Cluster of Excellence ct.qmat’s Quantum Adventure Levels Up

“What’s in the box? Kitty Q!” The adorable, half-dead cat has been purring away at Dresden’s Technische Sammlungen for a year now, drawing nearly 6,000 visitors into its crazy quantum apartment. To mark its birthday, Germany’s first quantum physics-themed escape room for youngsters is launching Mission 2.0. Kitty Q is turning up the excitement – from now on, every puzzle solved will add to a final score that decides the ending. Will the box open – or stay shut? As a special birthday gift, fans can also enjoy 17 new KittyTok videos that dive into the quantum physics behind each puzzle. The quantum adventure continues!

Quantum Thrills from the Get-Go
Cool chips for quantum computers, Einstein sticking his tongue out, and “stacked” waves – ever since “Kitty Q – A Quantum Adventure” opened on April 25, 2024, at Dresden’s Technische Sammlungen (the city’s museum of science and technology), young visitors have been exploring the strange world of quantum physics hands on.

“From day one, school groups and families in particular have been coming to solve the mystery of the half-dead cat and learn about some of the most fascinating phenomena in quantum physics," says museum director Roland Schwarz. “So far, almost 6,000 visitors have ventured into Kitty Q’s crazy quantum world.” They include around 140 school classes, about 100 private groups (families and children’s birthday parties), and five coming-of-age parties. “Kitty Q has made herself right at home in her quantum box and become a real ambassador for quantum research in Dresden!” Schwarz adds enthusiastically.

17 KittyToks Expand the Quantum Experience
“I’m especially delighted to see so many school groups visiting! Kitty Q is doing exactly what we hoped: sparking excitement for physics,” says Matthias Vojta, Professor of Theoretical Solid-State Physics at TU Dresden and ct.qmat’s Dresden spokesperson. “There’s even growing interest from the scientific community because we’re getting young people excited about quantum research.”

“Of course, a birthday calls for presents! Kitty Q is gifting fans 17 short films – the KittyToks,” Vojta announces. In this new video series, musician Lea Köhler – the voice behind the escape room – explains the puzzles in detail. The videos are accessible via QR codes after completing the escape room experience. They complement the popular flyer series “Kittypedia to go,” which offers bite-sized background info, and the downloadable Quick Quantum Puzzles available on the escape room’s website.

Mission 2.0: New Gameplay, New Thrills
To keep the adventure fresh, “Kitty Q – A Quantum Adventure” has received a birthday makeover, making the gameplay even more dynamic.
“After a fantastic first year, we wanted to dial up the excitement even more,” says award-winning game designer Philipp Stollenmayer, creator of the whimsical quantum world. “We’ve put a bigger focus on teamwork and made the challenges tougher. I’m really curious to see how young visitors react to the new mission!”
One big change is the reprogrammed scoreboard. “Now every puzzle solved adds to the group's overall score,” explains Stollenmayer. “After each room, lights show how many puzzles were solved correctly. The number of lights collected determines the grand finale – and whether the box will open!”
A new floor graphic featuring the Kitty Q icon keeps players on track, and the puzzle teams are now even more clearly separated. Plus, a countdown – voiced in the German version by Saxon comedian Olaf Schubert – helps teams keep an eye on the clock.

Book Your Mission with Kitty Q!
School groups and private parties can book time slots for “Kitty Q – A Quantum Adventure” at Technische Sammlungen Dresden. The escape room experience is available in both German and English. Individual visitors can ask at the museum’s ticket desk for any free slots.

Duration: Approx. 1 hour
Recommended ages: 11+ (from 6th grade)

School & private parties – please book here:
https://tsd.de/programm/bildung-freizeit/escape-room-katze-q  

Group size: 8–30 people
Information and quantum puzzles for at home:
https://schule.katzeq.app/

Press photos: https://datashare.tu-dresden.de/s/dNtzJ6k82QczrKb

Kitty Q Escape Room
The Kitty Q Escape Room opened on April 25, 2024, at Technische Sammlungen Dresden, the city’s museum of science and technology. Commissioned by the Cluster of Excellence ct.qmat, it is funded through the German Excellence Strategy of the Federal and State Governments. The project is also co-financed with tax revenue under the budget adopted by the Saxon State Parliament, and supported by DRESDEN-concept e.V. – the research alliance between TU Dresden and regional research and cultural institutions. The project’s patron is Michael Kretschmer, Prime Minister of the Free State of Saxony. The escape room was inspired by the famous quantum thought experiment Schrödinger’s cat. It is based on the mobile game Kity Q produced by ct.qmat and award-winning game designer Philipp Stollenmayer, which has garnered international prizes and is the subject of a German Wikipedia page. In the escape room, the digital game becomes a real-world adventure – playable in both German and English. In the German version, narration by local comedian Olaf Schubert guides visitors through the “quantum apartment,” where things behave very differently from the ordinary world!

Cluster of Excellence ct.qmat
The Cluster of Excellence ct.qmat – Complexity and Topology in Quantum Matter – has been jointly run by Julius-Maximilians-Universität (JMU) Würzburg and Technische Universität (TU) Dresden since 2019. Over 300 scientists from more than thirty countries and four continents study topological quantum materials that reveal surprising phenomena under extreme conditions such as ultra-low temperatures, high pressure, or strong magnetic fields. ct.qmat is funded through the German Excellence Strategy of the Federal and State Governments and is the only Cluster of Excellence in Germany to be based in two different federal states.

Technische Sammlungen Dresden
Technische Sammlungen Dresden is both the technology museum and science center of Dresden, the capital of Saxony. Located in a former camera factory, the museum offers people of all ages numerous opportunities to experiment and delve into natural phenomena, the foundations of science, and cutting-edge technology. Featuring permanent exhibitions on the history of photography and film, computing, and other media technologies, as well as special exhibitions on photographic art and contemporary technology research, the museum fosters engagement with the technical foundations of modern society. Collaboration with TU Dresden, DRESDEN-concept, and other science and research partners is high on the agenda.

Media Contact
Katja Lesser
Referentin für Wissenschaftskommunikation / Science Communication Officer
Exzellenzcluster ct.qmat
Tel: +49 351 4633 3496
Email:

Stefanie Düring-Schmidt | PR
Technische Sammlungen Dresden
Tel.: +49 351 488 7254
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