Quantum & RelativityQuantum Physics
The Quantum Tunnel
Particles can cross walls they can't climb, and your phone's memory relies on it
Your phone saves every photo by pushing electrons through a solid wall. No hole, no door, no way over. So how?
You'll find out
- How an electron slips through a wall
- Why a thinner wall matters so much
- What the Sun owes to this trick
Why it matters
Tunneling keeps the Sun shining and your photos saved. It has won Nobel Prizes too, most recently in 2025.
Play this lesson
Free to play in your browser or on iPhone