IBM is one of the companies most focused on quantum computing and general artificial intelligence (AI). The advances made by IBMs Watson platform and the quantum computing team out of IBM Research are proof of that leadership.

IBM recently announced the massive Osprey, which is one of the most advanced quantum computers in the world. IBM also announced a partnership with Algorithmiq out of Finland that is developing a quantum simulation platform focused initially on health care and materials science.

The interesting result should be a significant improvement in related drug discovery efforts that, given quantum computings massive performance advantage with huge datasets, should help advance new drug development while significantly lowering side effects once finished.

The same problem that has plagued these efforts in the past, including access to data, particularly from research hospitals, hasnt been fully mitigated. But federated and synthesized data efforts are slowly beginning to close those gaps to create the potential for that data to be available once a fully capable quantum computer can be spun up to the task.

Lets talk about quantum computers and how they could significantly change the world and particularly health care this week:

The first time I was introduced to IBMs Watson platform, it was focused almost exclusively on the medical industry. The M.D. who briefed me shared that once that old instance of Watson had been trained, he entered a series of symptoms from a woman hed worked with for years to identify her illness. It took him around three years of focused research to identify a list of potential illnesses.

In short, even though this was a rudimentary form of Watson at the time, it changed a multi-year process into one that could arguably have been done in minutes. For many patients, it could cure an illness that might never have been diagnosed, given how much effort that diagnosis would have required.

Medical AIs require massive amounts of data to do their job, because they have to focus on the deep learning (DL) side of AI, given the high variability of both people and illnesses. Side effects, unintended adverse consequences, like addiction, and cost are all part of any effort to find an ideal medication to address a new or existing illness. Once mature and at sufficient size and scale, quantum computers will be able to deal with datasets that are far larger than we are able to realistically deal with, by using speeds that todays conventional computers cant touch.

This quantum capability should give IBM a significant edge in a market where these massive datasets and fast results are required and make IBMs recent partnership with Algorithmiq critical to the successful future of the AI effort. In short, our ability to deal with a pandemic more effectively will likely be impacted by how mature this joint venture between the two companies is at that time. Once mature, it could be a medical game changer when it comes to developing better, safer, and more trustworthy medications.

IBMs leadership in AI and quantum computing was highlighted both by the announcement of the powerful quantum computer and the announcement that Finlands Algorithmiq would be partnering with IBM on drug discovery.

The combination of these two announcements showcases the very real near-term potential benefits for AI and quantum computing. Sometimes, having the right partner can lead to truly world-changing efforts. Finding a faster, better way to discover medications would go a long way to assuring longer lives and lowering our medical expenses over time.

Excerpt from:

IBM and Algorithmiq Pushing AI Quantum Computing for Health Care - Datamation

As new technologies develop and gain traction, the public tends to divide into two groups: those who believe it will make an impact and grow, and those who don't. The former tends to be correct, so it is crucial to understand how future technologies differ from the status quo to prepare for their adoption en masse.

Classical computing has been the norm for decades, but in recent years, quantum computing has continued to rapidly develop. The technology is still in its early stages, but has existing and many more potential uses in AI/ML, cybersecurity, modeling and other applications.

It might be years before widespread implementation of quantum computing. However, explore the differences between classical vs. quantum computing to gain an understanding should the technology become more widespread.

Quantum computers typically must operate under more regulated physical conditions than classical computers because of quantum mechanics. Classical computers have less compute power than quantum computers and cannot scale as easily. They also use different units of data -- classical computers use bits and quantum computers use qubits.

In classical computers, data is processed in a binary manner.

Classical computers use bits -- eight units of bits is referred to as one byte -- as their basic unit of data. Classical computers write code in a binary manner as a 1 or a 0. Simply put, these 1s and 0s indicate the state of on or off, respectively. They can also indicate true or false or yes or no, for example.

This is also known as serial processing, which is successive in nature, meaning one operation must complete before another one follows. Lots of computing systems use parallel processing, an expansion of classical processing, which can perform simultaneous computing tasks. Classical computers also return one result because bits of 1s and 0s are repeatable due to their binary nature.

Quantum computing, however, follows a different set of rules. Quantum computers use qubits as their unit of data. Qubits, unlike bits, can be a value of 1 or 0, but can also be 1 and 0 at the same time, existing in multiple states at once. This is known as superposition, where properties are not defined until they are measured.

According to IBM, "Groups of qubits in superposition can create complex, multidimensional computational spaces," which enables more complex computations. When qubits become entangled, changes to one qubit directly affect the other, which makes information transfer between qubits much faster.

In classical computers, algorithms need a lot of parallel computations to solve problems. Quantum computers can account for multiple outcomes when they analyze data with a large set of constraints. The outputs have an associated probability, and quantum computers can perform more difficult compute tasks than classical computers can.

Most classical computers operate on Boolean logic and algebra, and power increases linearly with the number of transistors in the system -- the 1s and 0s. The direct relationship means in a classical computer, power increases 1:1 in tandem with the transistors in the system.

Because quantum computers' qubits can represent a 1 and 0 at the same time, a quantum computer's power increases exponentially in relation to the number of qubits. Because of superposition, the number of computations a quantum computer could take is 2N where N is the number of qubits.

Classical computers are well-suited for everyday use and normal conditions. Consider something as simple as a standard laptop. Most people can take their computer out of their briefcase and use it in an air-conditioned caf or on the porch during a sunny summer day. In these environments, performance won't take a hit for normal uses like web browsing and sending emails over short periods of time.

