Tom Rivlin
@tomrivlin.com
Vienna-based former Londoner. Quantum postdoc in TU Wien's @quitphysics.info group. (Running their bsky account!) Previously Weizmann, UCL, Imperial. Science writer for SciShow, bylines with PBS Space Time, New Scientist. H/h
Pinned
Tom Rivlin
@tomrivlin.com
· Nov 24
The Quantum Quest for a Perfectly Random d20
YouTube video by SciShow
youtu.be
New @scishow.bsky.social episode I worked on! They actually pitched to ME to write an episode about quantum random number generators using Dungeons and Dragons as a framing device. I think it's fair to say I was the right person for the job. Check it out, it came out well!
youtu.be/gLDHs3195u4?...
youtu.be/gLDHs3195u4?...
Spending today doing the things I love most: fussing over DNS settings for a domain name change and also separately fussing over LaTeX packages to upload something to arXiv 🙃🙃🙃
But yes, say hello to QuOI!
But yes, say hello to QuOI!
Hey quantum Bluesky! Allow us to reintroduce ourselves! You may know us as QuIT: Marcus Huber's Quantum Information and Thermodynamics group at TU Wien. But we're so much more than that, and it's time our name reflected it.
So say hello to... 𝗤𝘂𝗢𝗜?
quoi-theory.at
So say hello to... 𝗤𝘂𝗢𝗜?
quoi-theory.at
January 27, 2026 at 4:22 PM
Spending today doing the things I love most: fussing over DNS settings for a domain name change and also separately fussing over LaTeX packages to upload something to arXiv 🙃🙃🙃
But yes, say hello to QuOI!
But yes, say hello to QuOI!
Had this experience today. Once you start to notice this pattern you really do see it everywhere
January 22, 2026 at 3:08 PM
Had this experience today. Once you start to notice this pattern you really do see it everywhere
Whenever I'm on the London Underground and the announcer says "please make use of all available doors" I always imagine they want me to pass through every aperture simultaneously like a quantum particle
January 16, 2026 at 4:02 PM
Whenever I'm on the London Underground and the announcer says "please make use of all available doors" I always imagine they want me to pass through every aperture simultaneously like a quantum particle
New SciShow by me! With tricks from biology and physics, lots of things in nature are very good at efficiently getting from A to B, and one way people love to test this is using mazes. So from slime molds to lasers, here's 5 surprisingly good maze solvers! www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKYd...
5 Things That Shouldn't Be Able to Solve a Maze
YouTube video by SciShow
www.youtube.com
January 13, 2026 at 2:47 PM
New SciShow by me! With tricks from biology and physics, lots of things in nature are very good at efficiently getting from A to B, and one way people love to test this is using mazes. So from slime molds to lasers, here's 5 surprisingly good maze solvers! www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKYd...
Reposted by Tom Rivlin
Our Research Unit had a pretty amazing year in 2025. In total:
-3️⃣7️⃣ preprints were released
-5️⃣ of those were also fully published
-1️⃣9️⃣ more preprints from previous years were fully published
Congrats, everyone! ❤️ Here's to a fun year of research in 2026
www.quitphysics.info/publications
-3️⃣7️⃣ preprints were released
-5️⃣ of those were also fully published
-1️⃣9️⃣ more preprints from previous years were fully published
Congrats, everyone! ❤️ Here's to a fun year of research in 2026
www.quitphysics.info/publications
Publications — Atominstitut Theory Division
www.quitphysics.info
January 7, 2026 at 4:08 PM
Our Research Unit had a pretty amazing year in 2025. In total:
-3️⃣7️⃣ preprints were released
-5️⃣ of those were also fully published
-1️⃣9️⃣ more preprints from previous years were fully published
Congrats, everyone! ❤️ Here's to a fun year of research in 2026
www.quitphysics.info/publications
-3️⃣7️⃣ preprints were released
-5️⃣ of those were also fully published
-1️⃣9️⃣ more preprints from previous years were fully published
Congrats, everyone! ❤️ Here's to a fun year of research in 2026
www.quitphysics.info/publications
This was fun to organise and host! Lots of good discussions. Not mentioned in the official post: we also had the "Ig Journies" -- the Worst Paper Of The Year award. I won't mention who won that 👀
Today we had The Journies, the annual "Papers of the Year" award at our quantum theory journal club. After an informal, just-for-fun vote, the winners were:
1. Most well-written paper: A Friendly Guide to Exorcising Maxwell’s Demon; A. de Oliveira Junior et. al. journals.aps.org/prxquantum/a...
1. Most well-written paper: A Friendly Guide to Exorcising Maxwell’s Demon; A. de Oliveira Junior et. al. journals.aps.org/prxquantum/a...
December 17, 2025 at 5:13 PM
This was fun to organise and host! Lots of good discussions. Not mentioned in the official post: we also had the "Ig Journies" -- the Worst Paper Of The Year award. I won't mention who won that 👀
Control was one of my fave games of all time. So so cool, the vibes were amazing. Very excited for a sequel youtu.be/e1_eZyFM5-4?...
