Electrons are both waves and particles
Electrons, the tiny building blocks of matter, astonishingly display both wave-like and particle-like behaviors, fundamentally reshaping our understanding of the universe.
Imagine tiny electrons acting like both solid particles and rippling waves! This mind-bending phenomenon, called wave-particle duality, is a cornerstone of quantum mechanics. First proposed by Louis de Broglie in 1924, it was proven in 1927 when scientists observed electrons creating wave-like interference patterns. Even when fired one at a time, electrons in a double-slit experiment behave as if they interfere with themselves, only settling into a particle state when measured. This challenges our everyday understanding of reality and explains everything from atomic structure to how semiconductors work.