Organizations that don't plan on implementing quantum computing in their own business will still need to prepare for the external threats quantum computing might impose.

Data centers and larger computing systems are more complex and sensitive to temperature, but still operate within what most people would consider "reasonable" temperatures, such as room temperature. For example, ASHRAE recommends A1 to A4 class hardware stays at 18 to 27 degrees Celsius, or 64.4 to 80.6 degrees Fahrenheit.

Some quantum computers, however, need to reside in heavily regulated and stringent physical environments. Some need to be kept at absolute zero, which is around -273.15 degrees Celsius or -459.67 Fahrenheit, although recently the first room-temperature computer was developed by Quantum Brilliance.

The reason for the cold operating environments is that qubits are extremely sensitive to mechanical and thermal influences. Disturbances can cause the atoms to lose their quantum coherence -- essentially, the ability for the qubit to represent both a 1 and a 0 -- which can cause errors to computations.

Like most technologies, quantum computing poses opportunities and risks. While it might be a while before quantum computers really take off, start to have conversations with leadership and develop plans for quantum computing.

Organizations that don't plan on implementing quantum computing in their own business will still need to prepare for the external threats quantum computing might impose. Firstly, quantum computers can potentially crack even the most powerful and advanced security measures. For example, a motivated enough hacker can, in theory, use quantum computing to quickly break the cryptographic keys commonly used in encryption if they are savvy.

In addition, organizations that are considering quantum computers for their data centers or certain applications will have to prepare facilities. Like any other piece of infrastructure, quantum computers need space, electricity supply and resources to operate. Begin examining the options available to accommodate for them. Look at budget, space, facility and staffing needs to begin planning.

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Classical vs. quantum computing: What are the differences? - TechTarget

The quantum computing market is expected to reach between $1 billion and $5 billion by 2025, according to GlobalDatas Tech, Media and Telecom Predictions 2023 report. Quantum computing uses principles of quantum physics to store and compute data. Superposition describes the ability of a quantum bit (qubit) to exist in an on and off state simultaneously. Qubits must be isolated from their external environment to achieve a state of superposition known as coherence. This is where much of the scientific and technological challenge exists, as qubits often decohere before the computation is completed. Current quantum computers (QCs) are said to be in the noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) stage of development.

IBM is a world leader in quantum computing research and development. In November 2022, it unveiled its latest QC, Osprey. Boasting 433 qubits, Osprey is currently the highest qubit count QC in the world, more than triple IBMs previous record of the 127-qubit Eagle QC. IBM is on track to develop 4,000-qubit QCs by 2025 with a roadmap of 1,121 qubits in 2023 (Condor QC) and 1,386 qubits in 2024 (Flamingo QC). GlobalData predicts that full-scale commercial quantum computing will likely begin in 2027.

Big Tech firms have begun offering quantum-as-a-service (QaaS), notably Microsofts Azure Quantum, which provides users with access to hardware from other companies such as IonQ, Toshiba, and Honeywells Quantinuum. The QaaS market will continue to grow as more companies invest in quantum.

JP Morgan, Volkswagen, and Lockheed Martin are already investing in their quantum infrastructure in preparation for widespread adoption. These companies are well-positioned to benefit from a quantum advantage in financial modeling, process optimization, cybersecurity, and military research and development.

2023 will see the quantum capabilities gap continue to narrow between the US and China as the tech war intensifies. Of the 62 quantum computing start-ups listed on GlobalDatas companies database, 29% were headquartered in the US, followed by the UK (13%), and China (10%). These countries will become hubs of activity in quantum computing, attracting both domestic and international investment.

Quantum computing is the latest arena of competition between the US and China as both countries strive for technological supremacy. Major US tech firms currently dominate quantum computing. In China, Alibaba leads ahead of Huawei and Baidu. Alibaba is at the forefront of Chinas quantum strategy; it has invested $15 billion into the DAMO science and technology research center and partnered with the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Though currently estimated to be lagging five years behind the US in quantum computing, China supersedes the US in quantum satellite communications. The Chinese government has invested $10 billion into the construction of the National Laboratory for Quantum Information Science. When completed, its research focus will be on quantum technologies with direct military application. China benefits from an autocratic economic model. China can pool resources from institutions, corporations, and the government, working collectively to achieve a single aim.

In contrast, US tech firms compete against each other. The US government is increasingly involving itself in quantum development. The US CHIPS and Science Act, which was signed into law in August 2022, details $153 million of domestic funding to support US quantum computing initiatives, including discovery, infrastructure, and workforce. This support package will be implemented between 2023 and 2027.

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The state of quantum computing in 2023 - Verdict

Researchers from the University of Torontos Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering and Fujitsu have applied quantum-inspired computing to find the promising, previously unexplored chemical family of Ru-Cr-Mn-Sb-O2 as acidic oxygen evolution reaction catalysts for hydrogen production.

The best catalyst shows a mass activity eight times higher than state-of-the-art RuO2 and maintains performance for 180 h. A paper on their work appears in the journal Matter.

Choubisa et al.

Scaling up the production of what we call green hydrogen is a priority for researchers around the world because it offers a carbon-free way to store electricity from any source. This work provides proof-of-concept for a new approach to overcoming one of the key remaining challenges, which is the lack of highly active catalyst materials to speed up the critical reactions.

Ted Sargent, senior author

Nearly all commercial hydrogen is produced from natural gas. The process produces carbon dioxide as a byproduct; if the CO2 is vented to the atmosphere, the product is known as grey hydrogen, but if the CO2 is captured and stored, it is called blue hydrogen. Green hydrogen is a carbon-free method that uses an electrolyzer to split water into hydrogen and oxygen gas. The low efficiency of available electrolyzers means that most of the energy in the water-splitting step is wasted as heat, rather than being captured in the hydrogen.

