# Don't try this at home: Quantum Suicide! **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 7, 2003, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-try-this-at-home-quantum-suicide/180257 "2003-06-07T05:28:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ChaosGod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ac91a4/32.png) [@ChaosGod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChaosGod)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-try-this-at-home-quantum-suicide/180257/1 "2003-06-07T05:28:53Z")
Apparently, an idea I had last night was already “invented” 16 years ago. The [Quantum Suicide](http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_suicide) thought experiment plays with the many-worlds interpretation of quantum theory to state that it is impossible to kill oneself because there’s always another parallel world in which the quantum events are such that you are saved. This got me thinking in a cool money making scheme. The steps are as follows: 1. Purchase the highest paying lottery ticket in the world. Preferably millions of dollars. 2. Program your computer to receive the winning number over the internet, and to send an electrical signal over some output port if the number does not mach your ticket. 3. Strap yourself with high explosives wired to be triggered by this output. Voila! as your conscience must always survive in some universe, in this case, you force it to go through the most probable scenario of survival: you winning millions of dollars ! I just wanted to hear what you people think before I finish riggin this thing up. 😃 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-try-this-at-home-quantum-suicide/180257/2 "2003-06-07T05:57:16Z")
Hey, good luck on it. Of course, if OUR universe, you’ll most likely: a) lose, and b) be blown to itty-bitty bits. A shame I can’t figure out a good way to make some money off of your imminent demise, since it’s all but assured in MY universe. 🙂 Bear in mind, though, that you aren’t really guaranteed that you’ll win. Yes, in your universe (or, rather, your perception of the universe), you’ll survive… but you won’t necessarily win, you’ll just survive. Or be aware of survival. I’m sure there are a lot of worlds out there where you’ll lose the lottery but the triggering mechanism will fail… or where you’ll lose, and become a paraplegic from the ensuing explosion… why, there’s all _sorts of things_ that could happen. While Quantum Immortality guarantees you continued perception of the universe, it doesn’t guarantee you a normal life in which to perceive it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-try-this-at-home-quantum-suicide/180257/3 "2003-06-07T06:07:15Z")
Sounds to me like temping fate. Like **Lightnin’** said: the only flaw is that the other universes are also valid, and so you will be dead in those, and then, even on the “winning” side there are yet other possibilities: the computer will crash and no reading of the lotto will be available, or the explosives will fail, etc; all those things are more likely than winning the lottery. More so, if you set the whole thing in a Windows system 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-try-this-at-home-quantum-suicide/180257/4 "2003-06-07T06:11:31Z")
You know, it does occur to me, upon further reflection, that if I WERE to ever commit suicide, this is THE best way to do it. Or some variant thereof. Hey, if the worst that can happen when you commit suicide is that you die, you might as well try to test QS in the process, right? ---
**Author:** ![ChaosGod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ac91a4/32.png) [@ChaosGod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChaosGod)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-try-this-at-home-quantum-suicide/180257/5 "2003-06-07T06:18:51Z")
Lightning, GIGO: Taking note of your observations: a) Use Linux OS b) Program to send the triggering signal on ANY error condition, including failed connections, exceptions, etc. c) Use lots and lots of explosives so as to be killed and not maimed. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-try-this-at-home-quantum-suicide/180257/6 "2003-06-07T06:43:09Z")
I still don’t like the odds: [http://www.greedyfools.com/lotteryquiz.php](http://www.greedyfools.com/lotteryquiz.php) > [@](#): > > …… 8. Being killed by terrorists while traveling abroad: 650,000 to 1 > > 1. Death caused by a nuclear power plant: odds 10,000,000 to 1 > > 2. Winning the state lottery: odds 15,000,000 to 1 > > 3. Death caused by a falling meteorite: 10,000,000,000 to 1 > > We at [GreedyFools.com](http://GreedyFools.com) are sure that you are happy to find out that your chances of winning the lottery are better than being killed by a meteorite :), but also may find it troubling that you are 15 times more likely to die from flesh eating bacteria (1 in 1,000,000). Although Linux is more reliable, it is still not infallible: a “kernel panic” or a “core dump” will be still more likely than winning the lottery. As for the lots and lots of explosives: uh, aren’t you getting this to the level were others will be unwilling participants to the experiment? :eek: :wally 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ChaosGod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ac91a4/32.png) [@ChaosGod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChaosGod)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-try-this-at-home-quantum-suicide/180257/7 "2003-06-07T06:59:18Z")
I agree. Still, it would be funny to watch the universe attempting all sorts of things to try and stop you. Imagine: You’d be one minute away from the lottery result being announced, and the police would kick down your door looking for the terrorist whos been buying all those explosives. Or lightning would strike the power grid. Or, the most likely of all events: You CHICKEN OUT! ---
**Author:** ![g8rguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@g8rguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/g8rguy)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-try-this-at-home-quantum-suicide/180257/8 "2003-06-07T19:04:11Z")
Of course, the first thing you need to do is convince yourself that the entire many-worlds thing is actually right. Wouldn’t you feel awfully silly if you set this entire thing up, were blown to smithereens, and that was that? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ChaosGod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ac91a4/32.png) [@ChaosGod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChaosGod)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-try-this-at-home-quantum-suicide/180257/9 "2003-06-07T20:42:42Z")
