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By combining digital and analog quantum simulation into a new hybrid approach, scientists have already started to make fresh scientific discoveries using quantum computers.
Researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney have proven that a spinning atomic nucleus really is fundamentally a quantum resource. The teams were led respectively by Professor Valerio Scarani, from NUS Department of Physics, and Scientia Professor Andrea Morello from UNSW Engineering. The paper was published in the journal Newton on 14 February 2025.
It has long been inferred that tiny particles such as electrons or protons are indeed quantum due to the way they get deflected in a magnetic field. However, when left to spin freely, they appear to behave in exactly the same way as a classical spinning item, such as a Wheel of Fortune turning on its axis. For more than half a century, experts in spin resonance have taken this fact as a universal truth.
For the same reason, a technician or a doctor operating a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine at the hospital never needed to understand quantum mechanics—the spinning of the protons inside the patient’s body produces the same kind of magnetic field that would be created by attaching a fridge magnet to a spinning wheel.
Scientists thought there was no way to verify the ‘quantumness’ of the enigmatic ‘spin’ just by watching it rotate – until now.
Researchers in Germany have developed a special technique that will allow better control over atomic reflections in quantum sensors. This new approach uses carefully engineered light pulses as atomic mirrors to cut noise and sharpen quantum measurements.
There’s a big difference between regular and quantum sensors. The former relies on classical physics to measure properties like temperature, pressure, or motion. However, their measurements are affected by factors like thermal noise, material quality, and environmental disturbances.
Devices that leverage quantum mechanics effects, broadly referred to as quantum technologies, could help to tackle some real-world problems faster and more efficiently. In recent years, physicists and engineers have introduced various promising quantum technologies, including so-called quantum sensors.
Networks of quantum sensors could theoretically be used to measure specific parameters with remarkable precision. These networks leverage a quantum phenomenon known as entanglement, which entails a sustained connection between particles, which allows them to instantly share information with each other, even at a distance.
While quantum sensor networks (QSNs) could have various advantageous real-world applications, their effective deployment also relies on the ability to ensure that the information shared between sensors remains private and is not accessible to malicious third parties.
This process, which cannot be understood satisfactorily by classical physics alone, occurs constantly in green plants and other photosynthetic organisms, such as photosynthetic bacteria. However, the exact mechanisms have still not been fully elucidated. Hauer and first author Erika Keil see their study as an important new basis in the effort to clarify how chlorophyll, the pigment in leaf green, works.
Applying these findings in the design of artificial photosynthesis units could help to utilize solar energy with unprecedented efficiency for electricity generation or photochemistry.
Scientists develop a working prototype of a quantum battery, promising ultra-fast charging and potential applications in solar energy.
Scientists have measured the quantum state of electrons for the first time, unlocking new insights into quantum mechanics and material science.
A technology that feels like it’s ‘always five years away’ may suddenly be two years away—but businesses are a little preoccupied.
Yuval Boger is the Chief Commercial Officer of QuEra Computing, a leader in neutral-atom quantum computers.
Quantum computing and artificial intelligence stand at the forefront of modern technological advancement, each representing a paradigm shift that can transform industries ranging from healthcare and finance to logistics and materials science. Not long ago, these two fields appeared to be competitors vying for the same innovation budgets—while AI generated immediate returns, quantum computing was seen as a more speculative endeavor. However, the reality is more nuanced. Rather than being rivals, quantum and AI can symbiotically accelerate one another’s progress, sparking breakthroughs that neither could achieve in isolation.
AI is widely deployed today, driving business value via deep learning models, sophisticated analytics platforms and even self-driving technologies. Executives can see tangible returns in short timeframes, spurring widespread adoption. Quantum computing, by contrast, has yet to reach full commercial viability.