Solution: A Galactic Quest

Answer: LITMUS

The puzzle is an interactive GPS-based game, in which you are tasked with helping the aliens bring three resources ("Quantum Gems", "Plasma Slugs", and "Asteroid Ferns") from E3 to E5, subject to some limitations. You are only able to carry one item with you at a time, and you cannot leave certain pairs of items alone together (the Quantum Gems will "permute" the Plasma Slugs, and the Plasma Slugs will "devour" the Asteroid Ferns). One of many possible solutions is as follows:

• Bring the Plasma Slugs to E5.
• Return to E3.
• Bring the Quantum Gems to E5.
• Bring the Plasma Slugs back to E3.
• Bring the Asteroid Ferns to E5.
• Return to E3.
• Bring the Plasma Slugs to E5.

Upon completion, the aliens provide you with a diagram.

               ╭─────────────────╮
               │      SLUGS      │
               ╰───┰─╫─┰─┰─╫─┰───╯
╭─────────────────╮  ║     ║  ╭─────────────────╮
│       GEM       │  ║   ╔═╝  │      FERNS      │
╰──┰─┰─┰─┰─╫─╫─┰──╯  ║   ║    ╰─┰─╫─┰─┰─┰─┰─╫─┰─╯
           ║ ║  ╔════╝   ║        ║         ║
           ║ ╚══╬════════╬════╗   ║        ╔╝
           ║    ║    ╔═══╬════╬═══╬════════╝
      ╔════╬════╬═╗  ║   ║ ╔══╝   ║
      ╚════╝    ║ ╚══╬═╗ ║ ║ ╔════╬═════╗
                ╚══╗ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║    ╚═════╝
              ╭────╫─╫─╫─╫─╫─╫────╮
              │    ? ? ? ? ? ?    │
              ╰───────────────────╯

Following the words QUANTUM, PLASMA, and ASTEROID through the diagram, you find the answer LITMUS.

Author’s Notes

This puzzle spawned out of the idea to use players' phones to create an interactive on-campus puzzle. Originally, the puzzle would've also been timed, but we quickly decided to scrap that idea (but just imagine how funny it would've been if you had to sprint across the bridge seven times!)

Fun fact: collectively, you walked over 40 kilometres while solving this puzzle!