>>14173970pseudoscientific pop-sci non answer
>>14173955Quantum tunneling is a misnomer much like all QM axioms. Electrons aren't magic and dont work by literal chance, the probability isnt reality.
Quantum Tunneling is best thought of the threshold difference between two energy states in an energized atom. For example transistors have a minimum switching energy. However if you power them right at that switching threshold, some electrons will flow through the system despite not actually being at full power. This becomes a problem when making things really small in silicon chips and suddenly your wires are now atom sized. And given that we cant really measure voltage across atoms, we have to do calculations with probability.
And as for why electron tunneling is a thing, please dont forget the electric field exists. Even at low powers small fields are generated, and when you shrink things down the relative influence of these fields increases. Thus it seem like electrons tunnel through things when in reality theyre being pushed through by fields
