About
Fantasy Physics
Fantasy Physics is a physics outreach project developed at the University of Kansas’s Department of Physics & Astronomy and aimed at getting late high school and early college physics students interested in the cutting edge of experimental high energy physics.
Inspired by popular card and video games including Balatro, Nubby’s Number Factory, and Magic: The Gathering, Fantasy Physics is an open-source game in which players assemble a modern particle physics experiment out of components of existing experiments, detectors, and techniques, each represented by a collectable card. This website includes high-resolution images of each card alongside more detailed descriptions of the physics at play, as well as helpful links to experiment homepages to serve as a launchpad for interested students to learn more.
Originally conceived in 2018 by Professor Christopher Rogan, the project evolved into its current form in 2024 under a new design vision proposed by Aidan Novo.
The Creators
Dr. Christopher Rogan
crogan@ku.eduDr. Christopher Rogan is an Associate Professor at the University of Kansas's Department of Physics and Astronomy, with his research focusing on Experimental High Energy. He received his AB from the Department of Physics at Princeton University and both his Masters of Science and Ph.D degrees from the California Institute of Technology.
Working with students, Dr. Rogan conceived of the original version of the Fantasy Physics project in 2018 and has served as the primary physics consultant and advisor up through its most recent evolution in 2024.
Dr. Maria Brunetti
mbbrunetti@ku.eduDr. Maria Brunetti has been an Assistant Professor at the University of Kansas's Department of Physics and Astronomy since 2024, with her research focused on Experimental Neutrino Physics. She received her BS and MS from the Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II in Italy before completing her Ph.D at the University of Birmingham.
Dr. Brunetti has served as a neutrino physics advisor since 2024.
Aidan Novo
aidannovo@ku.eduAidan is a 5th-year undergraduate student at the University of Kansas, dual-majoring in Physics and Classics. He is also a member of the University Honors Program, serves in the student government body for his on-campus housing, and works as a research assistant under Dr. Christopher Rogan as part of the University's Experimental High Energy Physics group.
He has served as the primary developer, graphic designer, and creative lead for the Fantasy Physics project since its revival in 2024.
Paige Trevarrow
ptrevarrow@ku.eduPaige Trevarrow is a 3rd-year graduate student at the University of Kansas. She is a member of Dr. Maria Brigida Brunetti's research group and works with the DUNE collaboration. She is also serving as an officer of the Graduate Student Organization in the physics department at KU.
She has served as a neutrino physics consultant, game designer, and card writer since she joined the project in 2025.