Quantum physics and the gateway to a new reality - with Vlatko Vedral

Find out why we are on the brink of a new revolution in physics, thanks to thought experiments that change how we think about reality itself.

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This lecture was recorded at the Ri on 24 November 2025.

For the last century, physics has been following the paths set out by the same two theories—quantum mechanics and general relativity—and, let’s face it, it’s getting pretty boring. Despite these great theories being fundamentally in conflict, most scientists are simply chasing decimal points in laboratories. To give the deeper explanation of reality we seek, we need new ways to explore and critique our best ideas of the universe on the smallest and largest scales.

In this talk, physicist Vlatko Vedral presents a number of key thought experiments that test the foundations of physics, namely the interface between quantum physics and general relativity.

General relativity is our best theory of gravity, and it remains a completely classical theory despite many attempts to quantize it. Some of the thought experiments are aimed at testing how quantum physics changes the concepts of space and time that are key to understanding general relativity, while others explore how the key principle of general relativity, the so-called equivalence principle, could affect quantum physics and lead to its modification. Join Vlatko to discover how the realisation of these theories could transform our understanding of quantum physics.

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Vlatko Vedral is best known for his contributions to quantum information theory, quantum mechanics, and quantum entanglement. As an active researcher, Vlatko has over 500 published, regularly cited papers to his name. This output covers a broad range of topics within quantum physics, including quantum computing, quantum cryptography, and quantum thermodynamics. In recognition of his scholarly achievements, he was honoured with the Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award in 2007. Since 2009, Vlatko has served as Professor of Quantum Information Science in the Department of Physics at the University of Oxford. Vlatko's new book "Portals to a New Reality" (Basic Books and Allan Lane) is published on 25th October 2025.
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