The EDHEC Quantum Institute is preparing the publication of its first graphic novel, The Lost Manuscript of von Neumann, developed in collaboration with Yuval Boger, quantum technology expert, author, podcaster and Chief Commercial Officer at QuEra, an American company developing quantum computers based on neutral atoms and a leading player in the race toward practical, fault-tolerant quantum computing.
Conceived as an 90-page scientific thriller, the book features Camille Georges, Deputy Director of the EDHEC Quantum Institute, and Noëmie Nevers, its Head of Communications, as the protagonists of a fictional investigation into the discovery of a mysterious manuscript attributed to John von Neumann, one of the most influential mathematicians and physicists of the twentieth century.
Their search gradually draws them into the intellectual adventure that gave rise to quantum mechanics. As the investigation unfolds, Camille and Noëmie find themselves interacting with some of the discipline’s founding figures, including Albert Einstein, Niels Bohr, Erwin Schrödinger and John von Neumann himself.
Through clues, unexpected encounters and conversations across time, they explore the questions that have divided physicists for generations: What does quantum theory really describe? Are quantum possibilities merely a reflection of what we do not yet know, or do they represent something more fundamental? What happens when a quantum event leaves a definite record in the world?
Bringing quantum history to life
Rather than presenting the pioneers of quantum physics as distant historical figures, The Lost Manuscript of von Neumann brings their personalities, disagreements and ideas into the heart of the story.
By placing two contemporary members of the EDHEC Quantum Institute alongside the scientists who shaped quantum theory, the graphic novel creates a bridge between past and present. Camille and Noëmie guide readers through the investigation, asking the questions a non-specialist audience might ask and gradually uncovering the scientific and philosophical issues behind the mystery.
Making quantum physics intelligible
The book does not present quantum mechanics as a catalogue of strange or spectacular phenomena. Instead, its explanations are introduced progressively as Camille and Noëmie gather the clues needed to solve their investigation.
Readers will encounter concepts such as potentiality, interference, measurement and the creation of records as they become relevant to the story. The graphic novel also challenges some of the most persistent misconceptions surrounding quantum physics, including the idea that particles are simply “in two places at once”, that human consciousness causes quantum collapse or that entanglement enables instantaneous communication.
The ambition is not to oversimplify the science, but to make its underlying logic approachable. By combining narrative, dialogue and visual explanation, the book will invite readers to discover not only how quantum mechanics works, but also why its meaning continues to be debated.
A collaborative editorial and scientific project
The original script was written by Lionel Martellini, developed with Yuval Boger and has since undergone several rounds of review involving the EDHEC Quantum Institute team. Scientific accuracy, narrative accessibility and visual storytelling are being considered together throughout the development process.
Structured in six acts, the graphic novel combines full-page illustrations with multi-panel sequences for its most dynamic moments, including conversations, discoveries and suspense-driven scenes. Particular attention is being paid to the progression of the investigation, the development of its protagonists and the integration of scientific explanations into the narrative.
The project reflects the EDHEC Quantum Institute’s broader mission: helping non-specialist audiences develop a rigorous understanding of quantum concepts and their implications, without resorting to hype or misleading shortcuts.
The Lost Manuscript of von Neumann will first be published in English, with a French edition planned at a later stage.
Further information about its publication and official launch will be announced soon.
