Investigation Discoverys The Crimes That Changed Us: Patty Hearst is an episode that chronicles the 1974 abduction of the then-19-year-old publishing heiress Patty Hearst by the urban guerrilla left-wing group Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA). Within months of this incident, Patty resurfaced again, but this time, she was working alongside SLA.

She later revealed that she had been brainwashed and threatened into joining them. And then, after a brief stint in prison for her actions, Patty turned over a new leaf and managed to create a normal life for herself. She found love, got married, and birthed two daughters, continuing her life in domestic bliss.

Gillian Hearst-Shaw, born on May 3, 1981, in Palo Alto, California, as Gillian Catherine Hearst-Shaw, is Pattys first-born. Her other daughter, Lydia Marie Hearst-Shaw, was born three years later, on September 19, 1984, in New Haven, Connecticut. They are both fathered by Pattys late longtime-husband, Bernard Shaw. The two girls grew up in Wilton, Connecticut, where they lived a good and stable life thanks to their surroundings. After all, their father was a security personnel, and their mother, at that time, was an active author and actress. Of course, the fact that their great grandfather was publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst helped their cause as well.

After attending The Lawrenceville School, the sisters went their separate ways. While Gillian earned a Bachelors of Science degree in Marketing from Georgetown University the McDonough School of Business, Lydia graduated from Wilton High School before attending the Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut. And since then, both of Patty Hearsts daughters have been in the spotlight in their own way. Gillian, quite like her great grandfather, has made a name for herself in the publishing industry, whereas Lydia is in the entertainment business as a fashion model, actress, and lifestyle blogger. She was a columnist before she launched her own blog.

Gillian Hearst joined Hearst Magazines, Town & Country, back in 2008 as an Editorial Assistant. And soon, she rose through the ranks, becoming an Associate Editor and Society Editor, before landing the position of a Contributing Editor, a post which she has held for over seven years now. Residing in Greater New York City, New York, the socialite used to be married to lawyer Christian Simonds, with whom she has three adorable daughters.

But in early 2018, after nearly ten years of marriage, Gillian filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. So today, Gillian is a single working mother whose motto is, I know I cant do it all, but I can try. Lydia, on the other hand, was discovered by photographer Steven Meisel, who shot her first magazine cover for Vogue Italia in April 2004. Since then, the model has been featured in Harpers Bazaar, Elle, Marie Claire, GQ, LOfficiel, and Esquire, amongst many others.

Lydia has also walked the runway for fashion designers such as Chanel, Fendi, Catherine Malandrino, Nicole Miller, and Jeremy Scott. Some of her acting roles include Abigail Folger in The Haunting of Sharon Tate (2019), Charlotte Roberts in South of Hell, and Velvet in Velvet Morning (2012). And now, Lydia, residing in California, is married to actor and comedian Chris Hardwick.

Read More: Where Is Patty Hearst Now?

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Patty Hearst's Daughters Now: Where Are Lydia and Gillian Hearst Today? Update - The Cinemaholic

The great advantage of a hotel is that it is a refuge from home life, claimed writer George Bernard Shaw.

Following a year of being cooped up in our houses, the idea of a future change of scenery has never been more appealing and the thought of having someone else cook, clean and even pull the curtains at night is blissful.

Although lockdowns and tier restrictions have created barriers for hoteliers, many plan to open new properties in 2021.

If youre dreaming of an escape once we are able to travel again, here are a few of the top new hotels due to open in the UK and Ireland that will be well worth seeking out.The Londoner,London

The capital has lost its mojo in recent months, but glamour and sophistication are set to bounce back next year with the opening of new hotel, The Londoner. Billed as the worlds first super boutique hotel, the 350-room property promises to deliver all the best bits of an intimate, designer set-up on a much bigger scale. Built with sustainability in mind, it has already received an excellent rating from BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method), exceeding requirements for energy and water use and choice of materials. Expect to find a ballroom, private screening rooms, underground spa and six restaurants in the Leicester Square setting. Open from April 12. From 341 per night with breakfast. Visit thelondoner.com

The Cashel Palace Hotel, Ireland

Following a meticulous restoration project, this sprawling country house is set to re-open in 2021. Built in 1734, it was once home to an Archbishop, eventually becoming a hotel in the early 1960s. Along with 42 bedrooms, new additions to the property will include a ballroom, a spa overlooking the gardens and the Bishops Buttery Restaurant serving a seasonal local menu. Highlight attractions close to the 25-acre site in Tipperary include The Rock Of Cashel, an ancient monument that was once the seat of the High Kings of Munster. Prices TBC. Visit cashelpalacehotel.ie

