Silicon has ruled the digital world for over half a century. But every empire falls. And now, a new contender has arrived—wafer-scale indium selenide (InSe), the shimmering, two-dimensional material engineers are calling the “golden semiconductor.”
For decades, InSe was a lab curiosity: high hopes, microscopic samples, and lots of theory. But that era just ended.
Continue reading… “Silicon’s Reign Is Ending — Meet the Atomic Assassin From China”The quantum internet is poised to revolutionize how we share information, using the strange and powerful laws of quantum physics to create a network that is nearly impossible to hack. More than just a faster or better version of today’s internet, the quantum internet promises a complete overhaul of digital communication—one built around the fundamental limits of physics rather than conventional computing.
Although terms like quantum internet, quantum networks, and quantum communication are often used interchangeably, each has a specific role in this emerging technology:
Continue reading… “The Quantum Internet: A New Era of Ultra-Secure Communication”Quantum information scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have achieved a major milestone in quantum networking by developing the first device to integrate essential quantum photonic functions onto a single chip. Published in Optica Quantum, the study outlines a pioneering advance in photon-based quantum computing, where qubits—quantum bits—are encoded using particles of light. These photonic qubits are capable of existing in multiple states simultaneously through quantum superposition, enabling them to store and process information far beyond the capabilities of classical bits.
This integrated chip not only generates quantum entanglement—where pairs of qubits share properties even when separated—but also performs encoding and transmission within a compact, scalable platform. Such integration is crucial for the future of quantum networking, which aims to interconnect quantum systems across long distances and ultimately form a secure, high-speed quantum internet.
Continue reading… “Oak Ridge Breakthrough Brings Quantum Internet Closer with All-in-One Photonic Chip”In a groundbreaking study published in Nature, researchers from JPMorganChase, Quantinuum, Argonne National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and The University of Texas at Austin have achieved a major breakthrough in quantum computing by successfully demonstrating certified randomness using a 56-qubit quantum computer. This marks the first time that random numbers have been generated on a quantum system and mathematically verified as truly random and newly created using classical supercomputers. The result represents a pivotal advancement toward using quantum computers for real-world applications such as cryptography, data privacy, and secure communication.
The certified randomness protocol used in this study was originally proposed by Scott Aaronson, a computer science professor at UT Austin and director of the university’s Quantum Information Center. Developed in 2018, the protocol involves challenging the quantum computer with problems that can only be solved by choosing a solution randomly and then verifying the randomness using classical computing systems. Aaronson, along with his former postdoctoral researcher Shih-Han Hung, provided the theoretical foundation that made this experimental demonstration possible. Aaronson noted that seeing the protocol realized was a significant step toward integrating quantum-generated randomness into cryptographic applications.
Continue reading… “Quantum Milestone Achieved: Certified Randomness Brings Practical Quantum Computing Closer to Reality”Amazon has revealed a revolutionary quantum computing chip named Ocelot, which promises to reshape the future of quantum computing. This innovative chip is the first of its kind to utilize a scalable architecture that reduces the cost of error correction by an impressive 90%. Developed by the team at the AWS Center for Quantum Computing in collaboration with the California Institute of Technology, Ocelot is positioned as a major step toward building practical, fault-tolerant quantum computers.
Amazon asserts that Ocelot represents a significant breakthrough in the ongoing effort to develop quantum computers capable of solving complex problems that go beyond the reach of today’s classical computers. The design leverages a novel approach to error correction, building it from the ground up, and incorporating the advanced “cat qubit” technology.
Cat qubits—named after the famous Schrödinger’s cat thought experiment—are a key feature of Ocelot’s architecture. These qubits naturally suppress certain types of errors, which reduces the resources required for error correction. This improvement significantly enhances the chip’s reliability and performance.
For the first time, AWS researchers have successfully integrated cat qubits with additional quantum error correction components on a microchip that can be mass-produced using scalable microelectronics processes. This breakthrough allows for error correction that is both more efficient and cost-effective, an essential factor in making quantum computing more practical for real-world applications.
Oskar Painter, AWS Director of Quantum Hardware, emphasized the importance of these advancements: “With the recent developments in quantum research, it’s no longer a matter of if, but when practical, fault-tolerant quantum computers will be available. Ocelot marks a critical step forward in this journey.”
The implications of Ocelot’s design are profound. In the future, quantum chips built on this architecture could cost as little as one-fifth of the current methods, thanks to the drastically reduced need for error correction. AWS researchers believe this breakthrough could accelerate the timeline for developing practical quantum computers by up to five years.
By Impact Lab
The published research in Nature outlines the technical details behind Ocelot’s logical qubit memory. The team used a superconducting quantum circuit to create a logical qubit memory by combining encoded bosonic cat qubits with an outer repetition code. This design includes a stabilizing circuit that passively protects the qubits from certain types of errors, such as bit flips. Additionally, a repetition code using ancilla transmons (special qubits used for error correction) enables the detection and correction of phase flips in the qubits.
One of the most significant obstacles in quantum computing is the extreme sensitivity of qubits to environmental “noise.” Even the smallest disturbances, such as vibrations, electromagnetic interference from devices like cell phones, or cosmic radiation, can destabilize qubits and lead to computational errors.
As Oskar Painter notes, “The biggest challenge isn’t just building more qubits, it’s making them work reliably.” Researchers have long recognized that quantum error correction is essential to ensuring the accuracy and reliability of quantum computations, particularly as the complexity of the problems being tackled increases.
Quantum error correction involves encoding quantum information across multiple qubits to shield it from environmental noise, creating “logical” qubits. These logical qubits can detect and correct errors in real-time, which is a crucial step toward building quantum computers that can perform accurate, large-scale computations. However, current error correction methods require a massive number of qubits, making them prohibitively expensive.
