The Dutch government has proposed new legislation requiring background checks for thousands of researchers working with sensitive technologies. The plan, announced by Education Minister Eppo Bruins, aims to block foreign intelligence from accessing high-risk scientific work.
Around 8,000 people a year, including Dutch citizens, would undergo screenings involving criminal records, work history, and possible links to hostile regimes.
Intelligence services would support the process, which targets sectors like AI, quantum computing, and biotech.
Universities worry the checks may deter global talent due to delays and bureaucracy. Critics also highlight a loophole: screenings occur only once, meaning researchers could still be approached by foreign governments after being cleared.
While other countries are introducing similar measures, the Netherlands will attempt to avoid unnecessary delays. Officials admit, however, that no system can eliminate all risks.
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A new study by researchers from the University of Oxford, Delft University of Technology, Eindhoven University of Technology, and Quantum Machines has made a major step forward in quantum computing.
The team has found a way to make Majorana zero modes (MZMs)—special particles crucial for quantum computers—far more stable, bringing us closer to building error-free, scalable machines.
Quantum computers are incredibly powerful but face a key challenge: their basic units, qubits, are highly fragile and easily disrupted by environmental noise.
MZMs have long been seen as a potential solution because they are predicted to resist such disturbances, but stabilising them for practical use has been difficult until now.
The researchers created a structure called a three-site Kitaev chain, which is a simplified version of a topological superconductor.
By using quantum dots to trap electrons and connecting them with superconducting wires, they created a stable ‘sweet spot’ where MZMs could be farther apart, reducing interference and enhancing their stability.
Lead author Dr. Greg Mazur believes this breakthrough shows that it is possible to keep MZMs stable as quantum systems grow. With further research, the team aims to build longer chains to improve stability even more, potentially opening the door to reliable, next-generation quantum materials and devices.
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SandboxAQ has secured a further $150 million in funding, bringing its Series E total to over $450 million.
The quantum-AI firm, which originated at Alphabet in 2016 and spun out in 2022, continues to draw backing from tech heavyweights and financial leaders, including Google, Nvidia, Ray Dalio, and BNP Paribas.
The funding is set to accelerate development in large quantitative models (LQMs), which lie at the heart of SandboxAQ’s enterprise solutions.
The models are already being applied across sectors such as life sciences, finance, and navigation. BNP Paribas described the partnership as a key move at the intersection of AI and quantum technology, while Ray Dalio cited his confidence in the company’s team and approach.
Recent collaborations have also strengthened SandboxAQ’s position in the field. In early 2025, it partnered with Google Cloud to deliver its LQMs via the Google Cloud Marketplace, easing deployment for enterprise users.
Previous deals include a November 2023 alliance with Nvidia to simulate chemical reactions for new material development. In total, SandboxAQ has now raised more than $950 million, achieving a pre-money valuation of $5.3 billion in late 2024.
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MIT researchers have created a new device that could transform the way quantum computers communicate.
By enabling quantum processors to send data directly using microwave photons, the system eliminates the need for complex, error-prone point-to-point connections.
Two modules, each containing four qubits, were linked via a superconducting waveguide, allowing them to exchange information without a physical link.
Key to the breakthrough was the creation of remote entanglement — a quantum effect that synchronises two particles across a distance. Instead of firing full photons, the researchers halted photon emission halfway, placing the system in a strange quantum state.
The receiving module then absorbed the ‘half-photon,’ successfully entangling the processors. To improve photon capture, an algorithm reshaped the photons, achieving a 60-percent success rate.
Unlike current quantum computing setups, the MIT system supports ‘all-to-all’ connectivity, allowing any number of processors to communicate.
The architecture is potentially expandable to different types of quantum computers and future quantum internet systems. The research was funded by several United States agencies and published in Nature Physics.
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A team from the University of Innsbruck in Austria and the Institute for Quantum Computing in Canada has successfully used quantum computers to simulate particle interactions more effectively than ever before.
The research introduces a new approach using qudits, which can store more information than traditional qubits.
With this technology, the team built a quantum computer capable of simulating a full quantum field theory in two dimensions, a significant improvement over previous efforts.
The simulations even revealed the formation of magnetic fields between particles, something not seen in earlier one-dimensional studies.
Researchers believe this advancement could lead to even more complex simulations, including three-dimensional particle interactions and insights into the strong nuclear force.
Physicist Martin Ringbauer describes the development as just the beginning, highlighting the potential of quantum computers to answer some of the biggest mysteries in physics.
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Researchers at Caltech have developed a groundbreaking silicon device that could help quantum computers communicate over long distances.
