The Hidden Shortcut in Nature: How Quantum Tunneling Lets Particles Break the Rules

Advanced Computing, AI/ML, Chips, and Extended Reality

Good morning,

Quantum Mechanics for Dummies, Part 4

Quantum Tunneling: How particles cheat the rules

Ever stared at a wall and wished you could just walk through it? In our everyday world, that's pure fantasy. But in the quantum realm, particles do just that—without any magic or sci-fi gadgets.

We used to think that if something doesn’t have enough energy, it simply can’t overcome a barrier. You’d imagine a tiny particle facing a wall would just bounce back, right?

But here's what everyone misses: Quantum tunneling isn’t about climbing over a barrier—it’s about appearing on the other side as if the barrier was never there.