Bodmin Jail Hotel, Cornwall

A night behind bars might not sound too appealing, but the new Bodmin Jail Hotel is set to put a fun spin on mock prison stays. Find bars on the windows, stone walls and an original guard tower at the 70-room Cornish property, which sits alongside a new immersive visitor attraction inside the revamped 18th century Bodmin Jail. Fortunately, the cells today, which form part of the original civil, naval and womens wings, also have more luxurious fittings such as free-standing baths and vast beds. The Governors Office has been transformed into a cocktail bar, and theres a restaurant serving traditional afternoon tea and filling British fodder. Open from February 12. Rooms from 104 with breakfast. Visit bodminjailhotel.com

The Harper, North Norfolk

Forced to close its doors before even opening, this new Norfolk hotel plans to finally welcome guests from March 5. A short drive from Blakeney on the coast, in the village of Langham, the former glass-blowing factory will feature 32 rooms, two restaurants, a bar, a lounge with wood-burning stove, play area with a projector for movie nights, and a luxury spa with a swimming pool, Jacuzzi, steam room, sauna and treatments. Paying homage to its past, the property will be decorated with locally-crafted artisanal glass features. But the best artwork of all sits outside in Norfolks big skies and beautiful seascapes. Rooms from 175 including breakfast. Visit theharper.co.uk

Eden Project hotel, Cornwall

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The Eden Project is already one of the highlights of a visit to Cornwall. But next year, a new 8.5million project will see the addition of a 109-bedroom hotel, welcoming even more guests to the attraction. Designed by Tate Harmer, one of the UKs leading architects for sustainability and natural environments, the property has been built to blend into the surrounding environment, incorporating existing features such as trees and stone walls. There are also plans to create a meadow and an orchard around the hotel. Alongside bedrooms, a series of classrooms will support students enrolling for educational programmes. Open 2021. Prices TBC. Visit edenproject.com

Famous for being the archetypal Scottish country estate in Perthshire, Gleneagles launches its urban arm in Edinburgh in Autumn 2021. Housed in a renovated 200-year-old Bank of Scotland building in St Andrew Square, the townhouse will have 33 bedrooms, an all-day restaurant and two bars including a panoramic rooftop terrace. Local residents can enjoy access to a members club for work or play, with access to exclusive private spaces and on-site gym and wellness facilities. Prices TBC. Visit gleneaglestownhouse.com.

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6 new hotels to seek out in the UK and Ireland in 2021 - NewsChain

Many western scholars and writers have praised the Prophet as the greatest man in history, but still the western society wont pay heed

