Quantum physics has been deployed in many fun and creative ways—from the small screen to the big screen, and from novels to games. Take your pick:
We know we’ve not caught everything that has a touch of quantum. Contact us to share your favourites if we’ve missed them!
Encounter novel quantum themes in fiction.
Quantum physics has inspired movie plots, perhaps most notably Marvel’s Antman movies and Avengers: Endgame. Besides time travel and the multiverse, quantum computing and quantum teleportation have also made their way to a big screen near you. Here are reviews of some movies with these themes:
You can catch quantum physics on the small screen as well.
The Big Bang Theory
This well-known sitcom is about a group of friends who are physicists, scientists and engineers. You’ll hear about string theory, Heisenberg, Schrödinger’s cat and more.
https://www.vulture.com/article/smartest-big-bang-theory-episodes-science.html
Stranger Things
There is the idea of a parallel universe, and even references to Hugh Everett’s many-worlds theory. In the latest season, Planck’s Constant gets a mention.
https://www.space.com/stranger-things-plancks-constant.html
Futurama
This animated series references the observer effect in one episode.
https://io9.gizmodo.com/10-futurama-jokes-that-will-make-you-smarter-1676659998
Here is a blog post capturing quantum references that you might have noticed in other TV shows:
https://sagepus.blogspot.com/2018/11/quantum-leaks-uses-of-scientific.html
There are many games that have a quantum spin. You may like to check out the quantum games projects by our scientific partners – IQIM has a quantum games programme and EQUS organises a quantum game development competition.
To start playing, here are some quantum-inspired games:
Quantum Break
Time travel is part of the storyline in this game.
https://www.wired.co.uk/article/quantum-break-interview-sam-lake
Quantum Cats
An Angry Birds-style game, with cats with quantum powers.
https://uwaterloo.ca/news/news/new-quantum-cats-game-launches-better-understanding-quantum
Quantum Chess
Chess gets a quantum upgrade in this game.
https://quantumfrontiers.com/2016/02/15/quantum-chess/
qCraft
Quantum mechanics meets Minecraft.
https://www.caltech.edu/about/news/qcraft-introduces-gaming-kids-quantum-principles-40992
Quantum Moves
A game based on a real problem in quantum experiments.
https://www.nature.com/news/human-mind-excels-at-quantum-physics-compute…
Besides games that draw on quantum ideas, there is a burgeoning field of games for quantum computers. These are games programmed to run on quantum computers. These games could demonstrate practical uses for quantum computing. They are also a way for the public to access and interact with quantum computers. Read more at the following links:
https://medium.com/@decodoku/the-history-of-games-for-quantum-computers-a1de98859b5a
https://gizmodo.com/what-will-quantum-computer-games-be-like-1827405067
https://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/quantum-computing-video-games/
