That's interesting because Einstein thought that quantum physics in its emerging state was utterly wrong and had no time for the theories of the time at all. I think string theory and thoeries building on it were later than him but it has always intrigued me that someone so brilliant and lateral would completely close their mind to a new way of thinking.
Just like for many subatomic theories, though, they don't really change what we have already decided works mathematically, we merely add a new layer to the science. It's only the same as the revolution that turned the photon as a packet of energy into a waveform, without detracting from its discreet nature in many circumstances.
It's ironic (and sometimes annoyingly so) that with humanity's rapid advancement in technology and understanding of our universe over the past century and longer, how so many scientists never imagine that maybe we don't have it all understood just yet.
I think (I don't think, I'm just back from a festival) that this is related to the stuff the Austrian group were doing on quantum crypotography in 2004. I heard the Prof (Anton something?) speak about it twice in as many weeks, at HP Labs and at BRLSI. After repetition, it just about started to sink in!
The most readable explanation is in Charlie Stross' s-f writings (he's good anyway). Yes, you do get supraluminal comms (i.e. real passage of information, not just slapstick with phase and group velocities). HOWEVER you can only do this with pre-prepared kit, a box of quantum stuff that was produced together at some point, then separated by physical transport. So although you're supraluminal over the short range (which could still be huge) your overall system can never exceed its own physical light cone (you have to ship both boxes from a starting point). As a result, you're not breaking the really big constraints.
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Just like for many subatomic theories, though, they don't really change what we have already decided works mathematically, we merely add a new layer to the science. It's only the same as the revolution that turned the photon as a packet of energy into a waveform, without detracting from its discreet nature in many circumstances.
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The most readable explanation is in Charlie Stross' s-f writings (he's good anyway). Yes, you do get supraluminal comms (i.e. real passage of information, not just slapstick with phase and group velocities). HOWEVER you can only do this with pre-prepared kit, a box of quantum stuff that was produced together at some point, then separated by physical transport. So although you're supraluminal over the short range (which could still be huge) your overall system can never exceed its own physical light cone (you have to ship both boxes from a starting point). As a result, you're not breaking the really big constraints.
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