A single-celled organism provides an excellent metaphor for what quantum mechanics says about the world. Robert P Crease and Gino Elia explain Strange parallel Proponents of an interpretation of quantum mechanics known as “QBism” have devised a metaphor involving Euglena – a single-celled freshwater algae that has a long whip, or “flagellum”, that can sense nutrients and propel it towards the food. (Courtesy: iStock/wir0man)"> Strange parallel Proponents of an interpretation of quantum mechanics known as “QBism” have devised a metaphor involving Euglena – a single-celled freshwater algae that has a long whip, or “flagellum”, that can sense nutrients and propel it towards the food. (Courtesy: iStock/wir0man) Quantum mechanics is so full of strange phenomena that it’s not surprising that physicists have had to dream up some vivid metaphors to explain them. Who can’t help but think of cats in boxes when contemplating superposition or balls of jumbled yarn when musing over entanglement?…