Allah (swt) has been very clear in the Quran about the status of the Prophet (pbuh). Not only that, Allah (swt) has cursed those who tried to hurt the Prophet (pbuh) physically or emotionally and spoke ill of him. Once Abu Lahab used offensive language against the Prophet (pbuh), to which Allah (swt) replied through the Quran: May the hands of Abu Lahab be ruined and ruined be he (111: 1). Walid ibn Mughaira was an enemy who would speak ill about the Prophet (pbuh). Allah (swt) responded by mentioning his ten flaws in Surah Qalam (68:10-13) and ended by saying that Walid ibn Mughaira was born out of wedlock. For any Muslim, these verses of the holy book are enough to understand how dear the Prophet (pbuh) is to the creator, Allah. Further, these verses are sufficient to conclude that the Prophet is the best of all creations. His slighting is intolerable even to the Almighty. However, it is not necessary that non-Muslims will ponder over these verses and will take them seriously. Plus, we cannot coerce any non-Muslim to believe these verses. However, there are many other sources to learn about the best of humankind the Prophet (pbuh). Christians can find his name in the Bible (revealed to Jesus Christ), Jews in the Torah (revealed to Moses), and Hindus in their scriptures. The atheists who have no interest in religion can also get to know about the Messenger of Allah without touching any religious scripture. They can get a fair perspective about almost all aspects of Muhammad (pbuh) by reading eminent non-Muslim scholars. Many non-Muslims have commented on the different qualities, talents, and temperamental genius of the Holy Prophet (pbuh). Let us have a glance at the views of some of them. French historian Alphonse de Lamartine held the view that no man is greater than Muhammad. The historian wrote about the achievements of the Prophet (pbuh), such as subverting superstitions, restoring the rational and sacred idea of divinity, and declared that no other could do so in history. Never has a man accomplished such a huge and lasting revolution in the world, he wrote. Furthermore, he called Muhammad as philosopher, orator, legislator, warrior, conqueror of ideas, restorer of rational dogmas, founder of twenty terrestrial empires and a spiritual empire. As regards all standards by which human greatness may be measured, we may well ask, is there any man greater than he (Histoire de la Turquie). Michael Hart, an American author, in his book The Hundreds calls Muhammad the most influential person in History. Hart writes, He (Muhammad) was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the religious and secular levels. George Bernard Shaw, the famous British playwright, wrote that if a man like Muhammad were to assume the dictatorship of the modern world, he would succeed in resolving its problems in a way which would usher/herald much-needed peace and happiness (The Genuine Islam). Thomas Carlyle, political philosopher and historian of England, after commenting on various attributes of Muhammad in his famous book On Heroes, Hero-worship, and the Heroic in History asserts: Yes, the world today is in dire need of a man like Muhammad to solve its complex problems. Muhammad in truth is the Prophet of sublime morals. German philosopher Johann Goethe while glorifying the Prophet described him as the hero of humanity. Several other notable scholars and thinkers took a keen interest in reading and researching about the Prophet (pbuh). Interestingly, almost everyone declared Muhammad as the greatest person in the history of mankind. After going through their writings it becomes evident that none of them disagrees with the faith of Muslims that No one is like Muhammad (pbuh) and no one can be like Him. However, some people in contemporary times are not willing to accept the opinion of these men of letters even though they belong to their own race and religion. They deliberately pay no attention to the views of these historical personalities. They neither give any thought to their ideas and message, nor do they carry out independent research of their own. If they happen to read about the Prophet (pbuh) they take biased, prejudiced, and impartial writers into consideration, which is unjust. They do the reverse of what these thinkers stood for to call the spade the spade. They waste their energies to malign Islam and its founder. They say whatever comes to their mind and call it freedom of speech. Under the garb of this freedom, they sadistically create caricatures to insult Muhammad (pbuh) and his billions of followers, thereby inciting violence. To be frank, nothing good could be expected from those infected with Islamophobia which seems to have no cure. They may not shun this derogatory approach but the ideology and works of their scholars will always serve as proof that Muhammad (pbuh) is superior to all. Also, Muslims need to steady their nerves and promote, propagate, and practise Islamic teachings and proudly highlight the opinion of influential literary figures of the world. This is the best answer that could be given to Islamophobes.

mohdzeeshan605@gmail.com

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Muhammad (pbuh), the Best of Mankind - Kashmir Reader

Investigation Discoverys The Crimes That Changed Us tells us the tales of the baffling cases that have been seared into the American consciousness those that have become a part of how we look at our society. With archival footage, audio accounts, and one-on-one interviews, this series reintroduces such cases from a brand new standpoint and helps us re-immerse ourselves into it. So, of course, its latest episode titled, Patty Hearst, chronicling the life and 1974 kidnapping of Patty Hearst, is no different. Now, since its been a while since everything transpired, lets find out more about Patty and where she is now, shall we?

Born on February 20, 1964, Patty Hearst, or Patricia Campbell Hearst Shaw is the granddaughter of 19th-century media mogul William Randolph Hearst. As the third of five daughters of Randolph A. Hearst and an heiress, she attended private schools in Los Angeles, San Mateo, Crystal Springs, and Monterey in California, before undertaking courses at Menlo College in Atherton, California and the University of California, Berkeley.

However, her whole life turned upside down on the night of February 4, 1974, when she and her then-fianc, Steven Weed, were at her Berkeley flat, thinking of spending some quality time together. That night, three members of an urban guerrilla left-wing group, called the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA), broke into her flat, beat up her fianc, and then kidnapped 19-year old Patty. Their goal was to garner a hefty ransom from her wealthy father.

But in a strange turn of events, two months after Patty was captured, she recorded an audiotape, heard around the world, announcing that she was now a member of SLA. In the months that followed, more such tapes were released by the group, and soon, Patty also started actively participating in the SLA-led criminal activity across California. She then became known as Tania. As a part of SLA, Patty extorted nearly $2 million from her father and had a hand in at least two different robberies.

