A cryostat from a quantum computer stands during a press tour of a quantum computing center. (Photo ... [+] by Sven Hoppe/picture alliance via Getty Images)dpa/picture alliance via Getty ImagesThis past week Microsoft announced a major breakthrough in quantum computing: 24 logical qubits that can detect and correct errors. In an era when a single chip architecture in your iPhone might have 20 billion transistors, that doesnt sound like too much of a big deal. But Microsoft says the worlds largest logical entangled state on record.What does that mean? Where is quantum computing today? And will it ever be something that you might use day-to-day, or access via the cloud on a regular basis?Recently at Web Summit in Lisbon I had the opportunity to share a dinner with three CEOs of quantum computing companies: Horizon Quantum out of Singapore and Ireland, Oxford Ionics out of England, and IQM Quantum Computers with multiple locations across Europe. My key question at the meal: when quantum computing would stop being a gee-whiz technology that doesnt actually do any real work, and start revolutionizing everything as the hype machine has taught us to expect.Theres some good news on that front: two of the three CEOs gave very near-term answers to functional, shipping quantum computers.The Microsoft news is extremely relevant to answer that question too, because error detection is critical in quantum computing.Quantum computing which is beset by a logical conundrum rooted in the very physics of the universe: the classical mechanics and physics that we understand in our everyday world and the quantum mechanics that Einstein mused about in his famous God does not play dice with the universe quote do not mix very well.Heres how Thau Peronnin, CEO of Alice & Bob (yet another quantum computing company) put when I hosted him on the TechFirst podcast some months ago:MORE FROMFORBES VETTEDBuilding a quantum computer in itself is a paradox, he said. On one hand, you want your machine to behave quantum mechanically. And you, myself, we do not teleport. Were not at several places at once. We live in a classical and noisy world.That classical noise impacts quantum states, polluting quantum computations. Solving this decoherence is a core challenge to making truly useful quantum computers. Fortunately, there are multiple possible solutions that different quantum computing companies are testing.The five questions I asked the quantum computing CEOs:What's the biggest challenge in quantum computing right now?What are three problems we can't solve well today but will be able to with a quantum computer?What's the timeline to achieve that?Why should we care about quantum computing now when aren't seeing very much real work being done?Can we be confident that a functioning high-capacity quantum computer is a complete gamechanger for computing ... and maybe more?Here are their answers, lightly edited for spelling.What's the biggest challenge in quantum computing right now?Joe Fitzsimons, founder & CEO, Horizon Quantum:Dr Joe Fitzsimons, CEO of Horizon Quantum Computing, with a Novera quantum processor from Rigetti ... [+] ComputingHorizon QuantumThe biggest hurdle quantum computing faces is that quantum computers are not yet useful for doing real work. A major milestone that the industry has been working towards is a first demonstration of a quantum computer solving a real world problem, one that people care about and that has economic value, significantly faster than could have been done with conventional computers.The main barrier to achieving this goal is the high error rate in current generation quantum processors, which likely needs to be overcome through error correction before a real advantage can be seen. The systems also need to be scaled up to larger qubit counts. To go from a narrow advantage on a single problem to a much broader quantum advantage, we also need to create the software infrastructure for developing more sophisticated quantum programs, and that is where we focus as a company.Dr Chris Ballance, co-founder and CEO of Oxford Ionics:The biggest challenge facing quantum computing today is integration. Within the industry, youll often find that companies can demonstrate the individual building blocks required to make powerful quantum computers. But when combined into the large, integrated systems that are needed to make commercially- valuable quantum computers, they fall short either in performance or scalability.The key to unlocking useful quantum computers lies in integrating all of these individual pieces into a reproducible and reliable system that can be manufactured at scale. This isnt a science problem - its an engineering problem. At Oxford Ionics, weve tackled this by creating ultra high-performing qubits on a quantum chip that can be manufactured via standard semiconductor fabs. This means we can leverage the might of the existing semiconductor industry to scale our products.Ultimately, its not enough to have a powerful quantum computer that only works on its very best day when the lab conditions are perfect or when the team of PhDs operating it are on top form. It needs to work on its worst days too, in the real world, used by real organisations. Building fully integrated, robust, and scalable systems