Quantum mechanics once baffled scientists. Now it's changing the world

For much of the early 20th century, quantum mechanics was one of the most puzzling ideas in science. The theory challenged conventional thinking and left even leading physicists struggling to make sense of its implications. A century later, it has become the foundation of technologies that influence daily life, including lasers, microchips, secure communications, and emerging quantum computers. In a new perspective article published in Science, Dr. Marlan Scully of Texas A&M University reflects on the remarkable evolution of quantum mechanics, from an abstract theory about tiny particles…