Ultimately, though, on September 18, 1975, after more than 19 months since her abduction, Patty was arrested by the FBI in a San Francisco apartment. Shortly thereafter, she started showing signs of trauma. And when she stood trial for her actions, Patty testified that she was raped, coerced, and brainwashed under humiliating circumstances to join SLA. Nonetheless, in March 1976, Patty was convicted for the robberies and sentenced to 7 years in prison. She was released in 1979 after President Jimmy Carter commuted her sentence.

Two months after her release, Patty Hearst married Bernard Lee Shaw, a policeman who was a part of her personal security detail when she was out of prison on bail. She subsequently published her memoir Every Secret Thing, co-written with Alvin Moscow, in 1982, where she gave a detailed account of her ordeals from 1974 to 1979. In the years that followed, Patty occasionally came into the public eye giving interviews, producing a special for the Travel Channel wherein she took viewers on a tour of her grandfathers impressive mansion.

She has also appeared in feature films like Cry-Baby (1990), Serial Mom (1994), Cecil B. DeMented (2000), and A Dirty Shame (2004). Patty also collaborated with Cordelia Frances Biddle to write Murder at San Simeon, a novel based upon the death of Thomas H. Ince on her grandfathers yacht. In 2001, she was granted a full pardon by President Bill Clinton as he was leaving office. Since then, Patty has been living a normal life, or at least as regular as a life that comes with being a wealthy woman on the East Coast. Patty wants nothing more than to put her past and trauma behind her.

When CNN made the documentary The Radical Story Of Patty Hearst, aiming to reexamine her history, Patty released a statement denouncing it. Its no secret that I was abducted, raped, and tortured at 19, she said. What followed was a series of events that were the direct result of a child having been destroyed both inside and out. Patty further went on to add, As hard as it was to do, I have grown well past the 19-year-old me and gone on to become a proud wife, mother, and grandmother.

She added, I have no interest in revisiting such a violent and hurtful time in my life. Now, Patty Hearst, a philanthropist, resides in Charleston, South Carolina, and can mostly be seen with her French bulldogs, competing in contests all around the nation. In fact, back in 2017, she even took home two titles at the Westminster Dog Show, revealing to the New York Times that she was kind of walking on air at the moment.

Read More: How Did Patty Hearsts Husband Die?

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Patty Hearst Now: Where is She Today? Is She in Jail? Update - The Cinemaholic

Trends suggest Americans spend less time reading overall. But if that describes you, itprobably doesn't mean you hate to read. More often than not, we don't make time for reading because there are so many things that compete for our attention on any given day.

And that's a shame because even if you can't read for pleasure, there are so many things that today's nonfiction authors have to teach us. Luckily, there's a new service aimed at those whose minds are too curious for their busy lifestyle.Four Minute Books summarizes hundreds of books and contains resources to make you a better reader, help you retain what you read, and leave your brain hungry for more.

Each month, Four Minute Books adds 12 new titles to its aptly named library of summaries. These condensed versions of popular business and self-help titles are designed so you can understand the core concepts and important takeaways without all the filler. The library already includes bestsellers like Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers, Eckhart Tolle's The Power of Now, Mark Manson's The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, and hundreds more, all available as PDF files (and many of which can be listened to as audiobooks).

You've got complete freedom to read these life-changing books however and whenever you want: Download them to a dedicated Dropbox for offline perusal or play audiobooks via any major podcast app. Subscribers even get access to 10 reading and self-improvement handbooks, including The Complete Guide to Remembering What You Read, as well as a customizable Evernote notebook.

PCMag readers can sign up for lifetime access to Four Minute Books for $39.9990 percent off the MSRP.

Products featured in these stories are selected by our partners at StackCommerce. If you buy something through links on our site, PCMag may earn an affiliate commission.

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Make Time for Reading With This Discounted Book Summary Library - PCMag.com

We all have a lot to do.

Then when you add the holidays in, typical to-do lists easily double even this year.

Its natural to feel some pressure, and to get caught up in all the doing, but when that happens, we overlook something important.

I caught this in myself recently.

My almost 3-year-old daughter is developmentally delayed and has a host of congenital issues that have required eight surgeries so far and very diligent medical care. That said, shes a feisty and opinionated little person who continues to make unbelievable progress in her own time.

MORE FEELING MATTERS: Its time to give yourself more credit

She is a tough cookie, and while I cringe at how this sounds, Im an aggressive mom. Our girl literally averages about 15 appointments per week, between therapy and doctors visits. And when Im not chauffeuring between sessions, Im doing as much as I can to make learning a constant at home.

