Nicole Yunger Halpern
@nicoleyh11.bsky.social
Theoretical physicist (quantum information + quantum thermodynamics) at QuICS, author of Quantum Steampunk: The Physics of Yesterday's Tomorrow
At the Oxford University Museum of Natural History @morethanadodo.bsky.social in 2013 and in 2025. No, my wearing the same scarf both times was coincidental.
November 18, 2025 at 3:53 PM
At the Oxford University Museum of Natural History @morethanadodo.bsky.social in 2013 and in 2025. No, my wearing the same scarf both times was coincidental.
Please don't tell that joke about being pulled over by a cop for speeding and protesting that you didn't know how quickly you were driving because you knew where you were.
November 16, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Please don't tell that joke about being pulled over by a cop for speeding and protesting that you didn't know how quickly you were driving because you knew where you were.
Don't worry. We're all physicists here.
👇Amit Te'eni presenting about mutually unbiased bases @oxfordphysics.bsky.social.
👇Amit Te'eni presenting about mutually unbiased bases @oxfordphysics.bsky.social.
November 11, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Don't worry. We're all physicists here.
👇Amit Te'eni presenting about mutually unbiased bases @oxfordphysics.bsky.social.
👇Amit Te'eni presenting about mutually unbiased bases @oxfordphysics.bsky.social.
If you’re a student at the University of Maryland, you can (or will soon be able to) sign up for the quantum-steampunk creative-writing course offered during spring 2026. Seats are limited, so reserve yours ASAP!
November 3, 2025 at 4:58 PM
If you’re a student at the University of Maryland, you can (or will soon be able to) sign up for the quantum-steampunk creative-writing course offered during spring 2026. Seats are limited, so reserve yours ASAP!
The Quantum-Steampunk Laboratory goes out for a group lunch at Bagels ’n Grinds. Verdict: the everything bagels are worth trying. @umdscience.bsky.social
October 29, 2025 at 3:57 PM
The Quantum-Steampunk Laboratory goes out for a group lunch at Bagels ’n Grinds. Verdict: the everything bagels are worth trying. @umdscience.bsky.social
Toured the beautiful Brin Mathematics Research Center at the University of Maryland for the first time today. Its structure deftly reflects an important priority of mathematicians'.
October 28, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Toured the beautiful Brin Mathematics Research Center at the University of Maryland for the first time today. Its structure deftly reflects an important priority of mathematicians'.
Author Philip Pullman published a long-awaited sequel last week. Less excitingly to most people—but, I’d argue, as excitingly for physics enthusiasts!—the Maryland Quantum-Thermodynamics Hub embarked on the sequel to its first 3 years around the same time. quantumfrontiers.com/2025/10/26/t...
October 27, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Author Philip Pullman published a long-awaited sequel last week. Less excitingly to most people—but, I’d argue, as excitingly for physics enthusiasts!—the Maryland Quantum-Thermodynamics Hub embarked on the sequel to its first 3 years around the same time. quantumfrontiers.com/2025/10/26/t...
Matthias Christandl: Want to build a quantum network, perform a distributed quantum computation, communicate quantum information, etc.? Don’t forget to extend fault tolerance to quantum inputs and outputs. @QuICS @christandl.bsky.social
October 23, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Matthias Christandl: Want to build a quantum network, perform a distributed quantum computation, communicate quantum information, etc.? Don’t forget to extend fault tolerance to quantum inputs and outputs. @QuICS @christandl.bsky.social
Approximately as thrilling as the Nobel Prize for superconductor physics. #publicationday
October 22, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Approximately as thrilling as the Nobel Prize for superconductor physics. #publicationday
As it turns out, a sphere does model a cow remarkably accurately.
October 14, 2025 at 4:02 PM
As it turns out, a sphere does model a cow remarkably accurately.
Our measuring devices report on quantities different from the quantities we actually want to learn about. Mapping the reported-on quantities to the desired quantities requires “cool physics.” –Amir Yacoby presenting the UMD physics colloquium
October 8, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Our measuring devices report on quantities different from the quantities we actually want to learn about. Mapping the reported-on quantities to the desired quantities requires “cool physics.” –Amir Yacoby presenting the UMD physics colloquium
Happy physics Nobel Prize to all my superconducting-qubit friends!