Control Resonant - Announcement Trailer | PS5 Games
YouTube video by PlayStation
youtu.be
December 12, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Control was one of my fave games of all time. So so cool, the vibes were amazing. Very excited for a sequel youtu.be/e1_eZyFM5-4?...
It's finally out! Much of my work in Vienna has been on follow-ups to this paper, but it took a long time to go through peer review. It's a really cool idea that I hope gets a lot more attention now
New in Phys Rev Research! Marcus, Max, and Manu (while he was still working in Vienna) propose a dynamic model of quantum measurements as an equilibration process, motivated by the laws of thermodynamics: The Measurement-Equilibration Hypothesis
journals.aps.org/prresearch/a...
journals.aps.org/prresearch/a...
Quantum measurements and equilibration: The emergence of objective outcomes via entropy maximization
The measurement postulate of quantum theory stands in conflict with the laws of thermodynamics and has evoked debate regarding what actually constitutes a measurement. With the help of modern quantum ...
journals.aps.org
December 11, 2025 at 10:07 AM
It's finally out! Much of my work in Vienna has been on follow-ups to this paper, but it took a long time to go through peer review. It's a really cool idea that I hope gets a lot more attention now
Recently discovered the joy of being on the other side of the interaction from this classic post
December 9, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Recently discovered the joy of being on the other side of the interaction from this classic post
Last year @mariaviolaris.bsky.social did quick interviews of me and a few other Vienna quantum people at a conference in town. Now the video of that is out and it came out well!
youtu.be/9jlORrdO5E0?...
youtu.be/9jlORrdO5E0?...
I asked 10 quantum physicists the biggest questions about reality
YouTube video by Dr Maria Violaris
youtu.be
November 30, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Last year @mariaviolaris.bsky.social did quick interviews of me and a few other Vienna quantum people at a conference in town. Now the video of that is out and it came out well!
youtu.be/9jlORrdO5E0?...
youtu.be/9jlORrdO5E0?...
New @scishow.bsky.social episode I worked on! They actually pitched to ME to write an episode about quantum random number generators using Dungeons and Dragons as a framing device. I think it's fair to say I was the right person for the job. Check it out, it came out well!
youtu.be/gLDHs3195u4?...
youtu.be/gLDHs3195u4?...
The Quantum Quest for a Perfectly Random d20
YouTube video by SciShow
youtu.be
November 24, 2025 at 6:25 PM
New @scishow.bsky.social episode I worked on! They actually pitched to ME to write an episode about quantum random number generators using Dungeons and Dragons as a framing device. I think it's fair to say I was the right person for the job. Check it out, it came out well!
youtu.be/gLDHs3195u4?...
youtu.be/gLDHs3195u4?...
Another banger SciShow episode that I wish I could take credit for but sadly had nothing to do with. (Though stay tuned for an upcoming one of mine on a similar topic!)
youtu.be/-gp7AbYD9NI?...
youtu.be/-gp7AbYD9NI?...
How to Make Fair DnD Dice from ANY Shape
YouTube video by SciShow
youtu.be
October 28, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Another banger SciShow episode that I wish I could take credit for but sadly had nothing to do with. (Though stay tuned for an upcoming one of mine on a similar topic!)
youtu.be/-gp7AbYD9NI?...
youtu.be/-gp7AbYD9NI?...
Anyway yes Hades II good
I watched a video on YouTube called something like "Top 10 beginner tips for playing Hades II" and the next day the YT algorithm started showing me videos with tumbnails and titles containing end-game spoilers 🤷
October 20, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Anyway yes Hades II good
Nice article on this from New Scientist with some interesting updates on the research that's happened since my video on it came out www.newscientist.com/article/2498...
October 15, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Nice article on this from New Scientist with some interesting updates on the research that's happened since my video on it came out www.newscientist.com/article/2498...
Reposted by Tom Rivlin
Congrats to the three new physics Nobel laureates, who helped lay the groundwork for superconducting quantum computing. As always, nobelprize.org has a great technical summary of the results that won the prize and the wider research context
www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physi...
www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physi...
Nobel Prize in Physics 2025
The Nobel Prize in Physics 2025 was awarded to John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret and John M. Martinis “for the discovery of macroscopic quantum mechanical tunnelling and energy quantisation in an electri...
www.nobelprize.org
October 7, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Congrats to the three new physics Nobel laureates, who helped lay the groundwork for superconducting quantum computing. As always, nobelprize.org has a great technical summary of the results that won the prize and the wider research context
www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physi...
www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physi...