Researchers around the world are striving to find better catalyst materials that can improve this efficiency. Because each potential catalyst material can be made of several different chemical elements, combined in a variety of ways, the number of possible permutations quickly becomes overwhelming.

One way to do it is by human intuition, by researching what materials other groups have made and trying something similar, but thats pretty slow. Another way is to use a computer model to simulate the chemical properties of all the potential materials we might try, starting from first principles. But in this case, the calculations get really complex, and the computational power needed to run the model becomes enormous.

Jehad Abed, co-lead author

To find a way through, the team turned to the emerging field of quantum-inspired computing. They made use of the Digital Annealer, a tool that was created as the result of a long-standing collaboration between U of T Engineering and Fujitsu Research. This collaboration has also resulted in the creation of the Fujitsu Co-Creation Research Laboratory at the University of Toronto.

Digital Annealer (DA) is a computer architecture developed to solve large-scale combinatorial optimization problems rapidly using CMOS digital technology. DA is unique in that it uses a digital circuit design inspired by quantum phenomena and can solve problems that are very difficult and time-consuming or even impossible for classical computers to address.

Digital Annealer is inspired by quantum mechanics, but unlike quantum computers, does not require cryogenic temperatures. DA makes use of a method called annealingnamed after the annealing process using in metallurgy. During this procedure, metal is heated to a high temperature before the structure stabilizes as it is slowly cooled to a lower energy, more stable state.

Using the analogy of placing blocks in a box, in the classical computational approach, the blocks are placed in sequence. If a solution is not found, the process is restarted and repeated until a solution is found. With the annealing approach, the blocks are placed randomly and the entire system is shaken. As the shaking is gradually reduced, the system becomes more stable as the shapes quickly fit together.

DA is designed to solve fully connected quadratic unconstrained binary optimization (QUBO) problems and is implemented on CMOS hardware. The second-generation Digital Annealer expands the scale of problems that can be solved from the 1,024 bits of the first generation, launched in May 2018, to 8,192 bits and an increase in computational precision.

This leads to substantial gains in precision and performance for enhanced problem-solving and new applications, expanding by a factor of one hundred the complexity that the second-generation Digital Annealer can tackle now. Its algorithm is based on simulated annealing, but also takes advantage of massive parallelization enabled by the custom application-specific CMOS hardware.

The Digital Annealer is a hybrid of unique hardware and software designed to be highly efficient at solving combinatorial optimization problems. These problems include finding the most efficient route between multiple locations across a transportation network, or selecting a set of stocks to make up a balanced portfolio. Searching through different combinations of chemical elements to a find a catalyst with desired properties is another example, and it was a perfect challenge for our Digital Annealer to address.

Hidetoshi Matsumura, senior researcher at Fujitsu Consulting (Canada)

In the paper, the researchers used a technique called cluster expansion to analyze an enormous number of potential catalyst material designsthey estimate the total as a number on the order of hundreds of quadrillions. For perspective, one quadrillion is approximately the number of seconds that would pass by in 32 million years.

Quantum annealers and similar quantum-inspired optimizers have the potential to provide accelerated computation for certain combinatorial optimization challenges. However, they have not been exploited for materials discovery because of the absence of compatible optimization mapping methods. Here, by combining cluster expansion with a quantum-inspired superposition technique, we lever quantum annealers in chemical space exploration for the first time. This approach enables us to accelerate the search of materials with desirable properties 1050 times faster than genetic algorithms and bayesian optimizations, with a significant improvement in ground state prediction accuracy.

Choubisa et al.

The results pointed toward a promising family of materials composed of ruthenium, chromium, manganese, antimony and oxygen, which had not been previously explored by other research groups.

The team synthesized several of these compounds and found that the best of them demonstrated a mass activity that was approximately eight times higher than some of the best catalysts currently available.

The new catalyst has other advantages too: it operates well in acidic conditions, which is a requirement of state-of-the-art electrolyzer designs. Currently, these electrolyzers depend on catalysts made largely of iridium, which is a rare element that is costly to obtain. In comparison, ruthenium, the main component of the new catalyst, is more abundant and has a lower market price.

The team aims to optimize further the stability of the new catalyst before it can be tested in an electrolyzer. Still, the latest work serves as a demonstration of the effectiveness of the new approach to searching chemical space.

I think whats exciting about this project is that it shows how you can solve really complex and important problems by combining expertise from different fields. For a long time, materials scientists have been looking for these more efficient catalysts, and computational scientists have been designing more efficient algorithms, but the two efforts have been disconnected. When we brought them together, we were able to find a promising solution very quickly. I think there are a lot more useful discoveries to be made this way.

Hitarth Choubisa, co-lead author

Resources

Hitarth Choubisa, Jehad Abed, Douglas Mendoza, Hidetoshi Matsumura, Masahiko Sugimura, Zhenpeng Yao, Ziyun Wang, Brandon R. Sutherland, Aln Aspuru-Guzik, Edward H. Sargent (2022) Accelerated chemical space search using a quantum-inspired cluster expansion approach, Matter doi: 10.1016/j.matt.2022.11.031

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U Toronto and Fujitsu team use quantum-inspired computing to ... - Green Car Congress

As the end of 2022 quickly approaches, Caltech News looks back at our coverage of the research, discoveries, events, and experiences that shaped the Institute. Here are some highlights.