October 7, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Happy physics Nobel Prize to all my superconducting-qubit friends!
About a decade ago, I was presenting about majorization at the University of Maryland as a PhD student. Now, a PhD student of mine is. arxiv.org/abs/2507.22986 @umdscience.bsky.social
October 1, 2025 at 4:21 PM
About a decade ago, I was presenting about majorization at the University of Maryland as a PhD student. Now, a PhD student of mine is. arxiv.org/abs/2507.22986 @umdscience.bsky.social
Grateful to belong to this cohort. When the QuICS Fellows hold a retreat, one can expect ideas mentioned there to reverberate across the globe over the next few years… @umdscience.bsky.social
September 30, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Grateful to belong to this cohort. When the QuICS Fellows hold a retreat, one can expect ideas mentioned there to reverberate across the globe over the next few years… @umdscience.bsky.social
Most quantum information scientists detest the noise that erodes the performance of quantum computers. QuICS postdoctoral fellow Yuxin Wang sees the glass as half-full: noise is a fascinating subject to study. From this week's JQI Seminar.
September 25, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Most quantum information scientists detest the noise that erodes the performance of quantum computers. QuICS postdoctoral fellow Yuxin Wang sees the glass as half-full: noise is a fascinating subject to study. From this week's JQI Seminar.
Summer REU students investigating Captain Okoli's Magnificent Steampunk Quantum Engine. (Mine's the one in the back, on the right.) @umdscience.bsky.social
September 15, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Summer REU students investigating Captain Okoli's Magnificent Steampunk Quantum Engine. (Mine's the one in the back, on the right.) @umdscience.bsky.social
David Gross (at an excellent QuICS Seminar): “I don’t know if you’ve realized it, but there’s quite a lot of hype about quantum computation.”
September 10, 2025 at 4:16 PM
David Gross (at an excellent QuICS Seminar): “I don’t know if you’ve realized it, but there’s quite a lot of hype about quantum computation.”
How many miles to Babylon? You'll get there sometime after ten...
September 9, 2025 at 4:01 PM
How many miles to Babylon? You'll get there sometime after ten...
Feynman was an impressive thinker. Just, I'm saddened by how many people let the one-liner "Nobody understands quantum mechanics" limit their, and humanity's, horizons. @conorfeehly.bsky.social
August 27, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Feynman was an impressive thinker. Just, I'm saddened by how many people let the one-liner "Nobody understands quantum mechanics" limit their, and humanity's, horizons. @conorfeehly.bsky.social
"...leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay."
...but at least Quantum Steampunk has made it to a second printing. 🌞 @JHUPress
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay."
...but at least Quantum Steampunk has made it to a second printing. 🌞 @JHUPress
August 4, 2025 at 5:02 PM
"...leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay."
...but at least Quantum Steampunk has made it to a second printing. 🌞 @JHUPress
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay."
...but at least Quantum Steampunk has made it to a second printing. 🌞 @JHUPress
Loads of research groups across the world have been studying the Mpemba effect, according to which ice cream freezes more quickly if the mixture begins hot than if it begins cold. But how many groups have a student who *makes* ice cream? 🍦😋🍧
July 24, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Loads of research groups across the world have been studying the Mpemba effect, according to which ice cream freezes more quickly if the mixture begins hot than if it begins cold. But how many groups have a student who *makes* ice cream? 🍦😋🍧
With local applied physicist @uffizi
July 20, 2025 at 3:58 PM
With local applied physicist @uffizi
For all my friends who took AP English Literature. @uffizi
July 19, 2025 at 5:40 PM
For all my friends who took AP English Literature. @uffizi
Claude Shannon “must have been an alien from another planet or a time traveler, because no human being could have achieved all that he did.”
–At-least-approximate quote from David Wolpert @StatPhys29
–At-least-approximate quote from David Wolpert @StatPhys29
July 18, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Claude Shannon “must have been an alien from another planet or a time traveler, because no human being could have achieved all that he did.”
–At-least-approximate quote from David Wolpert @StatPhys29
–At-least-approximate quote from David Wolpert @StatPhys29