Chapter 1: Understanding Trump's Perspective

In discussing COVID-19, Donald Trump has often made the assertion that the alarming case numbers in the United States are primarily due to extensive testing. For instance, on June 15, 2020, he stated, “If you don’t test, you don’t have any cases… If we stopped testing right now, we’d have very few cases if any.”

This line of reasoning is fundamentally flawed, as most people recognize. The absence of testing does not equate to the absence of cases; it merely indicates a lack of awareness about those cases.

If we were to apply Trump's logic in other contexts, it might lead to absurd conclusions such as:

• If you never check your bank balance, you'll never go broke.
• If you don't screen for diabetes, there will be no diabetes cases (this reflects his exact claim).
• If radar guns are not used on highways, no one will exceed the speed limit.

You can see where this reasoning leads, right?

However, there is a scenario where "testing" does play a crucial role. Perhaps Trump’s remarks can be likened to the renowned thought experiment known as Schrödinger's Cat.

This thought experiment encapsulates the quantum nature of reality. To grasp this concept fully, it’s essential to first understand classical physics.

Imagine launching a ball. If the initial position and velocity are known, one can predict the ball's future position. It may sound improbable, but this prediction holds true in theory. With precise initial conditions and accounting for environmental interactions, classical physics can provide accurate forecasts.

Photo: Rhett Allain

Nonetheless, classical physics is not the ultimate truth; it serves merely as a model of reality. It falls short when delving into the microscopic realm, where phenomena behave unexpectedly. For instance, when examining an electron in a hydrogen atom, one does not derive a trajectory. Instead, the outcome is represented by a wave function.

What exactly is a wave function? It’s a complex concept, but fundamentally, it’s the solution to the Schrödinger equation.

Indeed, there are various forms to illustrate this equation, but the one above serves as an intriguing representation. The key takeaway is the wave function, denoted by Ψ, which indicates the probability of locating the electron.

At the quantum level, probability is all that remains. While this may seem perplexing, it is the nature of the quantum world. However, this probability is not indefinite. Upon making an observation using some measurement device, the electron's exact position becomes known. Thus, the wave function transitions from a probability distribution to a specific location.

Now, let’s delve into the Schrödinger's cat scenario:

Picture a cat inside a sealed box, alongside a vial of poison. For the sake of creativity, you can develop a backstory for this arrangement. There’s a 50% chance that the poison will be released, resulting in the cat's demise. When the box is opened, the cat can either be alive or deceased.

But prior to opening the box, is the cat alive or dead? If we employ this as a metaphor for a wave function, both states can coexist. This means the cat can be viewed as being simultaneously alive and dead. However, once the box is opened and an observation is made, the wave function collapses, revealing a definitive outcome.

Illustration: Rhett Allain (created for your understanding)

So, there you have it—the Schrödinger's cat thought experiment. Indeed, quantum mechanics presents some strange ideas.

Returning to Donald Trump, could it be that COVID-19 mirrors the cat in the box? If no measurements are taken, might it exist in a state of both infection and non-infection? While one could argue this point, it’s crucial to note that even in the absence of testing, individuals can still become ill and transmit the virus to others.

Ultimately, this is common knowledge. Most people understand this principle, and I believe Trump does too. It seems that his “no testing, no cases” narrative stems from a desire to maintain favorable public perception. High COVID-19 case numbers, in his view, could reflect poorly on him, leading to the conclusion that less testing equates to fewer reported cases.

During a lengthy speech, he may have casually mentioned the “no testing means no cases” notion without fully considering its implications. Later, a staff member might have pointed out the logical flaws in this statement. Whether he comprehends the issue is uncertain, but it’s a straightforward concept to grasp.

In the end, he refrains from retracting his statement, preferring to stick with it rather than admit fault. It’s simply part of his approach. Donald Trump’s position has been established, and his wave function has collapsed—leaving no ambiguity about where he stands.

Chapter 2: The Intersection of Science and Politics

The first video explores how chaos theory provides insights into Trump's ascent to power, shedding light on the unpredictable nature of political dynamics.

The second video presents an update on COVID-19’s impact on education, discussing the challenges faced by students during the pandemic.