Caltech researchers used data gathered both in space by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) and on the ground by the Mars Perseverance Rover to continue to probe the Red Planet's past and any potential signs it was previously hospitable to life. In January, MRO survey data revealed that liquid water was on Mars about one billion years earlier than suspected. Meanwhile, Perseverance made a beeline across the floor of Jezero Crater during spring 2022, arriving at an ancient river delta in April. The delta is thought to be one of the best possible places to search for past signs of life; there, Perseverance found signs of past water along with evidence of possible organic compounds in the igneous rocks on the crater floor. After a few months at the delta, Perseverance project scientist Ken Farley announced in September the discovery of a class of organic molecules in two samples of mudstone rock collected from a feature called Wildcat Ridge. While these organic molecules can be produced through nonliving chemical processes, some of the molecules themselves are among the building blocks of life.

Not all eyes aimed toward space are set on Mars, however. New instruments and surveys provided insights related to other celestial bodies in our Milky Way galaxy, such as asteroids, and helped discover an abundance of planets outside of our solar system.

In March, the NASA Exoplanet Archive, an official catalog for exoplanetsplanets that circle other stars beyond our sunhoused at Caltech's IPAC astronomy center, officially hit a new milestone: 5,000 exoplanets.

Looking even farther out into the universe from planet Earth, Caltech researchers made several discoveries, including a tight-knit pair of supermassive black holes locked in an epic waltz, and a new "black widow" star system, spotted by the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF), in which a rapidly spinning dead star called a pulsar is slowly evaporating its companion.

Caltech's ZTF sky survey instrument, based at Palomar Observatory, had previously discovered the first known asteroid to circle entirely within the orbit of Venus. To honor the Pauma band of Indigenous peoples whose ancestral lands include Palomar Mountain, the ZTF team asked the band to name the asteroid. They chose 'Ayl'chaxnim, which means "Venus girl" in their native language of Luiseo.

And far closer to home, new faculty member and historian Lisa Ruth Rand set her sights on the debris we have left in Earth's orbit (and beyond), and what it can tell us about humanity and our evolving relationship with space.

Caltech astronomers continue to lead the way in the development of ever more powerful instruments for answering fundamental questions about our place in the universe. The new Keck Planet Finder, led by astronomer Andrew Howard, will take advantage of the W. M. Keck Observatory's giant telescopes to search for and characterize hundreds, and ultimately, thousands of exoplanets, including Earth-size planets that may harbor conditions suitable for life.

NASA has also selected the UltraViolet EXplorer (UVEX) proposal, led by astronomer Fiona Harrison, for further study. If selected to become a mission, UVEX would conduct a deep survey of the whole sky in ultraviolet light to provide new insights into galaxy evolution and the life cycle of stars. Harrison's current NASA mission, NuSTAR (Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array), an X-ray telescope that hunts black holes, celebrated 10 years in space. Meanwhile, the development of NASA's SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer), led by astronomer Jamie Bock, is forging ahead with a customized test chamber delivered this year to Caltech.

As new telescopes continue to come together, a venerable Caltech telescope is being taken apart atop Maunakea in Hawaii. The Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (CSO) received the final permits to begin its decommissioning process. Scientists plan to ultimately repurpose the telescope and put it back together in Chile.

Caltech's fundamental quest for understanding life and our origins also inspires many research efforts and innovations with the potential to improve human health and well-being.

Continuing work that began with the COVID-19 pandemic, Pamela Bjrkman and colleagues developed a new type of vaccine that protects against the virus that causes COVID-19 and closely related viruses, while Sarkis Mazmanian has shown how an imbalance of gut microbes can cause binge eating. Meanwhile, other researchers made real what would have seemed like science fiction only a few years ago: Caltech medical engineer Wei Gao created an artificial skin for robots that interfaces with human skin and allows a human operator to "feel" what the robot is sensing; chemical engineer Mikhail Shapiro engineered a strain of remote-controlled bacteria that seek out tumors inside the human body to deliver targeted drugs on command; and neuroscientist Richard Andersen and colleagues developed a brainmachine interface that can read a person's brain activity and translate it into the words the person was thinking technology that may one day allow people with full-body paralysis to speak. Additionally, Caltech researchers created a "synthetic" mouse embryo, complete with brain and beating heart; completed a 20-year quest to decode one of the most complex and important pieces of machinery in our cells; and discovered how fruit flies' extremely sensitive noses help them find food.

In 2022, Caltech paid tribute to its long history of advances in sustainability and then looked forward to pioneering new initiatives and technologies that will reduce humanity's footprint on Earth's fragile environment. Through the newly launched Caltech Heritage Project, a series of oral histories published this year captured the pivotal role Caltech alumni played in the electric car revolution. Meanwhile, in April, Caltech hosted the Caltech Energy 10 (CE10) conference, bringing thought leaders to campus to chart a path toward achieving the Biden administration's stated goal to cut U.S. global warming gas emissions by 50 percent within the next 10 years.

Caltech researchers continue to contribute to research to generate cleaner energy, ranging from work in the laboratory of John Dabiri (MS '03, PhD '05) to optimize wind farms to efforts to create and commercialize technology for capturing carbon already released into the atmosphere (which earned a Caltech-based startup an XPrize Award).

On campus, Caltech began construction of the Resnick Sustainability Center, scheduled to open in 2024, which will bring together talent from across campus to tackle issues related to climate change and other human impacts on the natural environment. And as the year wraps up, the Space-based Solar Power Project is preparing to launch a demonstration into space to test three key elements of its ambitious plan to harvest solar energy in spacewhere there are no cloudy daysand beam it wirelessly down to Earth.

