Quantum computing

A new theory could finally unite gravity and quantum physics

Two physicists from Aalto University believe they may have found a solution to one of science’s most enduring challenges: uniting gravity with quantum physics.

Mikko Partanen and Jukka Tulkki in Finland have proposed a new theoretical framework, called “unified gravity,” that treats gravity with the same mathematical structure as the other fundamental forces in the Standard Model.

Unlike previous attempts, their approach uses gauge theory symmetries similar to those found in quantum field theory. The new model introduces a space-time dimension field, allowing gravity to function like the other quantum forces without relying on curved spacetime.

Crucially, the theory appears renormalizable at first-order calculations, potentially avoiding the mathematical pitfalls that have plagued earlier efforts. While the theory remains untested experimentally, its success could provide vital insights into phenomena like black holes and the Big Bang.

Partanen and Tulkki have invited the global scientific community to scrutinise and extend their work. If validated, unified gravity could mark a pivotal moment in the quest to reconcile the laws of the cosmos in quantum physics.

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China launches advanced Tianji 4.0 quantum control system

A Chinese startup, Origin Quantum, has unveiled Tianji 4.0, a cutting-edge superconducting quantum measurement and control system capable of supporting quantum computers with over 500 qubits.

Built in Hefei, Tianji 4.0 enhances scalability, integration, stability and automation, offering major advances over its previous version that powered China’s third-generation superconducting quantum computer, Origin Wukong.

The system, described as the ‘nerve centre’ of quantum computers, improves the precision and speed of controlling quantum chips.

Kong Weicheng, who leads the development team, highlighted that Tianji 4.0 will streamline quantum computer R&D and accelerate delivery timelines significantly.

Since launching in early 2024, Origin Wukong has served users in 139 countries, completing more than 380,000 tasks across industries such as finance and biomedicine. The release of Tianji 4.0 signals China’s growing leadership in quantum computing technology.

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Irish startup launches first silicon quantum computer

An Irish startup, Equal1, has unveiled the world’s first silicon-based quantum computer designed to integrate smoothly into existing data centres instead of requiring entirely new infrastructure.

Named Bell-1, the compact six-qubit device is built to slot directly into standard server racks, weighing just over 200 kilograms and roughly matching the size of a conventional GPU server.

Its standout feature is a self-contained cooling unit that maintains a temperature of 0.3 kelvin without external cryogenics, making it far more practical to deploy than traditional quantum machines.

Bell-1 relies on silicon-based spin qubits instead of more common trapped-ion or superconducting qubits, allowing it to take advantage of existing semiconductor fabrication methods. This choice results in smaller, more scalable components and paves the way for greater qubit density.

The UnityQ chip at the system’s core combines quantum processor units (QPUs), Arm CPUs, and neural processing units (NPUs), eliminating the need for complex coordination between classical and quantum systems — it can be plugged into a power outlet and used like conventional hardware.

The platform includes built-in error correction and AI-powered controls developed in partnership with Arm, helping reduce errors and increase operational speed. Even though this first-generation chip supports just six qubits, Equal1 plans to scale up future versions.

Instead of replacing the entire system, early adopters will be able to upgrade existing installations, ensuring long-term relevance and smoother adoption of more advanced models.

Equal1’s breakthrough builds upon performance records it set in late 2024, where its silicon qubit arrays demonstrated the highest gate fidelity and speed ever recorded.

Bell-1 marks a significant leap forward by offering quantum capabilities without the barriers typically associated with quantum hardware, bringing the technology closer to practical use in traditional computing environments.

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Quantum leap: Cisco opens lab and introduces entanglement chip

Cisco has introduced a prototype chip designed to connect quantum computers and has opened a new laboratory in California to drive its ambitions in the emerging field.

The company revealed in a blog post that its quantum network entanglement chip produces pairs of entangled photons, allowing for instantaneous connections across any distance through quantum teleportation.

One of the chip’s key features is its compatibility with existing telecommunications infrastructure. By operating at standard telecom wavelengths, it can utilise current fibre networks, simplifying its potential integration.