is how we get there.Jan Goetz, CEO & co-founder at IQM Quantum Computers:The quantum computing industry has made considerable progress over the past few years, with several key milestones that are bringing us closer to reaching quantum advantage. However, as for many other emerging technologies, more investments will be needed to bolster quantum capabilities. Ensuring enough capital for the quantum computing industry will remain a key challenge. While qubit quality and gate fidelity has improved recently, scaling quantum computers to a level sufficient for solving large complex problems will take time and capital. At IQM, we are on steady progress to achieve fault-tolerant quantum computing by 2030 as shown in our recent roadmap release.What are three problems we can't solve well today but will be able to with a quantum computer?Joe Fitzsimons, founder & CEO, Horizon Quantum:Dr Chris Ballance, co-founder and CEO of Oxford IonicsChris BalanceI think most people in the industry would say simulating chemistry, optimisation and machine learning. These are overwhelmingly favoured in industry reports.However, from my own perspective, I believe there is a much broader use for quantum computing in accelerating hard computational problems. In particular, I would expect to see quantum computers used to tackle other hard problems, such as simulating turbulent fluid flow. There is a potential to take a lot of work that currently requires lab experiments, whether in the chemistry lab, the wind tunnel or elsewhere, and do it entirely in simulation. This would open the door to much faster development cycles.Dr Chris Ballance, co-founder and CEO of Oxford Ionics:We know that quantum computers promise to deliver extraordinary solutions to previously impossible-to-solve challenges. This can include a range of things across a variety of sectors ... one of the use cases we anticipate is in financial portfolio optimization so financial institutions turning to quantum computing to help inform better and faster lending decisions, analyze investment portfolios, or make real- time market decisions. Even a 5% improvement in optimization through useful quantum computing could yield millions of dollars in profit for these institutions.Manufacturing companies may also turn to quantum computing to help optimize their supply chain for example, identifying the most effective ways of distributing goods. These types of problems are called combinatorial explosion problems, where adding in just a few more inputs can massively increase the compute time. Quantum computing can help reduce this burden. Finally, one of the most exciting applications is in materials science. While classical computers are limited in their ability to model materials properties, quantum computers will redefine our ability to do so. With this new capability, well be empowered to design better batteries or improve pharmaceutical modelling to help identify the next-generation drug.Jan Goetz, CEO & co-founder at IQM Quantum Computers:In line with our development roadmap, were focusing on three key areas: quantum simulations, optimization, and quantum machine learning to achieve quantum advantage.A good example for quantum simulations is the recent work we did with Volkswagen on battery simulation. Regarding optimization, we are for example working with EDF on optimizing the schedules for power plant maintenance. Regarding quantum machine learning, we have a project with Siemens that focuses on reinforcement learning for production processes.What's the timeline to achieve that?Jan Goetz, CEO & co-founder at IQM Quantum ComputersIQM Quantum ComputersJoe Fitzsimons, founder & CEO, Horizon Quantum:Different applications have different timescales. Chemistry is perhaps the best hope for acceleration using todays error-prone quantum processors. This is because chemistry is naturally quantum mechanical, a natural candidate for quantum computation, and chemical reactions occur in open systems, where the environment is somewhat random. As a result, there is some chance that the random errors in todays quantum computers can be made to look like the random environment in a chemical reaction, reducing the need for error correction.Machine learning applications will take longer to mature, since the most convincing speedups are from algorithms that require a quantum version of random access memory, which is not yet available.Dr Chris Ballance, co-founder and CEO of Oxford Ionics:We expect early commercial applications to be unlocked with quantum computers that have over 200 high-fidelity qubits. At Oxford Ionics, we plan to have these systems in the hands of our customers within the next two years but this is really the end of the beginning. Were building technology that can not only reach this, but can also continue to scale out to hundreds of thousands of qubits.Jan Goetz, CEO & co-founder at IQM Quantum Computers:We are focusing on quantum simulations, optimization, and quantum machine learning to achieve quantum advantage from 2027.Why should we care about quantum computing now when aren't seeing very much real work being done?Joe Fitzsimons, founder & CEO, Horizon Quantum:The fundamental reason to care about quantum computing is that it may be computing all over again. Conventional