As the AI4Science Initiative continually demonstrates and the Caltech Science Exchange recently highlighted, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have applications that reach every corner of campus. In 2022, AI was used to generate the first-ever picture of the black hole at the center of our own galaxy (only the second image of a black hole ever created), to pave the way to improve aircraft design, to help drones fly autonomously in real-weather conditions, and to fight COVID-19. This election year, researchers from Caltech discussed how machine learning can both combat misinformation and fight online bullying.

Caltech continues its role as a major hub of quantum research. The newly announced Dr. Allen and Charlotte Ginsburg Center for Quantum Precision Measurement will unite a diverse community of theorists and experimentalists devoted to understanding quantum systems and their potential uses (see a video about the new center). The 25th annual Conference on Quantum Information Processing, or QIP, the world's largest gathering of researchers in the field of quantum information, a discipline that unites quantum physics and computer science, was held in Pasadena for the first time and represented the first major collaboration between Caltech and the new AWS Center for Quantum Computing on campus.

Fundamental research in the quantum sciences charged ahead, with findings that included a quantum computer-based experiment to test theoretical wormholes and new demonstrations showing how graphene can be used in flexible and wearable electronics.

This year, members of the Caltech community received recognition for expanding the boundaries of scientific knowledge, but also for humanitarian endeavors and for blazing new educational and occupational paths for others to follow.

In March, Roman Korol, a Caltech graduate student, launched a project to collect and distribute humanitarian aid for families affected by the war in Ukraine.

In April, Jessica Watkins, who worked on the Mars Curiosity rover mission while a postdoc at Caltech, made history as the first Black woman on the International Space Station. From space, she hosted a live Q&A for Caltech students and faculty in Ramo Auditorium and reviewed a paper describing how geology on Mars works in dramatically different ways than on Earth.

In May, alumna Laurie Leshin (MS '89, PhD '95) assumed leadership of JPL, becoming its first female director.

In June, Carver Mead (BS '56, MS '57, PhD '60), one of the fathers of modern computing, received the 2022 Kyoto Prize for leading contributions to the establishment of the guiding principles for very large-scale integration systems design, which enables the basis for integrated computer circuits.

In October, Caltech alumnus John Clauser (BS '64) shared the 2022 Nobel Prize in Physics "for experiments with entangled photons, establishing the violation of Bell inequalities and pioneering quantum information science." The same month, Edward Stone retired as the project scientist for NASA's Voyager mission a half-century after taking on the role. Under his guidance, the Voyager probes explored the solar system's four gas-giant planets and became the first human-made objects to reach interstellar space, the region between stars containing material generated by the death of nearby stars. Also, Tracy Dennison began her term as the new Ronald and Maxine Linde Leadership Chair of the Division of the Humanities and Social Sciences.

In November, 50 years after they entered Caltech as the Institute's first Black female students, Karen Maples, MD (BS '76); Deanna Hunt (BS '76); and Lauretta Carroll (BS '77) reflected on the challenges and successes they experienced then and in the years that followed.

Throughout the year, the Institute took steps to implement new programs and bolster existing ones that underscore Caltech's guiding values, such as supporting students and postdoctoral scholars, creating a more inclusive environment, and celebrating and accounting for its history.

To create more opportunities for students and increase interdisciplinary research, Caltech created a new graduate education track that combines medical engineering and electrical engineering. To further boost interdisciplinary research and expand Caltech's prominence as a hub for mathematics, the Institute became the new home of the American Institute of Mathematics, an independent nonprofit organization funded in part by the National Science Foundation.

The Institute, which this year kicked off a partnership with the Carnegie Institution for Science, also became a charter member of SEA Change, an initiative of the American Association for the Advancement of Science that supports educational institutions as they systemically transform to improve diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine.

The Institute expanded its Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship, which supports efforts to diversify academia by recruiting and supporting promising postdoctoral scholars from underrepresented communities.

On campus, Caltech marked the dedication of the Grant D. Venerable House, honoring its namesake alumnus, who was the first Black undergraduate student to graduate from Caltech and an active student leader and athlete during his time on campus. It also celebrated the dedication of the Lee F. Browne Dining Hall, honoring the late Lee Franke Browne, a former Caltech employee and lecturer who dedicated his life and career to efforts that expanded students' access to STEM and who advanced human rights.

With the return of in-person events, the Institute was able to reestablish and strengthen ties to the local community through educational programs for area students, and through cultural events and lectures whose online components often reached even broader audiences across the world.

This year, the Institute celebrated the centennial of the Caltech Seismological Laboratory, marking an unparalleled century at the forefront of earthquake science and geophysics.

Caltech also celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Watson Lectures, which launched in 1922 as a way to benefit the public through education and outreach. Continuing that tradition, Caltech partnered with local schools to bring high school students to campus to see the lectures and engaged young students through other educational outreach programs, including the new Caltech Earthquake Fellows program and the Caltech Planet Finder Academy, both of which launched this year. Other programs designed to bolster science education for young students included Summer Research Connection, a program that invites high school students and teachers from Pasadena Unified School District and other nearby schools into Caltech laboratories, and the National Science Olympiad Tournament, which Caltech hosted this year for the first time and whose students played the main role in conducting the event.

For the campus community, TechFest returned to campus for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, welcoming students with an in-person block party on Beckman Mall complete with games and fireworks.

