A new hope for Star Wars fans: The Force (sort of) exists, says Winnipeg prof

As any Star Wars fan can tell you, "the Force" is what gives a Jedipowerbut it's also a complicated physics phenomenon in this galaxy, a University of Winnipeg professor says.

As Star Wars: The Last Jedi opens in theatres, University of Winnipeg professor and Canada Research Chair in quantum materials discovery ChristopherWiebelooked into a phenomenon in modern physics that resembles the mystical power from the immensely popular space-fantasy franchise.

The Force, as explained by Jedi knight Obi-Wan Kenobiin the firstStar Warsmovie,is an energy field created by all things that binds the galaxy together. Wiebe saidquantum entanglement is a similar concept.

"It's a tantalizing idea to describe how different bodies can be connected," he toldCBC Radio's Up To Speed.

Quantum entanglement is a phenomenon that connects particles over large distances if they have previously been entangled, then separated, Wiebe said, giving a hypothetical and Star Wars-specific example.

If Last Jedi baddieKylo Ren hides a red lightsaberin one box, and heroRey hides a blue one in the other, quantum theory dictates that those objects are neither red nor blue, he said.

It's only when Rey checks the box and she discovers whether it's red or blue thatthe lightsaberin the other box becomes the other colour in this theory, the two lightsabersare connected over a large distance, Wiebe said.

"It was seen as a controversial idea in physics when it was first proposed, but now physicists have done experiments to show that particles can be connected over a large distance," Wiebe said.

While they aren't nearly as complex as lightsabers, research has shown this concept in action in certain particles.

Force-based powers like telekinesis and telepathic communicationare still outside the realm of possibility, unfortunatelyat least as far as modern science has discovered.

"I don't think physicists will be reading minds anytime soon, or else they'll all be at the poker table in Vegas," Wiebe said