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Experiment opens door for millions of qubits on one chip

Researchers from the University of Basel and the NCCR SPIN have achieved the first controllable interaction between two hole spin qubits in a conventional silicon transistor. The breakthrough, reported in Nature Physics (“Anisotropic exchange interaction of two-hole spin qubits”), opens up the possibility of integrating millions of these qubits on a single chip using mature manufacturing processes.

Two interacting hole-spin qubits: As a hole (magenta/yellow) tunnels from one site to the other, its spin rotates due to spin-orbit coupling, leading to anisotropic interactions represented by the surrounding bubbles. (Image: NCCR SPIN)

The race to build a practical quantum computer is well underway. Researchers around the world are working on a huge variety of qubit technologies. So far, there is no consensus on what type of qubit is most suitable for maximizing the potential of quantum information science.

Over 1,000 Qubits Achieved — Physicists Set World Record for Atom-Based Quantum Computers

Scaling up quantum systems is essential for advancing quantum computing, as their benefits become more apparent with larger systems. Researchers at TU Darmstadt have made significant progress in achieving this goal. The results of their research have now been published in the prestigious journal Optica.

Quantum processors based on two-dimensional arrays of optical tweezers, which are created using focussed laser beams, are one of the most promising technologies for developing quantum computing and simulation that will enable highly beneficial applications in the future. A diverse range of applications from drug development through to optimizing traffic flows will benefit from this technology.

New memory demoed running at 600 degrees Celsius for 60 hours

A new type of memory has been demonstrated running at an astounding 600C for over 60 hours. Non-volatile ferroelectric diode (ferrodiode) memory devices can offer outstanding heat resistance and other properties that should enable cutting-edge data and extreme environment computing, claim researchers from the University of Pennsylvania in a Nature Electronics article, A scalable ferroelectronic non-volatile memory operating at 600°C.

Ferrodiode memory devices use a 45-nanometer thin layer of a synthesized AIScN (l0.68Sc0.32N) because of its ability to retain electrical states “after an external electric field is removed,” among “other desirable properties.” Ferrodiode memory has been tested running at 600 degrees Celsius for more than 60 hours while operating at less than 15 volts.

From Theory to Therapy: MIT’s Computational Breakthrough in Protein Optimization

MIT researchers have developed a computational approach that makes it easier to predict mutations that will lead to optimized proteins, based on a relatively small amount of data. Credit: MIT News; iStock.

MIT researchers plan to search for proteins that could be used to measure electrical activity in the brain.

To engineer proteins with useful functions, researchers usually begin with a natural protein that has a desirable function, such as emitting fluorescent light, and put it through many rounds of random mutation that eventually generate an optimized version of the protein.

How MIT Is Redefining Quantum Computing With New Entanglement Control

The advance offers a way to characterize a fundamental resource needed for quantum computing.

Entanglement is a form of correlation between quantum objects, such as particles at the atomic scale. This uniquely quantum phenomenon cannot be explained by the laws of classical physics, yet it is one of the properties that explains the macroscopic behavior of quantum systems.

Because entanglement is central to the way quantum systems work, understanding it better could give scientists a deeper sense of how information is stored and processed efficiently in such systems.

“Tube Map” for Space: Unlocking Planetary Paths With Knot Theory

A novel mathematical technique from the University of Surrey now simplifies space mission planning by mapping efficient routes, akin to a subway map, potentially revolutionizing travel to the Moon and beyond.

Just as sat-nav did away with the need to argue over the best route home, scientists from the University of Surrey have developed a new method to find the optimal routes for future space missions without the need to waste fuel.

The new method uses mathematics to reveal all possible routes from one orbit to another without guesswork or using enormous computer power.

Bioelectronic interfaces of organic electrochemical transistors

The organic electrochemical transistor stands out as a tool for constructing powerful biosensors owing to its high signal transduction ability and adaptability to various geometrical forms. However, the performance of organic electrochemical transistors relies on stable and seamless interfaces with biological systems. This Review examines strategies to improve and optimize interfaces between organic electrochemical transistors and various biological components.

Hubble Network makes Bluetooth connection with a satellite for the first time

Hubble Network has become the first company in history to establish a Bluetooth connection directly to a satellite — a critical technology validation for the company, potentially opening the door to connecting millions more devices anywhere in the world.

The Seattle-based startup launched its first two satellites to orbit on SpaceX’s Transporter-10 rideshare mission in March; since that time, the company confirmed that it has received signals from the onboard 3.5mm Bluetooth chips from over 600 kilometers away.

The sky is truly the limit for space-enabled Bluetooth devices: The startup says its technology can be used in markets including logistics, cattle tracking, smart collars for pets, GPS watches for kids, car inventory, construction sites and soil temperature monitoring. Haro said the low-hanging fruit is those industries that are desperate for network coverage even once per day, like remote asset monitoring for the oil and gas industry. As the constellation scales, Hubble will turn its attention to sectors that may need more frequent updates, like soil monitoring, to continuous coverage use cases like fall monitoring for the elderly.