Ive considered this to be my job. I believe moms should busily take care of all their kids needs, all while talking, engaging and teaching at every opportunity.

But Ive recently realized that while being focused on this, I am actually, ever so slightly, missing something.

Ive considered quality time with my baby shark, as we call her, to be singing songs that teach her new words, or practicing colors, or pointing out body parts, or learning to work with Legos or playing ball.

But while rereading one of my favorite books, The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle, it occurred to me that while that stuff is great, doing something at all times is not necessary or even ideal. More is needed. Something different is needed.

Its simple, but so easy to miss: she needs me to put down my perpetual agenda and meet her where she is.

It requires me to step out of autopilot and join her with no ulterior motivesolely with the intention to be together, on her level, and her terms, however that looks right then.

Again, its simple, but shockingly not easy.

MORE FEELING MATTERS: Why its good to have friends who scare you (in the right way)

Aiming to do this the other day, I joined her underneath a blanket on the couch, where she likes to chill. It was sweet and cozy, and while cuddling, I found myself filling the space with my usual semi-mindless yammering: How are you, honey? Are you good!? Can you say good!?

She didnt dignify any of this with a response, so I kept going.

Good, good, good. This little girl is good, good, good.

Blah, blah, blah.

To reiterate, theres nothing wrong with this, and of course, it is good to talk to your kids! This is extremely subtle, but it seems that plainly meeting her, without asking 20 questions or prodding her to learn or perform, is tricky for me. Im constantly poking!

The good news is that awareness helps turn things around.

That day on the couch, I caught myself. I stopped trying to take over her moment and snuggled in a little more.

She was lightly stroking the blanket and seemed to be appreciating the warm light under our makeshift tent. I stopped and joined in. Basically, we just sat there together.

Nothing extraordinary happened, and it was only for a few minutes, but it was sweet and a tender enough moment that it stands out to me even a few weeks later. Its now on my radar as just as important as engaging her and working.

I bring this up because its worth remembering if youre around kids a lot. And, its worth remembering if you find yourself pushing, getting stressed, encountering resistance, or just going, going, doing, doing, especially this time of year. Maybe theres an opportunity to pause all that, recognize the moment, and join it.

Even just brief moments of this offers something sweet.

These holidays are undoubtedly different from usual, but the beauty is still right there.

Marci Izard Sharif is an author, yoga teacher, meditation facilitator and mother. In Feeling Matters, she writes about self-love, sharing self-care tools, stories and resources that center around knowing and being kind to yourself. For her classes and more, go to marcisharif.com.

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The most important thing to do this holiday season - Houston Chronicle

Even after most of my symptoms had subsided, I continued to have a hard time getting out of bed. Then I was introduced to a new morning routine (inspired by Hal Elrod's book Miracle Mornings), which involves meditation, affirmations, visualization, exercise, reading, and journaling. It helped me refocus my thoughts, and became a great kick-start to a better daily mindset.

I also embraced other types of self-love, like playing music during the day that would get me dancing and in a great state of mind.

During my journey, I also noticed one thing getting in the way of recovery: My mind wanted to resist my COVID-19 diagnosis. This resistance got in the way of me being able to truly rest. I would lie down, but my mind wasn't at peace, so my body wasn't relaxing. The same is probably true for a lot of people who are having a hard time accepting that we're still in a pandemic. Eckhart Tolle's thesis to life mastery is "resist nothing"that can be easier said than done, but it's especially key to facing COVID-19 with any kind of grace and acceptance.

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4 Crucial Lessons I Learned While Recovering From COVID-19 - mindbodygreen.com

Raise your hand if you ever wanted to get beamed onto the transport deck of the USS Enterprise. Maybe we havent reached the point of teleporting entire human beings yet (sorry Scotty), but what we have achieved is a huge breakthrough towards quantum internet.

Led by Caltech, a collaborative team from Fermilab, NASAs Jet Propulsion Lab, Harvard University, the University of Calgary and AT&T have now successfully teleported qubits (basic units of quantum info) across almost 14 miles of fiber optic cables with 90 percentprecision. This is because of quantum entanglement, the phenomenon in which quantum particles which are mysteriously entangled behave exactly the same even when far away from each other.

