Researchers around the world are racing to develop new quantum-based systems for sensing, communication, computing, and control that have the promise of outperforming traditional systems. Creating stable, measurable, distinguishable quantum states, which would be the heart of any such system, is a daunting task.
Quantum states possess unique properties that can be exploited for developing novel information processing systems. Two key properties, stability and distinguishability, are hard to achieve, however. Extracting information from a quantum system depends on the distinguishability of quantum states, an intrinsic property associated with a property known as orthogonality. Nevertheless, no two Gaussian states (a widely studied class of quantum states) are orthogonal, and this yields an unavoidable error when attempting to distinguish them.
In addition, present quantum devices tend to remain stable only for a fraction of a second, and require complex protocols to distinguish states. Now, researchers at MIT and the University of Ferrara have found a new approach for creating easily distinguishable states that could help to enable the development of these new quantum-based devices.
A single transistor that behaves like a brain cell in the deep freeze could help unlock the next generation of quantum computers and space exploration systems.
In a paper published in Science Advances, researchers at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) in collaboration with the University of Minnesota and Kyung Hee University have found a new way to control quantum light sources, which is one of the key elements needed before quantum technologies can be used reliably in real-world systems.
Lead author Dr. Angus Gale says the research gives scientists a new control mechanism for tiny quantum light sources, bringing them a step closer to being used in practical quantum technologies such as quantum computing, secure communication and ultrasensitive sensing.
“You can measure these quantum emitters and see that they exist, but it’s hard to make them work in practice. This gives us a lever to get closer to that—a step toward the realization of quantum technologies,” said Dr. Gale.
Security researchers at Paradigm Shift have published a working exploit, dubbed usbliter8, that achieves arbitrary code execution inside the SecureROM of Apple’s A12 and A13 chips.
That code is burned into the silicon at manufacture. No software update can reach it. Affected devices will carry this flaw for as long as they stay in use.
This is not a remote attack. It requires physical possession of the device, which must be in DFU mode and connected via USB to a dedicated RP2350-based microcontroller board. With that setup, the exploit finishes in under two seconds, before Apple’s signed boot chain loads.
A research team led by the The University of Tokyo has fabricated the world’s smallest semiconductor nanotube, according to a study published in the latest issue of Science. Using boron nitride (BN) nanotubes as a template, the researchers successfully synthesized single-walled molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) nanotubes with a diameter of just 1 nanometer—roughly one hundred-thousandth the width of a human hair.
The achievement not only validates theoretical predictions about the electronic properties of ultrafine materials made decades ago, but also opens new possibilities for the development of next-generation miniaturized electronic devices.
Carbon nanotubes have long attracted attention for their exceptional mechanical and electrical properties. However, slight variations in their atomic structure can significantly alter their conductivity, posing challenges for transistor applications. In contrast, MoS₂ is an intrinsically semiconducting material with promising potential for semiconductor electronics, high-sensitivity sensing, and quantum-scale physics research. Yet producing ultrathin, structurally controlled MoS₂ nanotubes has remained a major challenge, as stability and fabrication complexity increase dramatically as nanotube diameters shrink.
