Believe it or not this is a serious scientific idea!
Scientist disagree about exactly what happens when you make a measurement. It seems simple but some of the cleverest people have been arguing about this for 100 years!
Stop reading now unless you like things that are wacky and confusing!
People think that all possible measurements exist but we only see one of them because we live in one reality. For some this reality is the ONLY one after you make the measurement, but others think that all the other realities carry on in parralel with ours.
Everybody struggles to get their head round this so don’t worry. I am not sure the evidence is convincing for either argument. It is genuinely a puzzle 😀
By the way – for future reference the subject in general is called “Quantum Mechanics” and the particular problem you mention can be looked up under “Copenhagen Interpretation”.
I just love the many worlds interpretation of quantum theory. Every single event splits the universe. The alternative is a universe where a conscious decision determines reality. Neither is completely satisfactory – but as both are equally valid, scientifically I cannot “believe” either!
See discussion of Schrodingers cat for more on this:
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