D-Wave Quantum Inc., a Canadian company based in Vancouver specializing in quantum computing for commercial use, has made a groundbreaking achievement with its D-Wave Advantage 2 prototype annealing quantum computer. The company announced the success of solving a real-world, practical problem and validated its results through a peer-reviewed paper published in a prestigious scientific journal.

For decades, Moore’s Law has driven the rapid growth of microchip performance, with computing power doubling roughly every two years. This relentless advancement has drastically changed the landscape of computing, making devices smaller and more powerful. Despite this progress, however, many complex problems—such as climate change modeling and drug discovery—remain beyond the capabilities of even the most advanced supercomputers. In response to this challenge, quantum computing, which harnesses the principles of quantum mechanics, is poised to offer solutions to problems that could take current supercomputers years to solve.

On the morning of Saturday, March 29, the northeastern coast of North America will witness a rare and striking celestial event—a partial solar eclipse. As the sun rises, a crescent-shaped sun will appear on the eastern horizon, with the eclipse already in progress.

Thirteen U.S. states will experience the March 29 eclipse, though the intensity of the eclipse will vary depending on location. The farther northeast you go, the deeper the eclipse will be, with coastal New England offering the best views. In Maine, observers can expect up to 86% of the sun to be obscured at sunrise. New Hampshire and Massachusetts will see slightly less, with up to 57% and 55% coverage, respectively. In Boston, the eclipse will cover 43% of the sun.

Modern communication networks rely heavily on optical signals to transmit massive amounts of data. However, just like weak radio signals, these optical signals need amplification to travel long distances without degrading. For decades, erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs) have been the go-to solution, extending transmission ranges without requiring frequent signal regeneration. While effective, EDFAs are limited by their narrow spectral range, which has hindered the expansion of optical networks.

With the increasing demand for high-speed data transmission—driven by advancements in AI accelerators, data centers, and high-performance computing—the limitations of traditional optical amplifiers are becoming more apparent. As a result, researchers are turning their attention to developing more powerful, flexible, and compact amplifiers to meet the rising data needs.

In a groundbreaking achievement, Japanese shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has successfully produced hydrogen offshore and delivered it to Tokyo, marking a significant milestone in renewable energy. The company used its demonstration vessel, the Winz Maru, to produce green hydrogen at sea and deliver it safely to land.

The Winz Maru is equipped with an onboard plant capable of producing hydrogen from seawater, creating a highly transportable form of green hydrogen. This innovation is part of MOL’s Wind Hunter Project, which aims to develop a sustainable green hydrogen supply chain. As a global leader in green hydrogen technologies, Japan is positioning itself to play a pivotal role in the transition away from fossil fuels, with MOL at the forefront of this push.