Caltech's Public Programming was able to re-engage with the community through in-person events, including CaltechLive! events such as the performance of Nobuntu, a female a cappella quintet from Zimbabwe; and lectures from the Science Journeys, Movies that Matter and Behind the Book series that showcased such varied topics as a journey to the center of Jupiter, a discussion of the science of cooking, and how climate migration will reshape the world.

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2022 Year in Review - Caltech

JUPITER is set to become the first European supercomputer to make the leap into the exascale era. This means, itll be capable of performing more than an exaflop (or 1 quintillion) operations per second. In other words, the devices computing power willsurpassthat of 5 million laptops or PCs combined.

The European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU), which is being behind the project, has now signed ahosting agreementwith theJlich Supercomputing Centre(JSC) in Germany, where JUPITER will be located.

Under the terms of the agreement, JUPITER (which stands for Joint Undertaking Pioneer for Innovative and Transformative Exascale Research) will be installed on the campus of the Forschungszentrum Jlich research institute in 2023. The machine will be operated by the JSC.

This new supercomputer will be backed by a 500million budget, split equally between the EuroHPC JU and German federal and state sources.

JUPITERs remarkable power will support the development of high-precision models of complex systems. The machine will be used to analyse key societal issues in Europe, such as health, biology, climate, energy, security, and materials. It will also support intensive use of AI and analysis of enormous data volumes.

Experts expect the computer to improve research quality (while reducing costs), and integrate future technologies such as quantum computing. The device will be available to a wide range of European users in the scientific community, industry, and public sector.

Along with its outstanding computing power, JUPITER will feature a dynamic, modular architecture, which will enable optimal use of the various computing modules used during complex simulations. Notably, JUPITER has been designed as a green supercomputer and will be powered by green electricity, supported by a warm water cooling system. At the same time, its average power consumption is anticipated to be up to15 megawatts approximately six megawatts less than the USFrontierexascale supercomputer.

Upon completion, JUPITER will become the ninth (and best) supercomputer the EuroHPC JU has provided to Europe. Three are expected to be available shortly, and five are already operational. Among them isLUMI, which has beenrankedthe fastest in the EU and third fastest in the world.

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Europe's first-ever exascale supercomputer will launch in Germany ... - TNW

VC Fund Nemesis Technologies To Add More Liquidity By Connecting Investors With Opportunities In AI,  Crowdfund Insider

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VC Fund Nemesis Technologies To Add More Liquidity By Connecting Investors With Opportunities In AI, - Crowdfund Insider

Quantum theory is used in a variety of microscopy techniques. Quantum microscopy enables the measurement and imaging of tiny features of matter and quantum particles. This article provides an overview of how quantum microscopy can drive the future of sensing and imaging.

Image Credit:Ravenash/Shutterstock.com

Modern research extensively uses optical microscopy and spectroscopy in various fields, from fundamental physics to chemistry, material science, and life sciences. It is fascinating to see how advances in understanding light properties have prompted new imaging applications over time.

Understanding diffraction and interference requires considering light as a wave. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the basic realization that light exists as discrete energy units called quanta sparked the first quantum revolution, which built the whole laser and photonics industry. In the second quantum revolution, quantum states that can display entanglement and superposition are used for quantum technology applications. Due to these new findings, various innovative sensing and imaging methods are now feasible.

One approach to overcoming some of the constraints of conventional imaging systems, where entanglement plays a key role, is to use the quantum features of light. The energy, momentum, and position correlations of the entangled photon pairs are particularly important. They enable imaging and spectroscopy in spectral bands where effective detection is not feasible.

Beyond classical restrictions like the shot noise level, sensing and imaging become conceivable by employing certain quantum states of light and associated photon number statistics. Additionally, two-photon fluorescence microscopy may be performed at very low light intensities when using quantum light, opening up new perspectives for photosensitive biological probes.

There are several ways to go beyond the traditional restrictions of sensitivity and resolution in optical microscopy, thanks to the principles of quantum optics. Imaging a biological sample has remained difficult despite using several concepts in proof-of-concept tests, primarily because of the intrinsically weak signal recorded and the fragility of quantum states of light. However, in theory, these quantum protocols may increase the capabilities of current super-resolution methods by introducing new information without erasing the conventional information.

Bright sources of entangled photons have sparked a revival in quantum optical interferometry. Quantum metrology, quantum computing logic gates, quantum lithography, quantum cryptography and quantum teleportation are some of the unique concepts related to quantum entanglement that have been implemented using optical interferometry to test the fundamentals of quantum mechanics.

In order to overcome the shot-noise limit in quantum metrology, new techniques have been developed. For example, these techniques may be employed in fiber optical gyroscopes and sensors for biological or chemical targets. Furthermore, imaging techniques like LIDAR and optical lithography may surpass the Rayleigh diffraction limit by using this entanglement.

Image scanning microscopy (ISM) is a new super-resolution technique that improves reliable resolution without lowering the signal intensity. Recently, researchers developed quantum image scanning microscopy (Q-ISM), which increases the resolution of ISM up to twofold, four times above the diffraction limit, by combining ISM with the measurement of quantum photon correlation. They developed the Q-ISM concept and used photon antibunching, a quantum phenomenon, as a resolution-enhancing contrast mechanism to produce super-resolved optical pictures of a biological material dyed with fluorescent quantum dots.

A quantum microscope platform created by University of Technology Sydney (UTS) researchers provides new techniques to examine material characteristics and physical processes.

