Quantum photons – A new Magic 8-Ball build turns quantum randomness into yes-or-no answers by sending photons through a beam splitter, routing them to two photomultipliers, and feeding the outcomes into software. The result keeps the toy’s playful wonder while swapping guesswor
Crack open the classic Magic 8-Ball and what you find is almost comically simple: a polyhedron drifting in a dark-colored fluid. It’s a quasi-random way to ask the universe questions that feel important in the moment—whether “will Mom and Dad get a divorce?” or “does Bethany like me?”—even if the answers were never built for accuracy.
Now there’s a version that leans into randomness in a very different way. A recent build from David Noel Ng replaces the toy’s mechanical mystery with quantum effects designed to generate truly random yes-or-no results for a software Magic 8-Ball.
The idea is straightforward: use quantum behavior to seed a random number generator, and let that generate the outcome the “8-ball” displays. Ng tried a few approaches before settling on a setup he felt matched the job.
In the final rig, a light source emits photons. The light is attenuated to the point where effectively only one photon is running through the light path at a time. Each photon is then sent through a beam splitter. After that. it faces a clean fork in the road: it either passes through the mirror and hits photomultiplier A. or it bounces off and hits photomultiplier B.
That split is the whole point. With each photon ending up at either photomultiplier A or photomultiplier B. the system produces a truly random yes/no result for every photon that passes through. Ng’s write-up leans heavily on the low-level physics behind the behavior. then walks through the supporting electronics and the code that turns the measurement outcomes into a working software Magic 8-Ball.
Magic 8-Balls made with electronics aren’t new. Ng is joining a small set of past builds that also aim to answer life’s silly questions—though. as the original toy does. they trade certainty for wonder. What makes this one stand out is the sense of tactile enchantment the build tries to preserve. even as it swaps the original device’s physics for a quantum path to randomness.
If you’re tempted to make your own version—your own little instrument for asking the universe for a yes or no—you can take a cue from the setup and the way it’s turned into code. And if your questions are the kind you’d normally take to tarot or a local divining bog witch. the new approach won’t make them any more serious. But it may make the randomness feel a little more real.
quantum computing quantum randomness magic 8-ball photons photomultiplier beam splitter software random number generator physics electronics
So it’s a Magic 8-Ball that uses quantum stuff instead of a ball… I’m still asking it if I’ll get paid on Friday.
Is this like those quantum computers where the answer depends on who’s looking at it? Because if so then my ex is definitely gonna say no lol. Also do they need electricity or batteries or can the photons just vibe.
Wait so photomultiplier A and B… aren’t those like bathroom fans? Idk why but I feel like this is just making random numbers and calling it “quantum”. Still kinda cool though. If it says yes, I’m taking it as fate.
The headline makes it sound like it’s powered by quantum photons and will give accurate answers, but it literally says it’s randomness. That’s the same as flipping a coin with extra steps. Next someone’s gonna build a quantum Ouija board and charge $9.99 for the app.