The Ocelot chip is poised to address this issue by offering a more scalable and cost-efficient solution. By reducing the number of qubits required for effective error correction, Ocelot paves the way for more practical and affordable quantum computers in the future.
In summary, Amazon’s Ocelot chip represents a major leap forward in quantum computing. With its innovative design and error-correction capabilities, Ocelot could accelerate the development of practical, fault-tolerant quantum computers, bringing us closer to solving complex problems once thought to be beyond the reach of classical computers.
In a pioneering first, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have successfully measured the superfluid stiffness of magic-angle twisted bilayer graphene (MATBG), a key discovery that could unlock its potential for superconductivity and future applications in quantum computing. The breakthrough, outlined in a recent press release, represents a major step toward understanding the complex behavior of MATBG and its practical uses in emerging technologies.
Graphene, a material composed of a single layer of carbon atoms just one atom thick, has been a subject of intense research since its discovery. Known for its exceptional electrical conductivity, strength, and heat transfer properties, graphene has become a go-to material for a wide range of applications. In recent years, however, a novel structure—known as magic-angle twisted bilayer graphene—has captivated scientists due to its ability to exhibit superconductivity and other remarkable behaviors.
Continue reading… “MIT Breakthrough Measures Superfluid Stiffness in Magic-Angle Graphene, Paving the Way for Quantum Computing”In a groundbreaking technological leap, Google has unveiled its latest quantum computing marvel, the ‘Willow’ 105-qubit chip, which demonstrates extraordinary computational capabilities that far surpass traditional supercomputing limitations.
The Willow chip has achieved a remarkable milestone by solving a complex computational problem in mere minutes that would take the world’s most advanced supercomputers over a quadrillion lifetimes of the universe to complete. This achievement represents a significant breakthrough in quantum computing technology.
Continue reading… “Google’s ‘Willow’ Quantum Chip Shatters Computing Barriers with Unprecedented Performance”Quantum computing has long been the stuff of science fiction, but today it is a rapidly developing field that has attracted billions of dollars in investment from major technology companies like Google, IBM, and a host of well-funded startups. Despite the technology being years away from practical use, the potential of quantum computers to revolutionize industries from chemistry to machine learning has experts and investors alike convinced that it’s a game-changer.
The concept of building a computer based on the principles of quantum mechanics has been around since the 1980s. However, it’s only in the last few decades that scientists have made significant strides in developing large-scale quantum devices. Now, major tech players are investing heavily to accelerate the development of quantum computing.
Continue reading… “The Quantum Leap: Why Tech Giants are Betting on Quantum Computing’s Future”Two researchers from the University of Notre Dame, in collaboration with Kyung Hee University in South Korea, have leveraged quantum computing to create a new transparent window coating that effectively blocks solar heat. The breakthrough, published in ACS Energy Levels, is the work of Tengfei Luo, Notre Dame’s Dorini Family Professor of Energy Studies, and postdoctoral associate Seongmin Kim. Their innovative transparent radiative cooler (TRC) layer allows only visible light that doesn’t raise indoor temperatures to pass through, potentially reducing building cooling costs by up to 30%.
Air conditioning and electric fans account for 20% of the energy costs in buildings worldwide, according to the International Energy Agency. This figure represents about 10% of global electricity consumption. The TRC layer developed by Luo and Kim aims to significantly cut these energy expenses by blocking the solar heat that contributes to indoor temperature increases.
Continue reading… “Quantum Computing Aids in Development of Advanced Solar Heat-Blocking Window Coating”A new quantum computer has set a world record in “quantum supremacy,” outperforming Google’s Sycamore machine by a factor of 100.
Researchers at quantum computing company Quantinuum used their new 56-qubit H2-1 computer to run various benchmark experiments, evaluating the machine’s performance and qubit quality. Their findings were published on June 4 in a study uploaded to the preprint database arXiv, though it has yet to undergo peer review.
Continue reading… “New Quantum Computer Shatters Record for “Quantum Supremacy””Future quantum computing technology could bring us an “electronic nose” on smartwatches capable of detecting dangerous viruses in the air or allergens in food, and might even expand human consciousness in space and time. These revelations were shared by Hartmut Neven, founder and manager of Google’s Quantum Artificial Intelligence Lab, in a recent TED Talk as part of The Brave and the Brilliant series.
Neven announced that Google is finalizing the design of an algorithm that may lead to the first commercial applications for quantum computing. “This quantum algorithm performs signal processing to enable new ways to detect and analyze molecules using nuclear electronic spin spectroscopy,” he explained.
Continue reading… “Quantum Computing Breakthroughs Could Lead to “Electronic Nose” Smartwatches and Expanded Human Consciousness”A reliable and ultra-powerful quantum computer could finally be on the horizon. Researchers from the University of Basel and the NCCR SPIN in Switzerland have achieved a significant advancement in quantum computing by controlling the interaction between two “hole spin qubits” inside a standard silicon transistor. This breakthrough, published in Nature Physics, could enable quantum computer chips to carry millions of qubits, drastically scaling up their processing power and potentially revolutionizing modern computing.
A qubit, or quantum bit, is the fundamental unit of data in quantum computing, analogous to a bit in conventional computing. Unlike a standard bit, which can be either a 0 or a 1, a qubit can exist in both states simultaneously due to quantum mechanics principles. This unique property allows quantum computers to perform complex calculations at speeds unattainable by today’s computers.
Continue reading… “Breakthrough in Quantum Computing: Controllable Hole Spin Qubits in Silicon Transistors”
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