The scientific revolution, from Copernicus to Newton, made science the winner in the race to uncover the ultimate nature of reality. But a hundred years ago, Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle and the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics undermined that vision, placing reality beyond the reach of physics. Despite the theory's remarkable predictive success, from the outset many refused to accept this outcome. Einstein famously declared, "God does not play dice" with the universe. Seeking to hold onto reality, some have put forward an uncountable infinity of parallel universes while others propose mysterious hidden variables. Critics argue these notions are driven not by evidence but by the emotional desire to believe in a describable reality, since the Copenhagen interpretation is precisely accurate, to 12 decimal places, in its predictions.

Should we accept the view that science’s ambition to reveal reality was always an illusion? And see alternatives as driven by the desire to retain ultimate truth? Or was Einstein right to insist that science needs to maintain the ability to provide a God's eye view of reality?

Former Editor of Nature Philip Ball, author of Beyond the Quantum, physicist Antony Valentini, and theoretical physicist and YouTuber Sabine Hossenfelder debate quantum physics and reality.