computers have had an enormous impact on the world over the last eighty years, and in some sense quantum computers are the first real step change in what computation means since digital computers replaced rooms filled with people working with log tables.Dr Chris Ballance, co-founder and CEO of Oxford Ionics:Its important to remember that with all frontier technologies, theres a fine line between it does nothing and it does everything. And while the difference between these two states represents years of research and development, we are fast approaching the inflection point that will see the value of quantum computing suddenly switch on.Businesses are already paying attention to the progress being made towards this takeoff point. In 2024 alone, weve seen some incredible milestones achieved in quantum computing performance, scale, and reliability. And while the industry has definitely gone through a few hype cycles, these achievements signal that were the closest weve ever been to unlocking commercial value through quantum computing and the market is getting very excited as a result!Were seeing business leaders already planning their quantum strategies today to ensure they arent left behind when the value switches on. These organisations are working with smaller-scale quantum computers in order to conduct the necessary research and application development, ensuring they stay ahead of the curve in the fast-approaching quantum era.Jan Goetz, CEO & co-founder at IQM Quantum Computers:As shown in the various development roadmaps of quanutm companies out there, it is becoming clear that it's only a matter of time to see the impact of quantum computing in the world. This means it is important for industry to get ready and for academia to educate the large amount of quantum engineers needed in the future. Similar as in AI, the quantum advantage moment will come and it is important to be prepared not to miss the train.Can we be confident that a functioning high-capacity quantum computer is a complete gamechanger for computing ... and maybe more?Joe Fitzsimons, founder & CEO, Horizon Quantum:Without question, the answer is yes. Even if we focus in on just one application, code breaking, it becomes very clear that a functioning low-noise quantum computer would significantly change the world. We have known since the mid-90s that the most widely adopted public-key cryptosystems are all vulnerable to quantum attack. Using Shors algorithm, a quantum computer with only thousands of error- corrected qubits would be able to not just decode encrypted messages, but would be able to compromise important digital infrastructure such as DNS and Windows Update. As a result, there is an ongoing effort to develop and deploy cryptography that may be more resistant to quantum attack.Dr Chris Ballance, co-founder and CEO of Oxford Ionics:If we think back to the 1950s, some very clever people were able to write down the mathematical equations required to solve incredibly complex problems but at the time, we lacked the hardware and power required to run those computations. Fast forward to today, supercomputers have been able to solve some of those problems while others remain completely unsolved even over 70 years later. Powerful quantum computers are the answer to this challenge.Quantum computing will represent a paradigm shift in the type of computing power we have at our disposal. Not only will quantum computing be able to solve certain types of problems faster, more efficiently, and with less power it will revolutionise our ability to solve challenges that would otherwise be completely impossible to solve using even the most powerful supercomputer on the market today. We wont be able to find innovative answers to these problems through marginal increases in power or more data centres we need to fundamentally revolutionise the compute arsenal. Quantum computing is the match that will ignite that flame.Jan Goetz, CEO & co-founder at IQM Quantum Computers:Yes. However, we see this as a journey. Similar to Moores law in Semiconductor industries, we will see decades of advancements in quantum computing ahead of us. Every year there will be a new technology node which is more powerful than the previous on. Hence, it is not that black and white in a sense that quantum computers will suddenly work. They will get more and more powerful over time unlocking one use-case after each other. Similar to GPUs, which originally designed for gaming applications until people realized that they are also very powerful in high-performance computing, crypto mining, or AI.Summing up: a lot of work to doClearly, theres a lot of work yet to be done in quantum computing. However, from the two CEOs who gave actual timelines, we should have usable commercial systems starting in late 2026 or 2027.Thats not too far away.Which, if true, means that we have only a couple of years to prepare for the massive changes that are coming in cryptography, finance, manufacturing, materials science, and large-scale engineering.But the quantum computer of the near-term future is unlikely to be one that we hold in our hands like a smartphone, or place on our desks like a laptop. Its still likely to be something very rare, very high-end, and very challenging to manufacture.

