exist in interdependent superposed states, regardless of distance.

  "If one atom is in one place, the other atom is also...and this property is completely independent of how far these objects are from each other." (07:21)

• Uncertainty Principle: Certain pairs of properties (like position and speed) cannot be precisely known at the same time.

  "The better I know the position...the less I will know how quickly this particle is moving." (08:45)

3. Are Physicists at an Impasse?

Two Sticking Points:

1. Dual Theories:
   • General Relativity for large-scale/gravitational phenomena vs. Quantum Mechanics for the very small.
   • The puzzle: No unifying framework or empirical overlap yet exists.
2. Interpretation Troubles:
   • The dominant "Copenhagen Interpretation" is, per Vedral, "provably wrong" and restricts understanding.
   • New advances in experimental quantum technology could unlock paths forward.

4. Quantum Information Theory as the Unifier

• Moves beyond bits (0s and 1s) to quantum bits (qubits), which encode superpositions.

  "In quantum mechanics, you can do all computations simultaneously, because your quantum bits exist in all logical values at the same time." (17:19)

• Human brains evolved in a classical world, but at atomic scales, superposition, entanglement, and uncertainty reign.
• Vedral advocates entirely for an information-based view of reality.

5. Q Numbers: The Reality of Quantum Systems

• Derived from Dirac and Heisenberg:

  "Instead of using a single number for each property, you use a table of numbers...an infinite array for position, speed, energy." (22:52)

• Q numbers reflect the multiple possible states and encode the core of superposition and uncertainty.

6. Quantum Becoming vs. Being

• Static vs. Dynamic Universe: Vedral sides with "becoming."

  "Quantum mechanics is very dynamical...Every time you make a measurement, genuinely new quantum information gets revealed." (29:13)

7. Randomness and Determinism in Quantum Physics

• Quantum mechanics appears random in measurement outcomes, but at the universe-scale, it remains deterministic.
• The "many worlds" idea:

  "All outcomes happen. In one branch, you become aware of one outcome; others exist in other branches." (35:18)

The Five Portals: Experimental Pathways

1. Measurement and Reality: Beyond Copenhagen

• Measurement is not a collapse but an entanglement of two quantum systems—no strict observer/observed boundary.

  "Every time you hear that there is a paradox in quantum mechanics, you can almost bet everything that this comes from assuming there is a genuine classical observer somewhere..." (37:04)

• Proposed experiment: Use quantum AIs (potentially humans one day) to demonstrate both the recording of a measurement and the continued existence of the superposed state (Schrödinger's Cat with AI).
• Goal: Definitively test whether "collapse" exists or all outcomes persist quantum mechanically.

2. Quantum Experiments with Time

• Relativity shows time is observer-dependent. So does quantum mechanics.
• Proposal: Place an atomic clock in a quantum superposition, sending one path on a journey and returning, akin to the "twin paradox."
• Prediction:

  "You have the same physical system which is younger and older at the same time." (48:30)

• This experiment could redefine our understanding of time at the quantum level.

3. Quantizing Gravity

• Can gravity act through superposition, as quantum theory predicts, or is it fundamentally classical?
• Bose-Marletto-Vedral Experiment: Use two massive objects in quantum superposition to see if gravity can entangle them.
• Stakes:

  "This would be a first piece of evidence to falsify Einstein’s theory...eliminate a host of possibilities." (53:53)

• Discusses implications for black holes—whether they require classical or quantum gravity, and whether information is truly lost.

4. Quantum Biology: Is Life Quantum?

• Evidence that biological processes (e.g., photosynthesis, magnetoreception) use quantum mechanisms.

  "Many of these energy transfers are genuinely taking place in a superposition." (58:38)

• Vedral speculates that not only could life benefit from quantum information, but that quantum mechanics might be necessary for the origin of life.

5. Detecting Quantum Ghosts

• Addresses "ghost modes"—quantum states predicted by the mathematical consistency of relativity and quantum theory but thought undetectable.
• Local Tomography: Probes whether particles are entangled with these "ghost" states, suggesting ways to detect them via quantum measurements.

  "If it is entangled, then obviously these ghosts make a difference...this experiment is within our reach." (63:23)

Philosophical and Methodological Implications

Via Negativa and Constructor Theory

• Suggests adopting "via negativa" (defining by what is not possible) from Christian theology for physics—akin to constructor theory.
• David Deutsch's idea: All physical laws should state what tasks are and aren't possible, paralleling principles in relativity and thermodynamics.

  "If I just simply rule out what cannot happen in this universe, then what I'm left with is basically the totality of physics." (68:41)

Notable Quotes

• On the Next Revolution

  "We are in fact, on the verge of a huge breakthrough in physics." (03:14)

• On Quantum Measurement

  “Q numbers never disappear. Q numbers are always there...all the properties you can think of pertain to whatever physical system you are looking at.” (32:39)

• On the Reality of All Outcomes

  “All outcomes happen. It's just that you simply in one of these branches become aware of one of these outcomes.” (35:18)

• On Quantum Biology

  “People who study photosynthesis...have found that many of these energy transfers are genuinely taking place in a superposition.” (58:38)

• On Defining Physics by Principles

  “If I just simply rule out what cannot happen...then what I'm left with is basically the totality of physics. Whatever remains is what's possible.” (68:41)

Timestamps of Major Segments

• [02:22] Motivation and Target Audience for the Book
• [05:00] Explaining Superposition, Entanglement, and Uncertainty
• [09:40] Why Physics is "Stuck"
• [14:55] Quantum Information Theory as the New Interpretation
• [21:42] The Meaning of Q Numbers
• [28:45] Philosophical Views: Becoming vs. Being
• [31:39] Reconciling Determinism and Randomness
• [37:00] Portal 1: Measurement Problem and Experiment
• [45:29] Portal 2: Quantum Experiments with Time
• [51:07] Portal 3: Can We Quantize Gravity?
• [55:29] Black Holes and Quantum Gravity
• [57:14] Portal 4: Quantum Life and Biology
• [60:29] Portal 5: Quantum Ghosts and Local Tomography
• [66:12] Via Negativa and Constructor Theory

Memorable Moments

• Vedral's lucid breakdowns of daunting concepts (e.g., how quantum bits enable simultaneous computation, or how the superposition of time might be observed in a clock).
• The proposal to test quantum measurement using an AI version of Schrödinger's cat, pushing thought experiments into the laboratory.
• The recurring message that every paradox in quantum mechanics arises from wrongly assuming a dividing line between classical observer and quantum system.

Tone and Language

Vedral's tone is enthusiastic, exploratory, and philosophical—conveying both scientific precision and a sense of wonder. He consistently demystifies complex topics, pushes against received wisdom (especially the Copenhagen Interpretation), and emphasizes tangible potentials for discovery in the coming decade.

Final Thoughts

Portals to a New Reality is both a roadmap and a challenge: Vedral lays out five experimental gateways that could redefine our understanding of physics. The conviction underlying the conversation is that quantum information—once considered a technological oddity—may be the very fabric of reality, poised to unlock not just new technologies but new understandings of existence itself.

End of summary.