Unless you're a physicist, you've probably only encountered quantum mechanics on TV.

And even when it was explained, you might've still been a little confused.

The field of quantum mechanics was created a century ago. Today, scientists are using it to create methods of communication that can't be hacked, higher quality digital images, and to develop medications.

But many of us don't even understand what quantum mechanics is — or how it's deepening our understanding of the universe.

For today's installment of our series, "The Scientific Method," we answer your quantum-related questions.

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He's the CEO of one of the nation's most successful electric car brands. He owns a legacy social media company. By some estimates, he's the world's richest man.

But how much influence does he have over the federal government?

We discuss Elon Musk — the things he's done while working with the Department of Government Efficiency, the mistakes he and his team have made, and the place he'll have working with the administration going forward.

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The so-called Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, posted a list of "receipts," of government misspending on federal contracts. After reporters found multiple inaccuracies, the department quietly deleted five of its biggest examples of savings.

Several House Republicans are cancelling constituent town halls following backlash at previous events across the country.

Meanwhile, overseas, this week marked three years since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. European leaders and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Kyiv in a show of support for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The right won the German elections held on Sunday, in its best showing in decades. The AfD party, Alternative for Germany, the country's most anti-immigration party, made historic gains.

Tensions are simmering between Israel and Hamas. The two sides find themselves in a standoff over hostage body and prisoner exchanges. The handover would complete the first phase of ceasefire which expires this weekend.

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An unvaccinated child in Lubbock, Texas died after being hospitalized last week due to measles.

It's the first death in the outbreak that began last month, and the first death from measles in the United States since 2015.

Along with a rash and fever, measles can cause a host of serious health complications – blindness, pneumonia or encephalitis, and swelling of the brain. It's especially deadly for children younger than 5.

According to the most recent state data, at least 124 cases of measles have been reported in the state of Texas and at least nine cases in neighboring New Mexico. The majority of cases are in children aged 5 to 17 years old.

We share what you need to know about this recent outbreak, and the best ways to prevent transmission.

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Art, for many of us, is an escape.

Whether it's turning on your favorite album during a traffic-heavy commute or getting lost in your favorite book before bed – art helps us cope with the stresses of everyday life.

But how does the role of art shift when your way of life is turned upside down in an instant? That's what happened to Slava Leontyev, his wife, Anya, and their friend Andrey when Russia invaded Ukraine. Instead of leaving, the three Ukrainian artists chose to fight erasure and Russian aggression through their work.

A new documentary called "Porcelain War" follows their journey surviving and defending their country while holding onto their humanity.

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Avian influenza has killed millions of birds and caused egg prices to soar since it first emerged in U.S. poultry in 2022.

The virus has since jumped to other mammals, including people.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed 973 dairy herds infected with bird flu as of Feb. 21. And 70 cases among people in the U.S. since March of last year.

Cases of the avian flu, or H5N1, in dairy cows in Nevada and Arizona have scientists rethinking how the virus spreads.

We discuss the latest data on the strain detected in cows and how it might affect mitigation efforts.

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How do you tie together the stories of ancient Egypt, Robin Hood, Freddy Kreuger, and Hamlet – on a single stage?

Well, through time travel, of course. But also with the minds and talent of a group of actors at Sing Sing correctional facility in New York.

Such a play – titled "Breakin' the Mummy's Code" – was made possible through a program called RTA: Rehabilitation Through the Arts. It was born in 1996 after a group of incarcerated men at Sing Sing put on a few theater productions. They decided they wanted those productions to be something more – an organized group that could bring the power of theater to people inside prisons.

The program's story is now on the big screen in the film "Sing Sing." We talk to the people who made the movie possible.

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It's the anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. And the world looks very different now than it did then.

In the three years since Russian President Vladimir Putin's forces began their assault on their neighbor, tens of thousands of civilians and soldiers have perished. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been able to hold his enemies off with the help of support from the U.S.

But now that Donald Trump is in charge, that's likely to change. The president has made it no secret that he believes Zelenskyy should try and make peace with Putin, no matter what it might cost his country. In his first month in office, Trump has taken steps to isolate the U.S. from its allies in Western Europe and NATO, putting those countries on even shakier ground as they try and contend with the possibility of continued Russian aggression.

We discuss what the future of this conflict looks like for Ukraine.

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"Wicked: Part 1" follows the origin story of Elphaba, known in the original "Wizard of Oz" movie as the Wicked Witch of the West. And it follows her friend, Galinda, who eventually becomes the Good Witch.

The movie is based on the Broadway musical which debuted in 2003. Last year, it became the fourth-longest running musical in Broadway history. And that musical comes from a 1995 novel of the same name. The new Wicked movie stars singer-actresses Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande as the witches Elphaba and Galinda.

The result this past weekend has been gravity-defying. "Wicked" brought in $114 million in North America and another $50 million internationally. That's the best-ever opening for a film adaptation of a Broadway musical.

For this meeting of the 1A Movie Club, we discuss the new "Wicked" film.

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"LONG LIVE THE KING!"

President Donald Trump posted that self-referential statement on Truth Social last week. He was celebrating his attempt to kill congestion pricing in New York City.

And several weeks ago, Trump declared, "He who saves his country does not violate any law."

His administration's actions are clear. They appear to be abandoning the American democracy we know. We discuss what a new American government could look like if our system of democracy no longer holds, and what it means for you, regardless of your political affiliation.

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