Imagine you woke up one morning to find that the rules governing the universe had completely changed. Gone were the classical laws of Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein in which everything behaves predictably. Instead, people randomly pop in and out of existence. Each time you make a decision, every possible outcome takes place. And objects on one side of the universe can affect objects billions of miles away instantaneously as if space, the stuff that separates them, no longer exists.

While this seems pretty wacky, physicists in the early 20th century discovered that the subatomic world is governed by a very strange set of laws called quantum mechanics--laws that make these tiny particles act in seriously peculiar ways. Turns out that our everyday experience is masking a weird, wondrous subatomic realm that is far stranger than anyone expected.

"The Fabric of the Cosmos," based on Brian Greene's bestselling book and the sequel of sorts to NOVA's award-winning "The Elegant Universe," aims to answer some of the most mind-boggling questions about space and time, but it will also dive deep in to the land of quantum mechanics.

Recently the "Quantum" hour production team, headed up by producer Josh Rosen of Spine Films, took off for the bowling alley to explain how this bizarre quantum world works...

So what does quantum mechanics have to do with bowling?

Brian Greene on set for NOVA's upcoming series "The Fabric of the Cosmos." Photo by Jonathan Sahula.

We just got back from New York City and the opening night of the World Science Festival. It was an exhilarating night devoted to the intersection between art and science. (See what our Senior Executive Producer Paula Apsell wrote about the event.)

Our host, Brian Greene--you might remember him from "The Elegant Universe"--is cofounder of the festival. Just like NOVA, the festival aims to cultivate a science-savvy community.

This year, the opening night gala celebrated the revolutionary career of renowned theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking.

Lincoln Center was abuzz with science-inspired performances by award-winning Broadway stars, principal dancers from ballet companies, and acclaimed poet Elizabeth Alexander. Famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma and artists from the Silk Road Ensemble paid homage to Hawking with a captivating performance. And later, Brian spoke about how Hawking influenced his career in physics.

Afterward, Hawking took the stage, thanked everyone, and even cracked a few jokes.

 
Stephen Hawking on stage at the World Science Festival. Photo by Anna Lee Strachan.