The journal Science will replace an editorial expression of concern (EEoC) on a 2020 Microsoft quantum computing paper with a correction. The update notes incomplete explanations of device tuning and partial data disclosure, but no misconduct.
Co-author Charles Marcus welcomed the decision but lamented the four-year dispute.
Sergey Frolov, who raised concerns about data selection, disagrees with the correction and believes the paper should be retracted. The debate centres on Microsoft’s claims about topological superconductors using Majorana particles, a critical step for quantum computing.
Several Microsoft-backed papers on Majoranas have faced scrutiny, including retractions. Critics accuse Microsoft of cherry-picking data, while supporters stress the research’s complexity and pioneering nature.
The controversy reveals challenges in peer review and verifying claims in a competitive field.
Microsoft defends the integrity of its research and values open scientific debate. Critics warn that selective reporting risks misleading the community. The dispute highlights the difficulty of confirming breakthrough quantum computing claims in an emerging industry.
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Eight long-dormant Bitcoin wallets from the early days of the network moved a combined 80,000 BTC in early July 2025. Each wallet sent roughly 10,000 BTC to new SegWit addresses, which offer enhanced security against future quantum computing threats.
These transfers mark the most significant single Bitcoin transactions ever recorded, attracting intense speculation across the crypto community.
Shortly after the transfer, around 28,600 BTC were sent to Galaxy Digital, with about 9,000 BTC sold, likely contributing to a 5% price drop from Bitcoin’s recent all-time high of $123,000.
Experts believe the security upgrade was a precaution against quantum computing risks, threatening Bitcoin’s cryptographic foundations in the coming decades. Developers are working on proposals to protect vulnerable wallets and strengthen network security.
Blockchain analysis shows all eight wallets belong to one entity, with some suspecting Roger Ver, aka ‘Bitcoin Jesus,’ because of his early role and recent legal troubles. Around that time, OP_RETURN messages appeared on the blockchain, possibly a spam campaign pressuring the wallet owner to prove control.
While no evidence of hacking has emerged, these events have heightened attention on dormant Bitcoin holdings and quantum security.
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One hundred years after its birth, quantum mechanics continues to baffle physicists, despite underpinning many of today’s technologies. While its equations accurately describe the behaviour of subatomic particles, experts remain deeply divided on what those equations actually reveal about reality.
A recent survey by Nature, involving more than 1,100 physicists, highlighted the lack of consensus within the field. Just over a third supported the Copenhagen interpretation, which claims a particle only assumes a definite state once it is observed.
Others favour alternatives like the many worlds theory, which suggests every possible outcome exists in parallel universes rather than collapsing into a single reality. The concept challenges traditional notions of observation, space and causality.
Physicists also remain split on whether there is a boundary between classical and quantum systems. Only a quarter expressed confidence in their chosen interpretation, with most believing a better theory will eventually replace today’s understanding.
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Sui Research revealed a way for blockchain wallets to upgrade for quantum safety without a hard fork or address changes. The approach, based on EdDSA cryptography, allows compatible networks like Solana, Sui and Near to transition securely with minimal disruption.
Cryptographer Kostas Chalkias described the breakthrough as the first backward-compatible path to quantum safety for wallets. The upgrade uses zero-knowledge proofs to verify private key control without exposing data, keeping original public keys and supporting dormant accounts.
While praised as one of the most important cryptographic advancements in recent years, the upgrade method does not apply to Bitcoin or Ethereum. These networks use different signature methods, which may need bigger changes to stay secure as quantum tech evolves.
Although quantum computers are not yet capable of breaking blockchain encryption, researchers and developers are racing to prepare. The risk of millions of wallets becoming vulnerable has triggered serious debate in the crypto community.
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Scientists in Australia have used quantum machine learning to model semiconductor properties more accurately, potentially transforming how microchips are designed and manufactured.
The hybrid technique combines AI with quantum computing to solve a long-standing challenge in chip production: predicting electrical resistance where metal meets semiconductor.
The Australian researchers developed a new algorithm, the Quantum Kernel-Aligned Regressor (QKAR), which uses quantum methods to detect complex patterns in small, noisy datasets, a common issue in semiconductor research.
By improving how engineers predict Ohmic contact resistance, the approach could lead to faster, more energy-efficient chips. It also offers real-world compatibility, meaning it can eventually run on existing quantum machines as the hardware matures.