Is there water beneath the thick, bluish, hydrogen-and-helium atmospheres of Uranus and Neptune? gettyAsk anyone what their favorite planet in the solar system is besides Earth, and very few will say Uranus or Neptune. The ice giants in the outer solar system are rather dull-looking. Earlier this year, the revelation that their surfaces are a similar shade of greenish blue hasn't done much to move them up the pecking order.However, a new theory about whats inside the seventh and eighth planets from the sun threatens to make it a little more interesting, not least because it involves water and a lot of it.Since gas giants like Uranus and Neptune are the most commonly found planets in the broader Milky Way, the discovery could have massive relevance for the search for life.Deep OceanPublished this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a new study relying on computer simulations proposes that inside Uranus and Neptune far below their thick, bluish, hydrogen-and-helium atmospheres are layers of material that, like oil and water, don't mix.Over the years, planetary scientists have suggested that the ice giants contain diamond rain within them. The new theory suggests that instead, a deep ocean of water lies just below layers of clouds in the hydrogen-helium atmosphere. Below the water, goes the theory, is a layer of hydrocarbons a highly compressed fluid of carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen. The layers are about 5,000 miles (8,000 kilometers) thick.MORE FROMFORBES VETTEDLittle MixingAccording to computer simulations, the two layers exist separately because the temperatures and pressures of the planets' interiors squeeze hydrogen out of the methane and ammonia. This implies that there is little mixing of particles in a thick layer of the planet's deep interiors, as there is on Earth, so no global dipolar magnetic field exists. Earth's dipole field is created by its liquid outer iron core.It's a critical theory because it may explain why the ice giants have disorganized and distinctly un-Earth-like magnetic fields. This is a key finding of NASA's Voyager 2 probe when it conducted flybys of Uranus and Neptune in 1986 and 1989, respectively. No spacecraft has visited since.Machine LearningWe now have, I would say, a good theory why Uranus and Neptune have different fields, and it's very different from Earth, Jupiter and Saturn, said Burkhard Militzer, a professor of Earth and Planetary Science at the University of California, Berkeley. "We didn't know this before. It's like oil and water, except the oil goes below because hydrogen is lost.Militzer developed the new theory thanks to advances in machine learning that allowed him to run a computer model that simulates the behavior of 540 atoms as they are heated and compressed. One day, I looked at the model, and the water had separated from the carbon and nitrogen. What I couldn't do 10 years ago was now happening, he said.Crucially, the gravity fields produced by his model matched those measured by Voyager 2 nearly 40 years ago.NASA Mission?A NASA mission to Uranus, proposed in a paper published in 2021, could confirm the new theory. The flagship mission would send a Uranus orbiter to study the planet. However, a Doppler imager onboard would be needed to measure the planet's vibrations because a layered planet would vibrate at different frequencies, according to Militzere.Another reason for NASA to visit Uranus is to explore the five most significant of its 27 moons, which may be ocean worlds. A study published earlier this month that reevaluated images from Voyager 2 suggested that its moon, Miranda, may have an ocean below its icy crust. If that's true, Miranda has the potential for life alongside other ocean worlds in the solar system, such as Europa at Jupiter and Enceladus at Saturn.However, any mission to Uranus must leave Earth by 2034 to take advantage of a rare planetary alignment of Neptune, Uranus and Jupiter. A gravity-assist slingshot around Jupiter would shorten the journey to Uranus to just 11 years.Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.

