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http://www.forbes.com/sites/chadorzel/2015/08/13/what-has-quantum...
Science
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2016-12-25 15:21
http://www.forbes.com/sites/chadorzel/2015/08/13/what-has-quantum...
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2016-12-25 15:21
http://www.forbes.com/sites/chadorzel/2015/08/13/what-has-quantum...
Unless my grumpy
correspondent was posting from
the exact server hosting the
comment files (which would be
really creepy), odds are very
good that comment took a path
to me that also relies on
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http://www.forbes.com/sites/chadorzel/2015/08/13/what-has-quantum...
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2016-12-25 15:21
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http://www.forbes.com/sites/chadorzel/2015/08/13/what-has-quantum...
clocks is a "hyperfine"
transition, which comes from a
small energy shift depending on
how the spin of an electron is
oriented relative to the spin of
the nucleus of the atom. Those
spins are an intrinsically
quantum phenomenon
(actually, it comes in only when
you include special relativity
with quantum mechanics),
causing the electrons, protons,
and neutrons making up
ordinary matter behave like tiny
magnets.
This spin is responsible for the
fourth and final practical
application of quantum physics
that I'll talk about today, namely
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
(MRI). The central process in an
MRI machine is called Nuclear
Magnetic Resonance (but
"nuclear" is a scary word, so it's
avoided for a consumer medical
process), and works by flipping
the spins in the nuclei of
hydrogen atoms. A clever
arrangement of magnetic fields
lets doctors measure the
concentration of hydrogen
appearing in different parts of
the body, which in turn
distinguishes between a lot of
softer tissues that don't show up
well in traditional x-rays.
So any time you, a loved one, or
your favorite professional
athlete undergoes an MRI scan,
you have quantum physics to
2016-12-25 15:21
http://www.forbes.com/sites/chadorzel/2015/08/13/what-has-quantum...
Gallery
Six
Things
Everyone
Should
Know
About
Quantum
Physics
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http://www.forbes.com/sites/chadorzel/2015/08/13/what-has-quantum...
Launch
Gallery
6 images
2016-12-25 15:21
10 of 10
http://www.forbes.com/sites/chadorzel/2015/08/13/what-has-quantum...
2016-12-25 15:21