When quantum internet is finally a thing, it will make Wifi look obsolete and dial-up even more ancient than it already is. We achieved sustained, high-fidelity quantum teleportation utilizing time-bin (time-of-arrival_ qubits of light, at the telecommunication wavelength of 1.5 microns, over fiber optic cables, Panagiotis Spentzouris, Head of Quantum Science at the Fermilab Quantum Institute, told SYFY WIRE. This type of qubit is compatible with several devices that are required for the deployment of quantum networks.

What you might recognize is the fiber optic cables used in the experiment, since they are everywhere in telecommunication tech today. Lasers, electronics and optical equipment which were also used for the experiments at Caltech (CQNET) and Fermilab (FQNET) that could someday evolve into the next iteration of internet. Though this is equipment you probably also recognize, what it did for these experiments was enable them to go off without a glitch. Information traveled across the cables at warp speed with the help of semi-autonomous systems that monitored it while while managing control and synchronization of the entangled particles. The system could run for up to a week without human intervention.

So if entangled qubits are inextricably linked despite the distance between them, is there even a limit to how far information can travel? Hypothetically, they could go on forever. What limits exist in reality are not in the qubits but the effects of their surroundings. While one of the qubits containing information stays where it is, the other one has to zoom over to wherever it needs to transfer that information. It could run into obstacles on the way.

What limits the distance that information can be transmitted is loss and noise: either from the properties of the medium we use to send the information or the effects of the environment on the medium, or imperfections on the various operations we need to perform to realize the information transfer, Spentzouris, who coauthored a study recently published in PRX Qunatum, said.

To keep quantum internet running at high precision and over distances around what it was able to cover in this experiment, the quantum teleportation that powers it needs quantum memory and quantum repeaters. Quantum memory is basically the quantum version of the memory your computer and smartphone use now. Instead of storing memory as something like 100101011, it stores it in the form of qubits. To make it possible for entangled qubits to travel as far as possible, quantum repeaters make it easier for those qubits to traverse by splitting it into sections over which they are teleported.

With this system, Spentzouris and his team are planning to lay out the epic Illinois Express Quantum Network (IEQNET), which will use the same technologies that the CQNET and FQNET experiments so successfully pulled off. More tech will obviously needed to realize this sci-fi brainchild. It will combine quantum and non-quantum functions for its quantum nodes and controls. The only thing missing will be the repeaters, since they will need more development to operate over such an expanse. Spentzouris believes quantum computing itself reaches far beyond internet.

Fully distributed quantum computing includes applications include GPS, secure computation beyond anything that can be achieved now, all the way to enabling advances in designing new materials and medicine, as well basic science discoveries, he said. It will unleash the full power of quantum computing and have a profound impact on our lives.

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Beam me up: long-distance quantum teleportation has happened for the first time ever - SYFY WIRE

For mathematicians and computer scientists, 2020 was full of discipline-spanning discoveries and celebrations of creativity. Several long-standing problems yielded to sustained collaboration, sometimes answering other important questions as a happy byproduct. While some results had immediate applications, with researchers improving on the findings or incorporating them into other work, others served for now as inspiration, suggesting that progress is within reach.

Early in the year, Quanta described how five computer scientists established limits on the ability of entangled quantum computers to verify problems. As part of their work, the team also answered long-standing questions in physics and mathematics much to the surprise of the researchers who had been working on those problems. Another set of collaborations strengthened a far-reaching bridge connecting distant areas of mathematics. Known as the Langlands correspondence, the conjectured bridge offers hope of deepening our understanding of many subfields of mathematics.

This year we also explored mathematicians growing familiarity with geometric constructs, examined how computer programs are helping mathematicians with their proofs, and surveyed the current state of mathematics and its problems. But not all the news this year was welcome: the spread of COVID-19 complicated the research of working mathematicians, who increasingly rely on collaboration to push the field forward. The pandemic also claimed the life of the great mathematician John Conway about a month before we broke the news that a graduate student had solved a famous problem involving his signature knot.

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Quanta's Year in Math and Computer Science (2020) - Quanta Magazine

You won't believe you eyes when you play quantum chess, literally.

Have you ever heard of Quantum Chess? If not, we are confident you are in for a real treat.

Read on to find out more about this interesting take on a very ancient strategy game. But brace yourself, things are about to get a little "spooky".