In context: After barely weathering the pandemic in 2020, Fujikura is now enjoying a period of unprecedented growth in the Japanese stock market, driven by demand in AI and data center operations. The Tokyo-based company specializes in manufacturing electrical equipment, including power and telecommunication systems, optical fiber devices, and more. Fujikura Ltd., founded by Zenpachi Fujikura in 1885, continues to thrive, fueled by the rapid growth of AI products and research initiatives. Originally focused on producing silk and cotton-insulated wires, the company has evolved to specialize in advanced cable systems for the modern tech industry.According to a recent Bloomberg report, Fujikura has become the best-performing stock on the Nikkei 225 Stock Average, with its share price surging over 400 percent in 2024. The company is also set to join the widely followed MSCI global stock market index.One of Fujikura's most in-demand products is its ultra-thin fiber optic cables, which boast some of the smallest diameters in the industry. These cables can be deployed in tight spaces without requiring additional tunneling, according to CFO Kazuhito Iijima. Notably, Apple is one of Fujikura's largest customers.Iijima noted that demand for data center products began surging significantly around 2022, leaving company executives puzzled at first. Now, it's clear that AI is the primary driver behind the booming business. Fujikura is projected to achieve 104 billion ($674 million) in operating income during the current fiscal year, marking a 17 percent year-over-year increase.A substantial 70 percent of Fujikura's revenue comes from outside Japan, with 38 percent originating from the United States. In 2020, the company faced its first loss in a decade, attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic and escalating trade tensions between the US and China. The return of the Trump administration could reignite these challenges, but Fujikura has been preparing for such scenarios. // Related StoriesTo mitigate risks, Iijima confirmed that the company has established a US-based production facility dedicated to manufacturing high-density optical fiber cables. The plant is designed to comply with the Build America Buy America Act, ensuring resilience "even if new issues arise that are disadvantageous to imported materials," Iijima stated.Looking ahead, Fujikura is preparing for emerging opportunities as global data center capacity is projected to grow by 33 percent annually through 2030, according to McKinsey & Company. The company is also exploring future markets, with nuclear fusion reactors a potential clean energy breakthrough seen as a promising avenue that will likely require extensive cabling solutions.

Facepalm: Microsoft introduced the Windows Insider testing program as a way to improve the platform by collecting distributed feedback. Since 2014, millions of Insiders have been "testing" new Windows features. Yet, despite their input, every major upgrade still brings fresh headaches and compatibility issues to the operating system. Microsoft has acknowledged yet another issue in Windows 11, version 24H2. According to the company's official dashboard for known issues, some Ubisoft games are experiencing significant problems after users install the latest Windows update. The affected titles may become unresponsive or even display a "black screen" before crashing.The impacted games include Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Assassin's Creed Origins, Assassin's Creed Odyssey, Star Wars Outlaws, and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. Ubisoft has released a temporary fix for Star Wars Outlaws, but the patch may introduce additional performance issues. Microsoft has yet to explain why so many Ubisoft games are encountering these problems.To prevent further disruption, Microsoft has blocked the installation of Windows 11 24H2 on systems with the affected games. The company is advising users to avoid manually upgrading their systems until the issue is resolved. Meanwhile, Microsoft and Ubisoft are collaborating to develop a permanent fix. Frustrated users have taken to social media to voice their dissatisfaction with both Ubisoft and the "very, very broken" 24H2 release of Windows 11.Gamers have been grappling with these issues for weeks, attempting to troubleshoot on their own by checking the Uplay launcher, updating GPU drivers, installing Visual C++ Redistributable packages, and trying various other fixes. Despite the efforts, nothing has worked. Understandably, users who recently purchased brand-new gaming systems or hardware components are particularly frustrated.For now, Microsoft has only suggested a few "workarounds" for unresponsive games, such as forcibly closing the application through task manager. Another (unofficial) option is downgrading the operating system to version 23H2, though some users report experiencing game crashes on that version as well. // Related StoriesBeyond gaming-related problems, Windows 11 24H2 is displaying broader instability and incompatibility issues with various hardware and software. Shortly after the upgrade began rolling out last month, owners of WD SSDs reported bugs and BSOD crashes caused by poorly managed I/O caching operations. The Windows Insider program, which aims to transform "technically able" users into effective OS beta testers, appears to be struggling to meet its goals at this point.

