A laser system used to create butterfly molecules Prof. Herwig Ott A large, cold molecule that resembles a butterfly, with “wings” made from electrons, has been made for the first time, completing the search for a “zoo” of similar molecules. The result could provide a gateway to completely new parts of the quantum realm. Herwig…
Quantum computers are strange-looking machines ROBERT GHEMENT/EPA/Shutterstock Picture a quantum computer. Are you imagining an ordinary computer, but somehow just better? If so, that would be a mistake, because quantum computers are fundamentally different. They rely on exotic quantum phenomena occurring between their constituent parts, known as qubits, but their strange nature often invites myths…
Closed time-like curves offer a route to the past Roman Budnikov/Alamy What if you could send a message into the past? The laws of physics don’t forbid it – and in fact, in some cases, communicating backwards in time might actually be easier than the usual direction. The possibility of sending a message to the…
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. An illustration shows matter rushing forward from a singularity at the dawn of time during the Big Bang. | Credit: Robert Lea (created with Canva) Scientists have redefined gravity to explain the Big Bang and perhaps change our…
Quantum batteries could harvest energy by reversing time’s arrow da-kuk/Getty Images A method that can reverse the flow of time in quantum systems could one day be used to help charge quantum batteries. For every process we observe in the universe, events appear to happen in only one direction, following an apparent arrow of time….
The behaviour of two distinct particles can be linked by quantum entanglement Science Photo Library / Alamy We finally have a way to measure quantum entanglement of solids, which could lead to advances in both quantum technology and fundamental physics. When it comes to quantum entanglement – an inextricable link between quantum particles that keeps…
