Google's Quantum AI Lab team in collaboration with MinecraftEdu and Caltech's Institute of Quantum Information and Matter has released a mod for Minecraft that enables quantum physics in the game. Specifically, the qCraft mod adds new blocks that exhibit quantum entanglement, superposition and observer dependency in an effort to get today's youth thinking about quantum physics.
In a Google+ post on the matter, the AI Lab team believes that future quantum computer scientists may derive from Minecraft. That may sound silly but as they point out, millions of kids are spending a ton of hours playing Minecraft and they aren't just digging caves and fighting monsters. Instead, they are building space shuttles, assembly lines and even programmable computers - all in the name of experimentation and discovery.
As seen in the video above, qCraft users can "activate" a block simply by looking at it while others can disappear seemingly at any time. The team notes the full potential of what can be created with the mod is anyone's guess and I imagine we will be seeing some pretty wicked creations in the not-too-distant future.
The AI Lab team said qCraft wasn't a perfect science simulator but it is a fun way for gamers to experience some aspects of quantum mechanics outside of lab-based experiments and dense textbook examples.
The update is available for download as part of the Feed the Beast, Hexxit or Tekkit modpacks. It is also available as a direct download for Mac and PC, we're told.