Luckily, I’ll never witness my own death. If it works though: Wouldn’t it be funny and weird how you wouldn’t, COULDN’T convince anybody that you’ve just performed a succesfull quantum suicide!? Everybody else, being rational, would simply have to believe you’re just one hugely lucky MF. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Ryan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7feea3/32.png) [@The\_Ryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Ryan)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-try-this-at-home-quantum-suicide/180257/10 "2003-06-07T22:48:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by g8rguy \* > \*\*Of course, the first thing you need to do is convince yourself that the entire many-worlds thing is actually right. Wouldn’t you feel awfully silly if you set this entire thing up, were blown to smithereens, and that was that? 🙂 \*\* Well, no, he wouldn’t feel silly, because he’d be dead. That’s the whole point. It’s one decision you’re guaranteed not to regret. ---
**Author:** ![g8rguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@g8rguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/g8rguy)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-try-this-at-home-quantum-suicide/180257/11 "2003-06-07T23:04:34Z")
_smacks forehead_ It’s a joke, son, a joke! That’s why there’s a smiley face sitting there! Are you from Baltimore, by any chance? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-try-this-at-home-quantum-suicide/180257/12 "2003-06-07T23:42:27Z")
Ever read Dan Simmons’ _Endymion_? In it, the hero is placed in a smal cell orbiting a planet. Since the galaxy of the 32nd century (when the story takes place) is controlled by the Catholic Church, a death sentence, although warranted, cannot be carried out. The church places a cyanide canister in the cell. The canister is sealed against the vacuum of space except for a small opening into which a radioactive particle could enter. When/if the particle enters, it’ll trigger the cyanide cannister to discharge into the cell, killing the hero. According to the church’s way of thinking, the hero is killed by the randomness of the universe and NOT them. ---
**Author:** ![eburacum45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eburacum45/32/8690_2.png) [@eburacum45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum45)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2003, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-try-this-at-home-quantum-suicide/180257/13 "2003-06-08T00:16:05Z")
Hmm… imagine a future society of long- lived humans- people live for hundreds of years, but the world is regarded to be at the optimum population level for the happiness of the citizens. If one person has a child, another person has to volunteer to die… each volunteer is given a lottery ticket, and placed in a vapourisation chamber… Every so often a winner survives, and becomes rich and famous. The losers are gas. Thanks to the Many-Worlds interpretation, every person who goes into the vapour chamber comes out in a universe where they are rich and famous. this belief is enthusiastically reinforced by the state religions, who are also keen to avoid overpopulation and short lifetimes. Thanks, Mr Moravec!(one of my heroes) * * * SF worldbuilding at [http://www.orionsarm.com/main.html](http://www.orionsarm.com/main.html) ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2003, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-try-this-at-home-quantum-suicide/180257/14 "2003-06-08T01:41:53Z")
Everyone thinks that they are in the universe where they don’t blow up.:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![frithrah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ad7895/32.png) [@frithrah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/frithrah)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2003, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-try-this-at-home-quantum-suicide/180257/15 "2003-06-08T04:07:33Z")
Everyone IS in a universe where they don’t blow up. At least…so far. * * * Stand clear! Monkeys are prone to throw their own feces. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2003, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-try-this-at-home-quantum-suicide/180257/16 "2003-06-08T04:08:08Z")
How is it any different than if you don’t wire yourself w/ explosives? I mean the alternate universe you still wins the lottery, right? ---
**Author:** ![Kalt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Kalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalt)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2003, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-try-this-at-home-quantum-suicide/180257/17 "2003-06-08T04:28:00Z")
but you’re already a lottery winner in some alternate universe(s). ---
**Author:** ![ataraxy22](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ataraxy22/32/307_2.png) [@ataraxy22](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ataraxy22)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2003, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-try-this-at-home-quantum-suicide/180257/18 "2003-06-08T04:31:20Z")
well, if you are still alive at 200, 300, and no one else is living that old, you should start getting suspicious that maybe quantum immortality is real. If you’re die, you prove it wrong, but won’t be around to know it. Seems like you’re already playing this experiment whether you want to or not (everyone is). ---
**Author:** ![The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Asbestos_Mango)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2003, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-try-this-at-home-quantum-suicide/180257/19 "2003-06-08T12:08:23Z")
I have a cat named Schrodinger. He is by far the less intelligent of my two cats. I doubt if he is stupid enough to strap explosives to himself and hook himself up to a computer in such a fashion that his continued existence in this universe is contingent on his winning the lottery, just so he can find out if an alternate big, dumb, cuddly black cat in an alternate universe will live on and be fabulously wealthy. Mostly he just likes to sit on the newspaper while I’m trying to read it and purr. I think Schrodinger is smarter than **ChaosGod** ---
**Author:** ![ChaosGod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ac91a4/32.png) [@ChaosGod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChaosGod)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2003, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-try-this-at-home-quantum-suicide/180257/20 "2003-06-08T15:54:10Z")
Well, for all the skeptics out there, I’ll explain the two things you absolutely must believe in order to have ANY trust in Quantum Suicide: a) the already mentioned MANY-WORLDS interpretation of Quantum Theory. b) that ones perspective of consciousness only depends on the continued existence of “something”, that is idependent of space, time, or matter. Only dependent on it being exactly like us. although (b) is hard for me to explain, I kind of feel comfortable with the concept. there’s been a previous thread about the subject in the SDMB. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=183441](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=183441) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-try-this-at-home-quantum-suicide/180257.md?page=2)