We often come across the ‘q-word’ in fields unrelated to quantum physics. In the realm of pseudoscience, quantum physics terms are used to explain everything from an ability to influence our reality, read minds, and heal ourselves. The average educated scientist may scoff at these claims and never think anything of them. However, professor of physics Philip Moriarty argues that, from Wigner to Pauli, expert physicists have long since engaged with quantum-inspired mystical claims, and thus, along with the general rise of pseudoscience and misinformation, physicists too had a historical role to play in the promotion of quantum ‘woo-woo’.

“Our bodies and our universe aren’t solid things at all. They’re patterns of energy. By influencing the frequency of energy in and around your body, you can change your physical reality."

So says John Amaral, self-styled energy healer, life coach, and guru to a gamut of celebrities so famous that surnames are superfluous: Gwyneth, Meghan, Harry – you can probably guess the others on the list. (Surprisingly, however, Oprah isn’t one of Amaral’s clients. In this universe at least.) Amaral’s Energy Flow Formula is in intense demand in the rarefied heights of A-lister communities. He claims that by influencing the “energy fields” around our bodies he can, and I quote, “heal physical injuries, reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, and reach and sustain new levels of energy, clarity, and fulfilment so [his clients] can feel and live better.”