How to obtain: Pick up a quantum ripple and an intel item. The achievement will unlock as soon as you get one of each. Earliest opportunity to unlock: About a third of the way through Act 2, Part 1 right after Jack rescues a civilian. An intel item will be on a table. Prior to picking up the intel item, there are three opportunities to pick up a quantum ripple. If at least one of these quantum ripples is picked up, the achievement will unlock when you interact with the intel item.
Specific details on the intel item and the three quantum ripples available before the intel item with spoiler tags:
*** Spoiler - click to reveal ***If you have chosen the PR option at junction 1, Jack will rescue Amy. If you have chosen the hardline option at junction 1, Jack will rescue Nick. Regardless of the junction choice, an eye dropper will be present on the table. Assuming that you have picked up at least one quantum ripple, the achievement will unlock when you pick up the eye dropper.
There are three quantum ripples available before you pick up the eye dropper. Ideally, you will have picked up all three but only one is required for the achievement. The locations of these quantum ripples are as follows:
1. Act 1, part 2: In the room of the first firefight, before you leave, check the whiteboard to the right from the perspective of facing the exit. Will makes a comment about the formula.
2. Act 1, junction 1: As soon as you gain control, move forward a bit and check the figure of a ram to the right of some cardboard boxes.
3. Act 2, part 1: Shortly after the brief tutorial on destructible objects, Jack rewinds time so he can restore a stack of wood that he caused to fall. He uses the temporarily restored stack to cross over and enter a room. There is a laptop in that room. Interact with the laptop to trigger the quantum ripple.
Note: Difficulty does not affect the achievement. The quantum ripples and intel items are picked up in benign environments although, in a couple of cases, threats had to have been neutralized immediately preceding as part of normal story progression.