Microsoft’s quantum chip got an upgrade. Critics are still skeptical
Swapping materials in its Majorana 2 chip boosted the effectiveness of quantum bits that rely on the math of topology to reduce errors, Microsoft says. More
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Physics explains why gold stays pristine
Metals like copper oxidize — reacting with oxygen in the air — but gold doesn’t, thanks to a quick switch in atom arrangement on its surface. More
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A grapefruit-sized quantum device mapped Earth’s magnetic field from space
On the International Space Station, a cube holding a diamond-based sensor revealed the potential for quantum magnetometers. More
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Just 10,000 quantum bits might crack internet encryption schemes
Quantum computers based on atoms could provide access to encrypted data much sooner than scientists thought. More
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Quantum physics can confirm where someone is located
The concept of entanglement links far-flung particles. That relationship can prove that someone is in the location they claim to be. More
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When the pressure’s off, this superconductor appears to break records
A sudden release of pressure allowed a copper-based compound to superconduct at the highest temperature yet for atmospheric pressure, a study claims. More
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Intricate silk helps net-casting spiders ensnare prey in webs
Rufus net-casting spiders can tune the stiffness and elasticity of their webs thanks to loops of silk, scanning electron microscope images reveal. More
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A quantum trick helps trim bloated AI models
Machine learning techniques that make use of tensor networks could manipulate data more efficiently and help open the black box of AI models. More
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What causes the rainbow shimmer of ammolite gems?
The jewels nabbed in the Louvre heist may still be at large, but scientists have just closed the case on another gemstone mystery: what gives rare ammolite gems their rainbow shimmer.
Ammolite comes from the fossilized shells of extinct squidlike critters called ammonites. Scientists knew the secret to the fossils’ flamboyant appearance lay somewhere in their layers of nacre, or mother-of-pearl. But not all ammonite fossils boast brilliant colors — nor do pearly nautilus or pale abalone shells with similar nacre layers. More