PhilipsTable of ContentsTable of ContentsCreate a temporary smart lock passwordUse Quick Replies on your video doorbellCreate a cozy home with smart lightsEntertain your guests with a smart displayKeep everyone comfortable with a smart thermostatThanksgiving is just around the corner, and if youre worried about hosting a great party this year, know that your smart home is here to help. Weve pulled together some simple ways your smart home can be optimized to help you host a flawless Thanksgiving. From building a cozy atmosphere with smart lights to setting Quick Replies on your video doorbell, heres a look at how your smart home can help throw a stress-free Thanksgiving.YaleMany smart locks allow you to program temporary passcodes and this is an incredibly useful feature when youre hosting. Instead of telling all your guests your permanent passcode, you can create a temporary code thatll only work on Thanksgiving. This ensures your friends and family can let themselves inside your home if youre busy without giving them free rein to barge in other times of the year. Weve put together a comprehensive guide on how to create temporary codes on the Yale Assure Lock 2, but youll find a similar process available for most other smart locks.Recommended VideosRingMake your doorbell more inviting with Quick Replies. Once enabled, these give your guests a quick message after ringing your doorbell. For example, you can select a Quick Reply telling them youll be right at the door or another one asking them to leave a message because youre unavailable. Ring just launched a set of Grinch-related Quick Replies, so if youre excited about the holidays, consider checking out the new collection.RelatedLutronSmart lights are an integral part of any Thanksgiving party. Whether you want to build a cozy atmosphere for dinner, dim the lights before watching football, or turn them as bright as possible to find all the scraps of food that fell on the floor, smart lights are shockingly useful. Along with light bulbs and string lights, under-cabinet smart lights are another fun option. GE Lighting recently launched the Cync Smart Undercabinet Fixtures, which are a great way to show off all the delicious food in your kitchen. Best of all, they can be hardwired or plugged in directly to an outlet, making them suitable for most homes.AmazonNeed a way to keep guests entertained while away from your home theater? A smart display can be a fun distraction, as these let you stream TV shows and play a handful of video games. The Echo Show lineup is particularly notable, and as long as youre running FireOS 5 or higher, you should be able to stream games via Amazon Luna. Be sure to spend a few minutes checking out what entertainment options are available on your smart display and make them easily accessible to guests.EcobeeDepending on where you live, the weather can be wildly unpredictable this time of year. Warm days might give way to cool nights, doors might be left open as guests filter inside, and all the cooking could easily heat up your house. Whatever the case may be, a smart thermostat lets you quickly (and remotely) control your homes temperature. Instead of leaving a group conversation or stepping away from the kitchen, you can easily adjust a smart thermostat with your smartphone. So whether you notice people wearing their coats in the house or shedding layers to stay cool, you can adjust your settings on the fly without much effort.Editors Recommendations

Netflix is starting 2025 with a new mystery series from Harlan Coben called Missing You, which now has an official trailer.Detective Kat Donovan (Rosalind Eleazar) has found the man of his dreams in Josh Buchanan (Ashley Walters). The couple get engaged, and things look like theyre heading toward a perfect ending until tragedy strikes. Josh disappears, leaving no clues as to where he went. Eleven years later, Kat is trying to move on and does so by signing up for a dating app. In a cruel twist of fate, Kat finds Joshs profile, which triggers her grief. Per Netflix, Joshs reappearance forces her to dive back into the mystery surrounding her fathers murder and uncover long-buried secrets from her past.Recommended VideosMissing Yousensemble includesJessica PlummerMISSING YOU | Official Trailer | NetflixMissing Youis based on Cobens 2014 novel of the same name. Though the novel takes place in New York City, the Netflix series relocates the setting to the U.K. Victoria Asare-Archer is the lead writer, with Nimer Rashed and Isher Sahota directing. Executive producers include Coben, Nicola Shindler, Asare-Archer, Richard Fee, and Danny Brocklehurst.RelatedCobens novels have been the source material for nearly a dozen Netflix series, includingThe Stranger,Stay Close, and Harlan Cobens Shelter. Cobens last series, Fool Me Once, generated record-breaking viewership after its premiere on January 1, 2024. Fool Me Onceis Netflixs eighth-most popular English-language TV series.Missing Youpremieres on January 1, 2025.Editors Recommendations

Dana said CEO and Chairman James Kamsickas retired after nearly a decade and it named Bruce McDonald his successor while it initiates a cost-cutting strategy and explores the sale of a unit.

Leaky cyber defenses allowed customer data to be stolen, enabling Covid-19 fraud, attorney general alleges

A bureaucrats promotion comes at a moral cost in this drama directed by Mohammad Rasoulof, who was sentenced to prison during its production and has since fled the country.

This NOVA presentation follows engineers as they seek to help humanity adapt to a changing world, drawing on the ideas and traditions of the past to create new technologies.