David Deutsch didn’t just contribute to the field of quantum computing—he redefined what computation *is*, bridging the gap between physics and information in a way no one had before. By theorizing the universal quantum computer, Deutsch opened the door to possibilities previously confined to science fiction, forever altering our understanding of reality and the limits of what machines can achieve.
Professor John Donoghue explains why quantum physics and gravity actually work perfectly together. He tackles quadratic gravity, effective field theory, and random dynamics, arguing that grand unification and naturalness aren’t required for a theory of everything.
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Bose–Einstein Condensate (BEC) explained: Cool a dilute gas of atoms to billionths of a degree above absolute zero and they merge into one coherent matter wave—a Bose–Einstein condensate. This video covers laser cooling, magnetic/optical traps, evaporative cooling, the onset of quantum degeneracy, and why a BEC behaves like a superfluid. See signatures: interference fringes, quantized vortices, long coherence length, and frictionless flow. Applications include atom interferometers (precision gravity and rotation sensing), quantum simulation of complex materials, and space-based experiments (ISS Cold Atom Lab). We also touch on first BECs (1995, rubidium/sodium), critical temperature, and why bosons condense while fermions do not.
Please see this news story on a remarkable new technological cybersecurity breakthrough for mitigating the threats of Q-Day and AI:
#cybersecurity #quantum #tech
The next leap in technology: a quantum computer unlike anything humanity has seen, capable of breaking all encryption and challenging the most crucial national security defenses.
Tal Shenhav from i24NEWS Hebrew channel has the story.
Edward Witten, widely regarded as one of the greatest living theoretical physicists, sits down with Brian Greene to explore the deepest questions at the frontiers of modern science. From string theory and quantum gravity to black holes, cosmology, and the nature of consciousness, Witten reflects on what physics has revealed—and what remains profoundly mysterious.
The only physicist to receive the Fields Medal, Witten discusses why unifying quantum mechanics and general relativity has proven so difficult, how string theory forces gravity into its framework, and why decades of progress have still not revealed the fundamental principles underlying the theory. He also examines powerful ideas such as duality, extra dimensions, and the controversial anthropic principle, offering rare insight into how physicists grapple with uncertainty at the edge of human understanding.
The conversation moves beyond equations into philosophy, addressing questions about free will, the quantum measurement problem, and whether consciousness plays a role in how reality is observed. Witten reflects candidly on discovery, doubt, beauty in mathematics, and what it feels like to work at the limits of knowledge.
This discussion is essential viewing for anyone interested in theoretical physics, cosmology, quantum theory, and the future of our understanding of the universe.
This program is part of the Rethinking Reality series, supported by the John Templeton Foundation.
Participant: Edward Witten.
Moderator: Brian Greene.
0:00:00 — Introduction: Free Will, Physics, and the Quest to Unify Reality.
Physicists have so far failed to unify general relativity and quantum mechanics. As attempts to unite them into a quantum theory of gravity mount up, philosopher of physics Dean Rickles argues that the assumption of materialism is the problem. We need to look beyond the physical—beyond space, time and matter—to something primordial out of which minds can construct physical reality, and which explains both general relativity and quantum mechanics. Pioneers like John Wheeler and David Bohm have already begun to chart what such a realm of “pre-physics” might look like—it’s high time physics took their ideas more seriously.
A pair of recent physics Nobel prizes (2020 and 2022) were awarded for basic research in general relativity (Einstein’s theory of gravitation that explains gravity as the curvature of spacetime by matter and energy) and quantum mechanics (our best bet for a theory of matter and energy). The experimental successes of these theories keep piling up. There is clearly much truth in them. They both aim to describe the same world: this world. They should surely overlap, since the matter and energy described by quantum mechanics should curve spacetime as well as good old-fashioned non-quantum mechanical matter and energy. Why then can we not construct a theory in which they both appear? Why is it so difficult to build what would be a Quantum Theory of Gravity?
Quantum light sources using single-walled carbon nanotubes show promise for quantum technologies but face challenges in achieving precise control over color center formation. Here, we present a novel technique for deterministic creation of single organic color centers in carbon nanotubes using in situ photochemical reaction. By monitoring discrete intensity changes in photoluminescence spectra, we achieve precise control over the formation of individual color centers. Furthermore, our method allows for position-controlled formation of color centers as validated through photoluminescence imaging. We also demonstrate photon antibunching from a color center, confirming the quantum nature of the defects formed. This technique represents a significant step forward in the precise engineering of atomically defined quantum emitters in carbon nanotubes, facilitating their integration into advanced quantum photonic devices and systems.
By Chuck Brooks
Quantum Computing and the Dismantling of Cryptographic Foundations Quantum technology may be the most transformative long-term influence on the horizon. Although large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computers may remain years from realization, their expected influence is already transforming cybersecurity strategies. As quantum technology advances, the risk of “harvest now, decrypt later” assaults suggests that today’s encrypted sensitive data could become vulnerable in the future.
From 2026 to 2030, enterprises will increasingly recognize that cryptographic agility is vital. The move to post-quantum cryptography standards means that old systems, especially those in critical infrastructure, financial services, and government networks, need to be fully inventoried, evaluated, and upgraded.
