A newly published study from the University of Southern California (USC) has provided strong evidence that quantum computers can outperform classical supercomputers in solving complex optimization problems, marking a significant milestone in the field of quantum computing known as quantum advantage.

The research, published in Physical Review Letters, focuses on quantum annealing, a specialized form of quantum computation that identifies low-energy states in a system—these states correspond to optimal or near-optimal solutions. While previous efforts have aimed to demonstrate quantum advantage in exact optimization, this study shifts focus to approximate optimization, where finding a solution close to the best possible one is often sufficient for practical purposes.

In the field of metamaterials—engineered materials with tailored microstructures—the dominant pursuit has long been “stronger is better.” These synthetic materials often mimic lattice structures to maximize stiffness and strength, but this traditionally comes at the expense of flexibility. Now, MIT engineers have broken new ground by developing a metamaterial that is both strong and stretchable, challenging a long-standing trade-off in materials science.

The innovation, detailed in Nature Materials, centers on a “double-network” design inspired by hydrogels. Hydrogels achieve their stretchiness and toughness by combining two polymer networks—one stiff, the other soft. Adapting this idea to metamaterials, the MIT team engineered a structure consisting of rigid struts interwoven with softer, spring-like coils, both printed from a plexiglass-like polymer using ultra-precise two-photon lithography.