Vijoy Pandey, SVP of Cisco’s Outshift innovation incubator, explained that while current quantum processors offer only hundreds of qubits, applications will require millions.

Cisco’s solution is to network smaller quantum computers together, forming larger, distributed systems rather than attempting to build a single large-scale processor.

‘Scaled-out quantum data centres, where processors work together through specialised networking, will be the practical and achievable path forward,’ Pandey said.

Although the chip remains a prototype, Cisco believes quantum processor makers will soon benefit from its networking technologies, which are intended to help scale quantum systems.

The formal launch of the Cisco Quantum Labs facility took place on 6 May. Pandey noted that the company has been working on the core elements of quantum networking for years.

Alongside the entanglement chip, the lab will research other critical components, including distribution protocols, a distributed computing compiler, and a network development kit.

Cisco joins major players such as Google, Amazon, and Microsoft in advancing quantum computing technologies, while Telefonica is building its own research centre to explore the future of the sector.

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Nvidia opens new quantum research centre in Boston

Nvidia has unveiled plans to open the Nvidia Accelerated Quantum Research Center (NVAQC) in Boston, a facility set to bridge quantum computing and AI supercomputing.

Expected to begin operations later this year, the centre aims to accelerate the shift from experimental to practical quantum computing.

Rather than treating quantum hardware as a standalone endeavour, Nvidia intends to integrate it with existing AI-driven systems, believing this combination could unlock solutions to problems unsolvable by today’s machines.

Quantum computing—much like AI in its early stages—fits naturally with Nvidia’s core strength: parallel processing. Instead of continuing to rely on traditional serial computing, the company has long embraced parallelism through its GPU technology and CUDA software platform.

Nvidia’s success in transforming GPUs from graphics engines into tools for scientific and commercial applications began with its bold decision to make CUDA available across all its products, even at the cost of short-term profit margins.

Nvidia now sees quantum error correction as the next major challenge. Current quantum computers, operating with between fifty and one hundred qubits, face a high error rate due to environmental ‘noise.’

Achieving truly useful systems will require a million qubits or more, most of which will be used for error correction. Instead of depending solely on traditional methods, Nvidia plans to use AI to develop scalable solutions capable of correcting errors in real time.

The Boston-based NVAQC will serve as a testing ground for these innovations. Harvard, MIT, and quantum startups like Quantinuum and QuEra will collaborate with Nvidia’s quantum team to train AI models for error correction and test them using Nvidia’s top-tier supercomputers.

By doing so, Nvidia hopes to make quantum computing not just viable, but powerful and practical at scale.

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IBM boosts US manufacturing with $150 billion pledge

IBM has announced a major $150 billion investment in the US over the next five years, with a significant portion earmarked for expanding production of quantum computers and mainframes.

The move follows similar commitments from tech giants like Nvidia and Apple, as industry leaders respond to the Trump administration’s push for increased domestic manufacturing.

Of the total sum, more than $30 billion will be dedicated to scaling up IBM’s US-based manufacturing of quantum systems and mainframes, vital for processing vast data and critical tasks.

IBM, which operates one of the world’s largest quantum computing fleets, stated the investment reflects both technological ambition and a strategic gesture towards current US trade policies.

While the quantum computing field has seen exciting advancements, including new chip generations from rivals like Google, opinions remain divided on when practical applications will emerge.

IBM’s latest investment signals long-term confidence in the technology, even as the company navigates recent challenges, including the cancellation of 15 government contracts during federal cost-cutting efforts.

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MIT researchers boost quantum computing speed

Researchers at MIT have achieved a significant milestone in quantum computing by demonstrating what they say is the strongest nonlinear light-matter coupling ever recorded.

Using a novel superconducting circuit architecture, the team developed a ‘quarton coupler’ that could dramatically boost the speed of quantum operations, making it possible to run processors about ten times faster than previous systems.

The coupler enables far stronger interactions between photons and artificial atoms—key components of quantum systems—which in turn allows for much faster and more accurate measurements of quantum data.