Due to their propensity to react to electromagnetic fields or other stimuli, quantum sensors based on diamond nitrogen-vacancy centres are recognized as potentially sensitive devices for monitoring specific physical attributes. However, reliance on quantum defects housed in stiff 3D crystals like diamond has made it challenging to interact intimately with a sample when employing solid-state spin sensors as microscopy tools up to this point.

Image Credit:metamorworks/Shutterstock.com

Instead of a larger crystal, this novel method takes advantage of point flaws embedded inside a tiny layer of hexagonal boron nitride (hBn). As a van der Waals substance, hBn comprises weaker-hold material layers in two dimensions. As a result, Van der Waals sensors might make it possible to use a quantum microscopy method on materials and targets that were not previously reachable.

Quantum microscopy enables the measurement and imaging of tiny features of matter and quantum particles. Due to quantum microscopy, several novel sensing and imaging techniques are now possible. The specifics covered in this article strongly imply that quantum microscopy will play a significant part in future sensing and imaging. The development of technologies like hBN-based quantum microscopes and quantum image scanning microscopy has the potential to enhance resolution significantly. Future MRI and NMR imaging of chemical processes, as well as imaging and remote sensing applications, may all be done using hBN-based quantum microscopes.

More from AZoOptics: What are Fiber Optic Microendoscopes?

Gilaberte Basset, M., Setzpfandt, F., Steinlechner, F., Beckert, E., Pertsch, T., & Grfe, M. (2019). Perspectives for applications of quantum imaging. Laser & Photonics Reviews. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1002/lpor.201900097

Healey, A. J., Scholten, S. C., Yang, T., Scott, J. A., Abrahams, G. J., Robertson, I. O., ... & Tetienne, J. P. (2022). Quantum microscopy with van der Waals heterostructures. Nature Physics. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41567-022-01815-5

Jonathan P. Dowling and Kaushik P. Seshadreesan (2015) Quantum Optical Technologies for Metrology, Sensing, and Imaging. Journal of Lightwave Technology. https://opg.optica.org/jlt/abstract.cfm?URI=jlt-33-12-2359

Quantum microscopy prototype points to novel sensing and imaging (2022) Optics.org. Available at: https://optics.org/news/13/11/13 (Assessed: November 28, 2022)

Tenne, R., Rossman, U., Rephael, B., Israel, Y., Krupinski-Ptaszek, A., Lapkiewicz, R., ... & Oron, D. (2019). Super-resolution enhancement by quantum image scanning microscopy. Nature Photonics. https://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1806/1806.07661.pdf

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the author expressed in their private capacity and do not necessarily represent the views of AZoM.com Limited T/A AZoNetwork the owner and operator of this website. This disclaimer forms part of the Terms and conditions of use of this website.

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The Future of Sensing and Imaging Using Quantum Microscopy - AZoOptics

Denise Austin has been inspiring women to get fit and have fun for four decades. As one of the key figures of the '80s aerobics boom, she knows a thing or two about fitness trends and which exercises stand the test of time and at 65, Austin is still going strong. Her latest project is a 30-minute free workout on her YouTube channel, made in collaboration with SlimFast and inspired by her iconic workouts from the '80s. Things are just coming full circle now, she tells Womans World. I felt like I was back filming my exercise VHS tapes because I did so many of the same moves. Here, Austin discusses the reason retro workouts are making a comeback, how her daughter is following in her footsteps, and some ways we can all stay more positive and healthy going into the holiday season.

Austin has been delighted to see '80s workouts making a comeback and getting rediscovered by the younger generations. I love it. It brings me joy, she gushes. The colors are fun, and I have such happy memories of just starting [out]. The decade was a time of playful fashions and poppy music (some of Austins favorites were Cyndi Lauper, Donna Summer, and Michael Jackson) and, as she puts it, I think we need to bring more fun back into the world of fitness. We were always smiling. We need that right now. It's the perfect time to bring it all back.

Working out has changed a bit since then; women now wear sleek Lululemon leggings and play their own Spotify music via headphones at the gym, whereas it was Girls Just Want to Have Fun and leg warmers when I started in the early '80s, and aerobics had just started getting popular, Austin recalls. So, things are very different now. But in the same way, people just wanted to feel good and move, exercise, and get some energy. And that's always stayed the same throughout my 40 years in the fitness industry. People still want to have fun and enjoy fitness, but not do anything thats too much.

Austin points out that exercise has become even more valuable in todays tech-obsessed world. Movement really helps with your mind," she notes. "With the phones and all the social media, it's totally switched our thinking. We need to get outside of our environment and enjoy life and not be so worried about social media all the time. That's why I think the nostalgic part of the retro workout is so fun because it takes you away from all that.

Denises 29-year-old daughter, Katie Austin, is now a fitness guru in her own right; she has her own workout programs and an active social media presence. Katie can also be seen in the new SlimFast workout video, cheerfully moving alongside her mom. Katie may be a '90s kid, but she appreciates her moms '80s legacy, and has even posted some cute TikTok videos in which she poses in Denises old workout clothes. I saved everything, explains Austin. My workout leotards, my leg warmers, everything. I'm so happy I saved them. I have duffle bags filled with all that stuff. Katie finds great joy in that.

Katie was long destined to be in the fitness industry. I have two daughters," Austin shares. "My oldest is Kelly, and she's not as interested in this; she's more spiritual and into mental health. But Katie, even when she was a little girl, like 3 years old, would stand behind the cameras, and be doing it with me. Katie pursued athletics in college before deciding she wanted to work in fitness. I'm just so proud, Austin says. I love what she's doing. When they work out together, It doesnt feel like work, and it keeps me young.