I think this was one of my most enjoyable dialogues in our What’s new series. Maybe Sabine and I are getting more used to each other’s cadence and interests or maybe it was the subject matter. Either way, I think you will find this to be a fascinating and provocative discussion of science at the forefront, and at the not-so-forefront, because that science is interesting too! We began our discussion describing a new finding of a Giant Ring of galaxies billions of light years across in the sky. The key questions are: Is it real? And is it surprising? We both have slightly different takes on this. Next we described a new measurement of the strength of gravity on scales from 80 to 800 million light years in distance. And guess what? Gravity falls off just like Newton predicted! This may seem like a big yawn, but one of the most popular models that claims to do away with dark matter would imply that Gravity would fall off differently on these scales. Does this new result kill that idea? Stay tuned. Microsoft, which has cried wolf a number of times so far when it comes to something called Majorana qubits as the basis of a new viable quantum computer just published a new paper claiming they finally have it. Sabine and I discuss why we are both still skeptical, but why the effort is worth it. Next, CERN, the large European particle physics laboratory, and the world particle physics community seem to have converged on plans for building a huge new accelerator in the current CERN site… this time involving an underground ring 91 km in circumference, in which electrons and positrons would collide to explore the detailed properties of the Higgs particle. Is the effort worth it? Again, Sabine and I have slightly different takes on this. Fusion power, which we have talked about in a number of earlier episodes, continues to tempt humanity with the promise of unlimited energy. Many people, myself included, have tended to argue that fusion seems to be 25 years in the future, and may always be 25 years in the future. But many new efforts are underway, so who knows. Unfortunately, a group of economists has analyzed fusion in the context of other large energy programs and have argued that even if we can achieve it, it may not be as economically viable as many claim. Finally, one day Richard Feynman went to a Thai restaurant with his young companion Ralph Leighton, and wondered what he should order. Should it be the same old dish he loved or something new. An equation filled napkin later, and he had the answer. Fifty years later some cognitive scientists resurrected Feynman’s napkin and explained it, and argued it might have important implications in other social situations. Such is the power of science. Consider supporting the podcast and the Origins Project Foundation at https://www.originsproject.org/ To see commercial-free, full HD video episodes, join us at lawrence krauss.substack.com Thank you for your support! iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast… https://TheOriginsPodcast.com Twitter: / theoriginspod Instagram: / theoriginspod Facebook: / theoriginspod The Origins Podcast, a production of The Origins Project Foundation, features in-depth conversations with some of the most interesting people in the world about the issues that impact all of us in the 21st century. Host, theoretical physicist, lecturer, and author, Lawrence M. Krauss, will be joined by guests from a wide range of fields, including science, the arts, and journalism. The topics discussed on The Origins Podcast reflect the full range of the human experience — exploring science and culture in a way that seeks to entertain, educate, and inspire. Full Episodes Playlist: • Ricky Gervais — The Origins Podcast with L…
Researchers developed a brain-controlled gaming system that learns from the brain’s natural wiring, enabling fast BCI training and potentially transforming medicine, mental health, and human-computer interaction. It may not be long before video game controllers become optional. Researchers at
A new 3D image projection system from researchers at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering and the California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI) marks a major step toward overcoming a longstanding problem for holographic technology.
Professor Aydogan Ozcan led the work reported in a recent paper published in Light Science and Applications, which describes the team’s new snapshot 3D image projection system, solving one of the technology’s most daunting issues.
“These results establish the diffractive 3D display system as a compact and scalable framework for depth-resolved snapshot 3D image projection, with potential applications in holographic displays, AR/VR interfaces, and volumetric optical computing,” the authors write.
Aging is a universal biological process, yet the reasons why some individuals live significantly longer and healthier lives have long puzzled scientists. Among the genes linked to exceptional longevity, FOXO3 consistently stands out as one of the most influential “master controllers” of cellular resilience. This single transcription factor integrates signals from stress, metabolism, DNA repair, and stem cell biology, orchestrating a vast genetic program that determines how cells survive, adapt, or age [1].
In recent years, interest in FOXO3 has surged across aging research, regenerative medicine, oncology, and precision therapeutics. Variants of the FOXO3 gene are strongly associated with centenarian populations worldwide, while disruptions in its regulatory network contribute to multiple disorders, including cancer, neurodegeneration, metabolic decline, and tissue degeneration. With advances in computational biology and pathway analysis, it is now possible to map FOXO3’s complex signaling network and uncover new therapeutic strategies.
This blog post explores FOXO3’s multifaceted biological roles, its influence on disease, and what our curated data from TRANSFAC®, TRANSPATH®, and HumanPSD™ reveals about the FOXO3 regulatory network. The goal is to provide a scientifically rich yet accessible overview that sparks curiosity among researchers studying aging, longevity, and systems-level biology.
