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It is an experiment to highlight how materials behave differently at a sub atomic level, otherwise called 'the measurement problem'. The experiment involves a radioactive material such as Radium, and linking it to a radiation detector which is in turn linked to a vile of cyanide. These items are placed in a large box along with a live domestic cat. The box lid is then shut with the cat inside. The idea is that when the radiation detector senses radiation given off by the Radium it will open the vile of cyanide which will kill the cat. It seems an obvious conclusion... but it isn't.

Because of the way sub atomic particles move, it is never know for sure where they are until we measure them. It has been shown that they can be in two places at once. Therefore the radioactive particle, while in the shut box, has both jumped and not jumped into the detector at the same time. Therefore until we open the box to study the fate of the cat, it is both dead andalive at the same time .

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