The innovation, created by a team led by Professor Mohammad Mirhosseini, successfully converts microwave photons into optical photons, overcoming a major challenge in quantum networking. Their findings were recently published in Nature Nanotechnology.
Quantum computers rely on microwave photons to store and process information, but these particles require near-zero temperatures and lose data when travelling through standard internet cables.
Optical photons, however, can move efficiently over long distances at room temperature. The new device acts as a bridge between the two, using a vibrating silicon beam to convert microwave signals into optical ones with remarkable efficiency.
Built from silicon to minimise noise, the transducer outperforms older systems by 100 times while maintaining the same level of signal clarity.
The breakthrough brings the concept of a quantum internet closer to reality, offering a scalable way to link quantum computers across vast networks in the future.
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The United States has added six subsidiaries of China’s leading cloud computing firm, Inspur Group, along with dozens of other Chinese entities, to its export restriction list.
Washington accuses the companies of aiding China’s military by developing supercomputers and advanced AI technologies. The move is part of a broader strategy to curb China’s progress in high-performance computing, quantum technology, and hypersonic weapons development.
Other companies from Taiwan, Iran, Pakistan, South Africa, and the UAE were also included in the latest restrictions. China has strongly condemned the US decision, calling it an attempt to ‘weaponise trade and technology.’
The Chinese foreign ministry has vowed to take necessary measures to protect its firms, while the Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence, which was also targeted, called for the restrictions to be withdrawn.
Companies added to the US Entity List require special licences to access American technology, which are unlikely to be granted. The restrictions could impact major Chinese tech firms linked to AI and computing, such as Huawei and Sugon.
The United States Commerce Department argues that these measures are necessary to prevent China and other countries from using American technology for military applications. Officials insist they will not allow adversaries to strengthen their military capabilities with US-made components.
The latest crackdown follows a 2023 decision to blacklist Inspur Group, which led to scrutiny of its business ties with major US chipmakers such as Nvidia and AMD. Washington also aims to block Iran’s procurement of drone and missile technology as part of its broader national security efforts.
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Quantum computing firm PsiQuantum is reportedly raising at least $750 million in a new funding round led by BlackRock, pushing the startup’s pre-money valuation to $6 billion.
The round remains ongoing, but it signals strong investor confidence in PsiQuantum’s ambitious timeline to deliver a fully functional quantum computer by 2029, or sooner.
The US, California-based company uses photonics and semiconductor techniques to produce quantum chips in partnership with GlobalFoundries at a facility in New York.
It has also secured collaborations with the governments of Australia and the US to build quantum computers in Brisbane and Chicago.
The Chicago project will anchor the new Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park, marking a major milestone in the commercialisation of quantum technologies.
PsiQuantum faces stiff competition from tech giants like Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Nvidia, all of whom are making significant strides in quantum research.
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MIT researchers have developed a breakthrough quantum interconnect device that could significantly advance quantum computing by enabling direct communication between multiple quantum processors.
Unlike point-to-point architectures, which suffer from compounded error rates, their new ‘all-to-all’ communication system allows superconducting quantum processors to exchange quantum information efficiently using microwave photons.
By successfully demonstrating remote entanglement between two quantum processors, the researchers have taken a crucial step toward building large-scale quantum computing networks.
Their method involves using superconducting wires to shuttle photons, allowing quantum processors to remain entangled even when physically separate. However, this advancement paves the way for scalable quantum computing with higher flexibility and reduced error rates.
To maximise efficiency, the team employed reinforcement learning algorithms to optimise photon absorption, achieving over 60% absorption efficiency—enough to confirm successful entanglement.
Future improvements may involve refining photon pathways and integrating modules in 3D to further enhance performance. The research, supported by multiple US agencies and AWS, brings quantum computing closer to practical, large-scale implementation.
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Announced at the Amplify 2025 event, the new models include the HP Color LaserJet Enterprise MFP 8801, Mono MFP 8601, and LaserJet Pro Mono SFP 8501. These printers are built to resist sophisticated attacks that could exploit vulnerabilities at the firmware level.
To enhance security, HP has integrated quantum-resistant cryptography within the printers’ ASIC chips. These chips provide digital signature verification, reducing the risk of unauthorised firmware modifications and potential data breaches.
HP emphasised that, without these safeguards, printers could be fully compromised by malicious firmware updates, allowing attackers to gain persistent control over the devices.
The new printers are also designed to integrate seamlessly with Zero Trust network architectures, reinforcing security within enterprise environments.
By incorporating advanced cryptographic measures, HP aims to future-proof its printing solutions against emerging cybersecurity threats.
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