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From thousands of defects, one magnesium oxide qubit emerges as a quantum contender

Used as a versatile material in industry and health care, magnesium oxide may also be a good candidate for quantum technologies. Research led by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory and published in npj Computational Materials reveals a defect in the mineral that could be useful for quantum applications.

Researchers are exploring possible building blocks, known as qubits, for systems that could exploit . These systems could operate in various devices that may outperform classical supercomputers, form unhackable networks or detect the faintest signals.

Unlocking the potential of qubits for applications such as quantum computing, sensing and communications requires an understanding of materials on the atomic scale.

New approach enables independent lasers to cooperate for unified light emission

Known for their ability to seamlessly integrate into semiconductor chips, VCSELs (vertical cavity surface-emitting lasers) are used in everything from computer mice to face-scanning hardware in smartphones. However, these devices are still very much an active field of research, and many researchers believe there are still important applications waiting to be discovered.

The laboratory of Kent Choquette, a professor of electrical and computer engineering in The Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, has developed a new design in which light from multiple VCSELs combines to form a single coherent pattern called a “supermode.”

As the researchers report in the IEEE Photonics Journal, the result is a controllable pattern brighter than what is possible with an array of independent devices, adding to the capabilities of these already-versatile devices.

Chinese Scientists Develop Breakthrough Catalyst for Clean Propane Conversion

Scientists have pioneered a water- and light-driven method for converting propane at near-room temperature, opening the door to sustainable, low-energy catalysis. Propane dehydrogenation (PDH) is a chemical process that requires a large input of heat, typically needing temperatures above 600°C wh

Astronomers Stunned As Mysterious Flare Repeats From Same Black Hole Two Years Later

A new discovery challenges the previously accepted understanding of how stars interact with black holes. While it’s often said that lightning never strikes the same place twice, black holes seem to defy that rule. A team of astronomers, led by researchers from Tel Aviv University, has observed a

Light Versus Light: The Secret Physics Battle That Could Rewrite the Rules

In a fascinating dive into the strange world of quantum physics, scientists have shown that light can interact with itself in bizarre ways—creating ghost-like virtual particles that pop in and out of existence.

This “light-on-light scattering” isn’t just a theoretical curiosity; it could hold the key to solving long-standing mysteries in particle physics.

Quantum light: why lasers don’t clash like lightsabers.

Microsoft Edge now an ‘AI-powered browser’ with Copilot Mode

Microsoft has introduced Copilot Mode, an experimental feature designed to transform Microsoft Edge into a web browser powered by artificial intelligence (AI).

As the company explained on Monday, this new mode transforms Edge’s interface, with new tabs showing a single input box that combines chat, search, and web navigation functions.

Once Copilot Mode is enabled, the AI assistant will be able to analyze all open browser tabs with the user’s permission, comparing information and assisting with various tasks, such as researching vacation rentals.