The findings highlight the growing role of quantum AI in hardware design and suggest the method could be adopted in commercial chip production in the near future.
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Biotech firm NeOnc Technologies has gained rapid attention after going public in March 2025 and joining the Russell Microcap Index just months later. The company focuses on intranasal drug delivery for brain cancer, allowing patients to administer treatment at home and bypass the blood-brain barrier.
NeOnc’s lead treatment is in Phase 2A trials for glioblastoma patients and is already showing extended survival times with minimal side effects. Backed by a partnership with USC’s Keck Medical School, the company is also expanding clinical trials to the Middle East and North Africa under US FDA standards.
A $50 million investment deal with a UAE-based firm is helping fund this expansion, including trials run by Cleveland Clinic through a regional partnership. The trials are expected to be fully enrolled by September, with positive preliminary data already being reported.
AI and quantum computing are central to NeOnc’s strategy, particularly in reducing risk and cost in trial design and drug development. As a pre-revenue biotech, the company is betting that innovation and global collaboration will carry it to the next stage of growth.
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Aalto University researchers have achieved a milestone in quantum computing by extending the coherence time of a superconducting transmon qubit beyond one millisecond. The breakthrough significantly improves how long quantum states remain stable, enabling more reliable operations.
The Finnish team used ultra-pure materials and precision engineering techniques to fabricate the qubit, achieving a median coherence time of 541 microseconds and a peak of 1057 microseconds.
Unlike earlier coherence records set by more exotic qubit types, Aalto’s success came within the widely used transmon framework, making it easier for others to replicate. The researchers published detailed fabrication methods to help advance consistency across labs globally.
Crossing the millisecond mark opens new possibilities for scalable quantum systems, reducing the burden of error correction. Finland’s growing leadership in the field is further solidified as other research teams explore Aalto’s reproducible approach.
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AI and quantum computing are reshaping global industries as investment surges and innovation accelerates across sectors like finance, healthcare and logistics. Microsoft and Amazon are driving a major shift in AI infrastructure, transforming cloud services into profitable platforms.
Quantum computing is moving beyond theory, with real-world applications emerging in pharmaceuticals and e-commerce. Google’s development of quantum-inspired algorithms for virtual shopping and faster analytics demonstrates its potential to revolutionise decision-making.
Sustainability is also gaining ground, with companies adopting AI-powered solutions for renewable energy and eco-friendly manufacturing. At the same time, digital banks are integrating AI to challenge legacy finance systems, offering personalised, accessible services.
Despite rapid progress, ethical concerns and regulatory challenges are mounting. Data privacy, AI bias, and antitrust issues highlight the need for responsible innovation, with industry leaders urged to balance risk and growth for long-term societal benefit.
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A joint statement committed to signing an administrative agreement on AI, aligned with principles from the Hiroshima AI Process. Shared initiatives include a €4 million EU-supported quantum R&D project named Q‑NEKO and the 6G MIRAI‑HARMONY research effort.
Both parties pledge to enhance data governance, digital identity interoperability, regulatory coordination across platforms, and secure connectivity via submarine cables and Arctic routes. The accord builds on the Strategic Partnership Agreement activated in January 2025, reinforcing their mutual platform for rules-based, value-driven digital and innovation cooperation.
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Quantum computing holds vast promise for sectors from climate modelling to drug discovery and AI, but it remains far from mainstream due to significant barriers. The fragility of qubits, the shortage of scalable quantum software, and the immense number of qubits required continue to limit progress.
Keeping qubits stable is one of the most significant technical obstacles, with most only lasting microseconds before disruption. Current solutions rely on extreme cooling and specialised equipment, which remain expensive and impractical for widespread use.
Even the most advanced systems today operate with a fraction of the qubits needed for practical applications, while software options remain scarce and highly tailored. Businesses exploring quantum solutions must often build their tools from scratch, adding to the cost and complexity.
Beyond technology, the field faces social and structural challenges. A lack of skilled professionals and fears around unequal access could see quantum benefits restricted to big tech firms and governments.
Security is another looming concern, as future quantum machines may be capable of breaking current encryption standards. Policymakers and businesses must develop defences before such systems become widely available.
AI may accelerate progress in both directions. Quantum computing can supercharge model training and simulation, while AI is already helping to improve qubit stability and propose new hardware designs.
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