RELATED: WINNER OF THE WORLD'S FIRST QUANTUM CHESS TOURNAMENT ANNOUNCED

Quantum Chess is a variant of the classical strategy game. It incorporates the principles of quantum physics. For example, unlike traditional chess, the piecescan be placed into a superposition of two locations, meaning that a piece can occupy more than one square.

Unlike chesspieces in the conventional game where, for example, a pawn is always a pawn, aquantum chesspiece is a superposition of "states", with each state representing a different conventional piece.

Conventional chess is a very complex game, although it is possible for computer algorithmsto beat the world's greatest chess playersby accurately determining the moves necessary to win the game at any point.

The main rationale behind the creation of Quantum Chess is to introduce an element of unpredictability into the game, and thereby place the computer and the human on a more equal footing. The game can also help "level the playing field" somewhat between human players of widely different skills and experience with chess.

Its like youre playing in a multiverse but the different boards [in different universes] are connected to each other, said Caltech physicist Spiros Michalakis during aLivestreamof a recent Quantum Chess tournament. It makes 3D chess fromStar Treklook silly.

But don't let the term intimidate you. New players to the game don't need to be experts in quantum physics a basic understanding of chess is more important actually.

While it might sound like something of a gimmick, Quantum Chess is an interesting and entertaining spin on the classic game that many find enjoyable. Unless, of course, you cannot live without knowing for sure what and where each piece is at any given time.

If that is the case, you might find this one of the most frustrating games ever created!

Quantum Chess, as you have probably already worked out, is not like any game of classical chess you have ever played. But, it is important to note that there are also several variants of Quantum Chess.

The best known is probably the one created by Chris Cantwell when he was a graduate student at theUniversity of Southern California.This variant differs from other examples by the fact that it is more "truly quantum" than others.

My initial goal was to create a version of quantum chess that was truly quantum in nature, so you get to play with the phenomenon,Cantwell said in an interview with Gizmodoback in 2016.

I didnt want it to just be a game that taught people, quantum mechanics. The idea is that by playing the game, a player will slowly develop an intuitive sense of the rules governing the quantum realm. In fact, I feel like Ive come to more intuitively understand quantum phenomena myself, just by making the game, he added.

In Cantwell's version of Quantum Chess, this superposition of pieces is indicated by a ring that details the probability that the piece can actually be found in a given square. Not only that, but when moving a piece, each action can also be governed by probability.

You can think of the pieces of the game existing on multiple boards in which their numbers are also not fixed. The board you see is a kind of overview of all of these other boards and a single move acts on other boards at the same time.

Whenever a piece moves, many calculations are made behind the scenes to determine the actual outcome, which could be completely unexpected.

That being said, moves do follow the basic rules of traditional chess, including things like castling and en passant. However, there are a few important differences:

Pieces in this version of Quantum Chess can make a series of either "quantum moves" (except for pawns) or regular chess moves. In this sense, the pieces can occupy more than one square on the multiverse of boards simultaneously.

These moves also come in a variety of "flavors".

The first is a move called a "split move". This can be performed by all non-pawn pieces and allows a piece to actually occupy two different target squares that it could traditionally reach in normal chess.

But, this can only be done if the target square is unoccupied or is occupied by pieces of the same color and type. A white knight, for example, could use this kind of move to occupy the space of another white knight.

Such a move cannot; however, be used to capture an opponent's piece.

Another interesting move is called a "merge move". This can be performed by all pieces except pawns and, like a split move, can only be performed on an unoccupied square or one occupied by a piece of the same type and color.

Using our previous example of a white knight, this would mean that two white knights could merge together on the same square. Again, this move cannot be used to capture enemy pieces.

So how do you take pieces in Quantum Chess?

Well, when two pieces of different colors meet on the same square the game makes a series of measurements.These measurements are designed to answer a specific yes or no question.

For example, the game's mechanics will look at certain squares to determine if they are occupied or not.The outcome of this can be to cause a piece's "superposition" state to "collapse".

If the superposition state collapses, then the desired move will be performed. If not, the move is not made and the player's turn ends.

Capturing is also very different in a game of Quantum Chess. When a player attempts to do this, the game will make calculations for the square where the piece is situated and for its target square, as well as any other squares in its path, to answer the question, "is the attacking piece present and can it reach the target?".

If the answer is no, it is important to note that this doesn't necessarily mean the attacking piece is not present. Nor does it mean that its path is blocked.

Another interesting concept of Quantum Chess is called "exclusion". If a moving target is occupied and is in superposition by a piece that cannot be captured by the move, it is called an exclusion move.

