Communicating some areas of physics is far more difficult than others, and if there is one that stands out for its complexity, it is quantum mechanics. However, that does not stop certain brilliant minds from creating humor out of it. The Institute for Quantum Information and Matter at Caltech has managed to bring together names like Keanu Reeves, Paul Rudd, Zoe Saldana, Simon Pegg and John Cho, teaming up with the one and only Stephen Hawking.
Anyone Can Quantum
Earlier this year, a short film of nearly twelve minutes took the Web by storm and became an instant success. Its title is “Anyone Can Quantum”, and if I only said it was based on quantum mechanics, I bet many of our readers would struggle to understand why it's so popular. But this is not a “traditional” look at quantum mechanics; rather, it is a strange adventure in which we find Keanu Reeves as a sort of futuristic guide who must ensure the existence of his reality by sending a message 700 years into the past so that Paul Rudd (Ant-Man) can convince the world that anyone can grasp the concepts of quantum mechanics. Now, there is a small detail: Rudd must beat Stephen Hawking in a game of quantum chess…
Yes, the video is brilliant. The references, the secondary elements (like the tweets from Neil Tyson, Conan O’Brien, NASA and Pope Francis), and of course the talent of everyone involved turned Anyone Can Quantum into the best twelve minutes anyone can spend on YouTube. But the story doesn’t end there. Thanks to the excellent reception this short received, the idea of a sequel quickly took shape, and that’s how the Institute for Quantum Information and Matter at Caltech, in association with the Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Cinestar Pictures and Trouper Productions, present “Quantum Is Calling”, which again features Stephen Hawking as one of the main characters, this time alongside Zoe Saldana:
And yes, Quantum Is Calling is a short just as good as the first. Without a doubt, we are looking at an unusual way of communicating science, but beyond the situations, it is surprisingly effective. Something tells me we’ll be seeing more videos in the future, and I’ll end by saying the world needs to hear more from Zoe Saldana insulting in Spanish.
(Ed. note: The second video has Spanish subtitles.)