These improvements are crucial for increasing the number of error-correction rounds that can be completed before qubits lose their coherence, a major limitation in current quantum technology.

Faster readout could therefore pave the way toward fault-tolerant quantum computing, where large-scale real-world applications become possible.

Although the technology is not yet ready for commercial deployment, the research team sees this experiment as an essential foundation.

The architecture could eventually be adapted into more complex quantum processors with built-in readout circuits, allowing scientists to perform quantum computations at greater speed and precision.

The work was supported by the Army Research Office, the AWS Center for Quantum Computing, and MIT’s Center for Quantum Engineering.

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IBM commits $150 billion to US tech

IBM has announced a major investment plan worth $150 billion over the next five years to solidify its role as a global leader in advanced computing and quantum technologies.

The move also aims to support US economic growth by expanding local innovation and manufacturing, instead of relying heavily on overseas operations.

Over $30 billion of the funding will be directed towards research and development, helping IBM advance in areas such as mainframe and quantum computer production.

According to CEO Arvind Krishna, this commitment ensures that IBM remains the core hub of the world’s most sophisticated computing and AI capabilities. The company already operates the largest fleet of quantum computing systems and intends to continue building them in the US.

The announcement comes amid a wider shift among major tech firms investing heavily in US-based infrastructure.

Companies like Nvidia and Apple have each pledged massive sums—Nvidia alone is preparing to invest up to $500 billion—in response to President Donald Trump’s call for greater domestic manufacturing through policies like reciprocal tariffs.

By focusing investment at home instead of abroad, IBM joins a growing list of tech leaders aligning with government efforts to revitalise American industry while maintaining their global competitiveness in AI and next-generation computing.

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India seeks tech parity and trade concessions in US pact talks

India is preparing to urge the United States to ease export controls and grant it access to critical technologies under the proposed bilateral trade agreement. India is aiming for treatment similar to that received by key US allies such as Australia, the UK, and Japan.

Sectors including telecom equipment, biotechnology, AI, pharmaceuticals, quantum computing, and semiconductors are expected to be part of India’s demands, sources said.

Alongside tech access, India plans to request duty concessions for its labour-intensive industries. Key sectors like textiles, gems and jewellery, leather goods, garments, plastics, chemicals, shrimp, oil seeds, grapes, and bananas are high on India’s agenda for reduced tariffs.

These sectors are seen as vital to boosting India’s exports and supporting its domestic workforce. The United States, in return, is seeking tariff reductions for its exports of industrial goods, electric vehicles, wines, petrochemical products, dairy items, and agricultural produce such as apples and tree nuts.

Both sides are aiming to strike a mutually beneficial deal, although balancing these competing priorities could present a major challenge in the negotiations.

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Quantum encryption achieves new milestone without cryogenics

Computer scientists at Toshiba Europe have set a new record by distributing quantum encryption keys across 158 miles using standard computer equipment and existing fibre-optic infrastructure.

Instead of relying on expensive cryogenic cooling, which is often required in quantum computing, the team achieved this feat at room temperature, marking a significant breakthrough in the field.

Experts believe this development could lead to the arrival of metropolitan-scale quantum encryption networks within a decade.

David Awschalom, a professor at the University of Chicago, expressed optimism that quantum encryption would soon become commonplace, reflecting a growing confidence in the potential of quantum technologies instead of viewing them as distant possibilities.

Quantum encryption differs sharply from modern encryption, which depends on mathematical algorithms to scramble data. Instead of mathematical calculations, quantum encryption uses the principles of quantum mechanics to secure data through Quantum Key Distribution (QKD).

Thanks to the laws of quantum physics, any attempt to intercept quantum-encrypted data would immediately alert the original sender, offering security that may prove virtually unbreakable.

Until recently, the challenge was distributing quantum keys over long distances because traditional fibre-optic lines distort delicate quantum signals. However, Toshiba’s team found a cost-effective solution using twin-field quantum key distribution (TF-QKD) instead of resorting to expensive new infrastructure.

Their success could pave the way for a quantum internet within decades, transforming what was once considered purely theoretical into a real-world possibility.

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