In Koontz's novel Brother Odd, a character says that human will has an effect on the subatomic level. True?

Question

"Mr. Thomas, did you know that in an experiment with a human observer, subatomic particles behave differently from the way they behave when the experiment is unobserved whie in progress and the results are examined, instead, only after the fact?" - Rodion Romanovich, Brother Odd

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Is this true or not?

Answer 1

The idea that an observer has to be human is not required in quantum mechanics. In quantum mechanics an "observation" is an event that happens which determines the state of a waveparticle from an ensemble of possibilities. When an experiment is set-up that measures a waveparticle, it acts as such an event. However, no human is required.

Answer 2

Not exactly.  The idea is that nothing is defined until someone looks to see what it is.  

The thought experiment designed by Schroedinger illustrates this.  Imagine putting a cat in a box and exposing it to radiation that has a 50% of killing it.  Now, is the cat alive or dead?  It's in a superposition of the states - it has an equal chance of being alive or dead, and you won't know until you look.  It could be said that the very act of looking determines the outcome.

Of course, you're not actually affecting the outcome with your will - you can't change the outcome, you can merely discover it.  And so could a computer or non-human measuring device.

And of course, it only really applies on the quantum level.

Answer 3

this is true on objects that are not living occasionally, honestly, just watch the movie "What The Bleep Do We Know?!"

Answer 4

Yes, it was an experiment done involving electrons. The results were completely different when the expriment was observed rahter than unobserved.

Answer 5

at least that is true in the novel,but i have not read that Dean Koontz book,but he is good,but i have read ,The Face,by the way is good!