---
title: ‘Quantumania’ Meets Quantum Reality
date: 2023-02-20T05:30:00-05:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/quantumania-meets-quantum-reality"
section: Articles
---
# ‘Quantumania’ Meets Quantum Reality

*February 20, 2023* — by [Chris Carroll](/author/chris-carroll)


> We Took the Chair of Physics to Marvel’s Latest Hit to See How Well It Explains the Buzzy, Bewildering Subject

*OBD1100 TRL comp MPA v0628 1309 1920x1080 — Ant-Man and supporting characters from the latest Marvel superheroes film stare at the quantum realm—or the Hollywood version of it, anyway.*

Is it *truly*dangerous to send a signal down to the quantum realm? And is that *really* the place to find pink, flying sea anemone-type creatures—and Bill Murray—in the new “[Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10954600/)”? The movie premiered on Friday, reaping an impressive $104 million in domestic ticket sales over the weekend—and quite possibly expanding the scientific horizons of millions of Marvel Comic Universe devotees. Uh, right?

These are some of the questions I saved up for the quantum physicist who attended the movie with me on opening day: Steve Rolston, chair of the University of Maryland Department of Physics and fellow of the Joint Quantum Institute (JQI).



*Steve Rolston in his lab — Rolston in his lab*



*movie poster from latest Ant-Man film*




**Topics:** [Arts & Culture](https://today.umd.edu/tags/arts-culture), [Research](https://today.umd.edu/tags/research)


**Tags:** [Physics](https://today.umd.edu/topic/physics), [Quantum Science](https://today.umd.edu/topic/quantum-science), [Research](https://today.umd.edu/topic/research)


**Units:** [College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences](https://today.umd.edu/topic/college-computer-mathematical-and-natural-sciences)