I watched a video on YouTube called something like "Top 10 beginner tips for playing Hades II" and the next day the YT algorithm started showing me videos with tumbnails and titles containing end-game spoilers 🤷
October 6, 2025 at 10:16 AM
I watched a video on YouTube called something like "Top 10 beginner tips for playing Hades II" and the next day the YT algorithm started showing me videos with tumbnails and titles containing end-game spoilers 🤷
66 hours and 100% completion later... yeah it's damn good. For sure sometimes too hard in frustrating silly not-fun ways, but overall yeah I had a blast
Silksong good
September 29, 2025 at 3:06 PM
66 hours and 100% completion later... yeah it's damn good. For sure sometimes too hard in frustrating silly not-fun ways, but overall yeah I had a blast
The plot of Silksong can be a bit confusing for newcomers, but I think I've cracked what it's about:
🧵Thread
🧵Thread
September 24, 2025 at 1:12 PM
The plot of Silksong can be a bit confusing for newcomers, but I think I've cracked what it's about:
🧵Thread
🧵Thread
Reposted by Tom Rivlin
Does our Research Unit endorse the view expressed by our employee here that "so much quantum tech is way over-hyped"? 🤔🤔🤔🤔
New from me at @scishow.bsky.social! In news stories, why do quantum computers look like a 'steampunk chandelier'? Well, turns out: that's not the computer!
(But that's all just setup for my rant at the end about how so much quantum tech is way over-hyped 👀👀👀)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lhou...
(But that's all just setup for my rant at the end about how so much quantum tech is way over-hyped 👀👀👀)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lhou...
Quantum Computers Look Like Chandeliers. This is Why.
YouTube video by SciShow
www.youtube.com
September 23, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Does our Research Unit endorse the view expressed by our employee here that "so much quantum tech is way over-hyped"? 🤔🤔🤔🤔
New from me at @scishow.bsky.social! In news stories, why do quantum computers look like a 'steampunk chandelier'? Well, turns out: that's not the computer!
(But that's all just setup for my rant at the end about how so much quantum tech is way over-hyped 👀👀👀)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lhou...
(But that's all just setup for my rant at the end about how so much quantum tech is way over-hyped 👀👀👀)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lhou...
Quantum Computers Look Like Chandeliers. This is Why.
YouTube video by SciShow
www.youtube.com
September 23, 2025 at 12:09 PM
New from me at @scishow.bsky.social! In news stories, why do quantum computers look like a 'steampunk chandelier'? Well, turns out: that's not the computer!
(But that's all just setup for my rant at the end about how so much quantum tech is way over-hyped 👀👀👀)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lhou...
(But that's all just setup for my rant at the end about how so much quantum tech is way over-hyped 👀👀👀)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lhou...
Looks like the Literature prize this year went to "The late Dr. William B. Bean, for persistently recording and analyzing the rate of growth of one of his fingernails over a period of 35 years." Which, okay, that's pretty fun, too
improbable.com/ig/winners/#...
improbable.com/ig/winners/#...
Given the two AI-related Nobels this year, surely the Ig Nobel committee now have to do the funniest thing ever and award their next Literature prize to ChatGPT
September 19, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Looks like the Literature prize this year went to "The late Dr. William B. Bean, for persistently recording and analyzing the rate of growth of one of his fingernails over a period of 35 years." Which, okay, that's pretty fun, too
improbable.com/ig/winners/#...
improbable.com/ig/winners/#...
Reposted by Tom Rivlin
This year at the Ig Nobels it's affirming to see empirical confirmation of a personal research project: that alcohol demonstrably improves my ability to speak a foreign language.
The sample size is a bit small but I'd volunteer for anyone's replication attempt: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
The sample size is a bit small but I'd volunteer for anyone's replication attempt: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
journals.sagepub.com
September 19, 2025 at 11:28 AM
This year at the Ig Nobels it's affirming to see empirical confirmation of a personal research project: that alcohol demonstrably improves my ability to speak a foreign language.
The sample size is a bit small but I'd volunteer for anyone's replication attempt: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
The sample size is a bit small but I'd volunteer for anyone's replication attempt: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
One of my all time favourite things on the internet just got an incredible makeover www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3g6...
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship Of The It's My Book They'll Walk If I Tell Them Too (ANIMATED)
YouTube video by Tom Cardy
www.youtube.com
September 16, 2025 at 12:23 PM
One of my all time favourite things on the internet just got an incredible makeover www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3g6...
Congrats to Professor Michele Dougherty on being my Differential Equations lecturer in second year undergrad in 2012.
Oh, and maybe some other more recent achievement of hers IDK www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Oh, and maybe some other more recent achievement of hers IDK www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
UK gets first female Astronomer Royal in 350 years
Prof Michele Dougherty is the first woman to be appointed to the influential post.
www.bbc.co.uk
July 30, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Congrats to Professor Michele Dougherty on being my Differential Equations lecturer in second year undergrad in 2012.
Oh, and maybe some other more recent achievement of hers IDK www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Oh, and maybe some other more recent achievement of hers IDK www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...