Again, calculations are made for the target square and any squares in the path of an allowed move by a piece in superposition. This is done to answer the same question as capturing, with similar outcomes.

Castling is also very different in Quantum Chess. This move always involves two targets, and the same measurements are made for both targets. Castling cannot be used to capture, and will always be an exclusion move.

So, you might be wondering how you actually win a game of Quantum Chess?

Just like traditional chess, the aim of the game is to capture the opponent's king. However, unlike in traditional chess, the concept of checkmate does not exist.

To win, the enemy king must no longer actually exist on the board. As any piece, including the king, exist in a state of superposition, they can either be captured or not which further complicates the issue.

The game, therefore, continues until it is known, with certainty, that a particular player has no king left. For this reason, it is possible for both players to lose their king at the same time and the game would then be considered a draw.

Another important thing to note is that each player has a set amount of time for the game. For this reason, you can also win by running an opponent's time out.

How you play Quantum Chess depends on the variant of the game you are playing. We have already covered the rules of one variant above, and that game can be played throughQuantum Realm Games. But another version created byAlice Wismath at theSchool of Computing at Queen's University in Californiahas some slightly different rules.

You can try that game for yourself here.

In her version, each player has sixteen pieces. These pieces are in a quantum state of superposition of two types: a primary and a secondary type.

They are also in an unknown (quantum) type or a known (classical) type.When a piece is "touched" it collapses into its classical state and has an equal probability of becoming either a primary or secondary type. The king, however, is an exception, and is always in a classical state.

Each player has one king and its position is always known.

All other pieces are assigned the following primary piece types: left rook, left bishop, left knight, queen, right knight, right bishop, right rook, and pawns one through eight. Secondary piece types are then randomly assigned from this same list of piece types so that each type occurs exactly twice in the player's pieces.

Each piece is created at the start of each game and superpositions are not changed throughout the game. Pieces also start as they would in regular chess, on the first two rows, according to their primary piece type with all, except the king, in a state of superposition.

Once a quantum state piece is touched (i.e. chosen to move), it collapses into one of its two predetermined states, and this state is suddenly revealed to both players.

This can mean that a pawn in the front row can suddenly become a white knight once the piece has been "touched". You won't know until the piece's quantum state collapses.

Quantum Chess boards are the same as regular chess boards except that when a piece lands on a white square it remains in its classical state. When pieces land on black squares, however, they undergo a quantum transformation and regain, if lost, their quantum superposition.

This means that a previously "revealed" pawn can also suddenly transform into a queen if that was one of its predetermined primary or secondary types. A very interesting concept indeed.

To play the game, each player chooses a piece to move and must move it. If the quantum piece collapses into a piece type with no possible moves, then the player's move is over.

Pieces in classical states with no possible moves cannot be chosen. All pieces move as they would in classical chess with some of the following exceptions:

Pieces can also be captured as normal, and quantum pieces collapse from their superposition state and are removed from play.

If a player touches a quantum piece that collapses into a state that puts the opponent's king in check, their move is over. The opponent, however, is not required to get out of check in such circumstances.

Pawns that reach the opposite side of the board can be promoted to aqueen, bishop, rook, or knight, regardless of the number of pieces of that type already in the game. Also, if a piece in the quantum state on the far row is touched and revealed to be a pawn, it is promoted, but the promotion takes up the turn. The superimposed piece type is not affected.

To win the game, each player must capture the enemy's king, as a checkmate does not happen in Quantum Chess. For this reason, kings can actually move into a position that would normally be considered check.

Games are considered a draw if both opponents are left with only their king in play or 100 consecutive moves have been made with no captures or pawn movements by either player.

It was recently announced that the world's first Quantum Chess tournament had been won by Aleksander Kubica, a postdoctoral fellow at Canada's Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics and Institute for Quantum Computing. The tournament was held on the 9th of December 2020 at the Q2B 2020 conference.

The tournament games are timed, and Kubica managed to beat his opponent, Google's Doug Strain, by letting him run out of time. This currently makes Kubica officially the best Quantum Chess player in the world.

Not a bad way to see out one of the worst years in living memory.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is a wrap.

If you like the sound of playing Quantum Chess, why not check out either of the versions we have discussed above in this article. Who knows, you might get proficient enough to challenge Kubica for the title in the not too distant future?

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What the Hell Is Quantum Chess? | IE - Interesting Engineering