Like mother, like daughter: Katie and Denise Austin during the filming of their SlimFast workout video.Courtesy of SlimFast

Austin has done all the exercise moves you can think of but what does she like best? My all-time favorite exercise would have to be something to do with the tummy, because its the center of your whole body and your abs are what keeps your spine healthy, Austin says. Her favorite move for that area is a dance-like twist, which you can see in her early videos from the '80s. Anything with a twist, I love, she proclaims. Her least favorite move? Understandably, the tricky push-up/leap hybrids known as burpees.

Austin has always been an advocate of integrating movement into your life in a casual way, and she insists that you don't need a professional set-up to get a good workout in. I do push-ups against a kitchen counter or my dining room table," she says. "I make my life easy. I don't try to overdo anything. I try to keep the fitness part very simplified, and not overthink it. I tell people 'you could do leg lifts right in your kitchen, because your muscles don't know if you're in a fancy gym or right there in your house.'

Austin believes that hearty exercise can be incorporated into your lifestyle at any age. We're all aging, so I want people to feel as though theyre never too old to begin, she declares. There are little things that you can do that aren't that hard to make yourself feel better. A walk is a wonderful thing to do, just to get the muscles going. Shes also a passionate advocate for talking about aging in a more affirmative light: People are so worried about how they're aging," she says. "But if you change your thinking to say, Hey, I'm alive, I want to move, I want to do things, that's the way to think.

One of Austins best-known qualities is her infectious positive energy. When asked about how she remains in such an optimistic mind-frame, she explains, I am grateful every day. I truly believe in having a healthy mind and body, and I think exercise helps get rid of stress and tension. Looking back at her long career clearly provides Austin with plenty of fulfillment, too: I believe what I've been doing all these years really did pay off," she says. "When you're grateful you don't have time to be grouchy. Austin's penchant for celebrating the little wins in life and not letting the failures get to her might be genetic, as she also credits her mother for her upbeat attitude. She was always really positive and found joy in the little things in life, and I think I take after her," she muses.

While working out can be intimidating particularly if you dont do it regularly Austin believes that you shouldn't let that hold you back. Even 10 minutes of movement will help your mind and body, anything to get up and get the circulation going," she recommends. "Try not to sit for so long. Enjoy what you do, and it will never feel like you're working. Clearly, whether youre following a neon-tinged '80s workout or a minimalist modern one, the most important thing is that you take pleasure in the moves. Maybe with the right attitude, we could all feel (and look!) as good as Austin.

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Fitness Icon Denise Austin Talks '80s Aerobics and Working Out With Her Daughter - Yahoo Life

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Cancun is a popular and well-loved destination for a winter getaway. With its sparkling beaches, crystal clear waters, and no shortage of high-quality, all-inclusive resorts, its no wonder as to why. With so many great resort options to choose from, you might have a hard time narrowing it down. Here are 6 all-inclusive resorts in Cancun that wont disappoint.

This gorgeous beachfront spa resort offers guests a variety of experience packages that ensure youll have the perfect vacation. Couples can look forward to offerings such as candlelight dinners, couples massages, and wine tastings. That makes this a great choice for a romantic getaway or a honeymoon. Families will enjoy the outdoor playground, complete with a splash pool and waterslides, for younger children. Older children and teens arent out of luck either. The resort also offers countless activities theyll love trying out from water polo to aquatic aerobics. One of the best things about Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach is without a doubt how they not only offer high-quality service but also nearly endless ways to personalize your vacation to make it fit your dreams.

Check prices at Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach Cancun

This stunning all-inclusive resort features a modern, avant-garde feel, as well as views of the Caribbean sea. Their all-inclusive experience includes countless, almost endless, offerings. You can look forward to choosing from one of over 20 restaurants and bars to dine from, 24-hour suite service, and nightly live entertainment.

Check prices at Atelier Playa Mujeres

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This adult-only resort is the perfect choice for those looking for relaxation during their getaway. A wide variety of amenities and activities are included with your stay. You can look forward to live entertainment such as acrobatic circus shows and mariachi bands. Amenities include a poolside bar, and enjoying a delicious meal from one of the resorts restaurants, among other things. The resort also offers some additional, optional perks, including spa treatments and private cabanas, for an additional cost as well.

Check prices at Hyatt Zilara Cancun

Hyatt Ziva is a gorgeous, all-inclusive resort. Turquoize is the adults-only area of this otherwise family-friendly resort. The resort features modern, spacious suites. Some of the suites even offer unique features such as swim up access. The resort also has no shortage of perks in its all-inclusive package. You can look forward to over a dozen bars and restaurants to choose from, 3 infinity pools, and nightly entertainment.

Check prices at Turquoize at Hyatt Ziva Cancun

This luxurious, all-suite resort has practically everything you could dream of. Their spa offers a wide variety of treatments ranging from facials to beachfront massages. When it comes to dining, Haven Riviera offers practically every experience you could want. You can enjoy casual meals at Flavours Marketplace and more formal dining at Satsu.

Check prices at Haven Riviera Cancun

Enjoy a sparkling oceanfront pool, elegant suites, and endless luxury with a stay at Le Blanc. This adults-only resort is the perfect place for a relaxing getaway. Enjoy a delicious gourmet meal at Lumiere, or a casual lunch at Pure among countless other dining options. Then, relax at Blanc Spa. Blanc Spa offers treatments such as wraps, massages, and hydrotherapy.

Check prices at Le Blanc Spa Resort

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Top 6 All-Inclusive Resorts In Cancun This Winter - Travel Off Path