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UCLA Secures $75 Million in NSF Grants for Quantum Technology Research

UCLA Secures $75 Million in NSF Grants for Quantum Technology Research

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has been awarded two grants totaling $75 million from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to advance quantum technology research. Each grant, valued at $37.5 million over five years, will support two quantum computing institutes: Fault-Tolerant Quantum Systems, Architectures and Applications (FTQSAA) and the Challenge Institute for Quantum Computation (CIQC). These institutes aim to develop quantum technologies that operate faster than traditional digital devices. UCLA's involvement in two out of eight Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes in the second round solidifies its position as a leading institution in the field of quantum computing. The funding will also enable the quantum computation institute to employ more postdoctoral researchers, doctoral students, and undergraduate students interested in quantum computing, according to Jens Palsberg, a professor of computer science and co-principal investigator of CIQC. This federal funding is considered crucial...
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IBM Quantum Computer Achieves Significant Speed Advantage Over Supercomputers

IBM Quantum Computer Achieves Significant Speed Advantage Over Supercomputers

IBM's Nighthawk r2 quantum processor has completed a complex computational task in 19 seconds, a feat estimated to take a traditional supercomputer approximately 110 years. This demonstration of 'quantum advantage' involved generating a million samples through random circuit sampling using 61 qubits of the 120-qubit processor. The experiment was conducted on a commercially accessible quantum processor via IBM's cloud platform, utilizing standard cloud workflows without specialized calibration. This achievement highlights the growing capability of quantum computing to tackle problems that are prohibitively difficult for even the most powerful classical supercomputers. The results, detailed in a preprint on arXiv, mark a significant step in the ongoing 'quantum advantage arms race' that began in 2018, pushing the boundaries of what quantum and classical computing can achieve.
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UCLA Secures $75 Million in National Science Foundation Grants for Quantum Technology Research

UCLA Secures $75 Million in National Science Foundation Grants for Quantum Technology Research

Two quantum computing institutes at UCLA have collectively received $75 million in grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The institutes, named Fault-Tolerant Quantum Systems, Architectures and Applications and Challenge Institute for Quantum Computation, each secured $37.5 million over a five-year period. These funds are earmarked to advance quantum technologies, which are designed to operate at speeds significantly faster than conventional digital devices. Jens Palsberg, a professor of computer science and co-principal investigator for one of the institutes, emphasized that these grants will create substantial opportunities for students and enhance UCLA's standing in the field of quantum computing research. The Fault-Tolerant Quantum Systems institute, co-led by the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Harvard University, focuses on developing reliable and accessible quantum systems.
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U.S. Department of Energy Announces $1.9 Billion in Grants for Grid Upgrades Across 26 States

U.S. Department of Energy Announces $1.9 Billion in Grants for Grid Upgrades Across 26 States

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced $1.9 billion in federal grants to support 31 projects across 26 states aimed at upgrading the nation's power grid. These projects are projected to add 23 gigawatts (GW) of additional capacity, sufficient to power 16 million homes. The initiatives will focus on reconductoring or rebuilding transmission lines and deploying Grid-Enhancing Technologies (GETs) across nearly 21,000 miles. By maximizing existing rights-of-way, these projects intend to alleviate congestion bottlenecks, improve reliability, and reduce operating costs for utilities and grid operators, ultimately lowering electricity bills for approximately 100 million Americans. The grants are part of the DOE’s Speed to Power through Accelerated Reconductoring and other Key Advanced Transmission Technology Upgrades (SPARK) initiative, launched in March, and are enabled by the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) passed in 2021.
The Knoxville News-SentinelThe Knoxville News-Sentinel
TVA gets federal boost to upgrade its power lines across the South

TVA gets federal boost to upgrade its power lines across the South

The U.S. Department of Energy said it will help the Tennessee Valley Authority fund $159.7 million in power lines upgrades across the South.
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Researchers Demonstrate New Path to Universal Quantum Computing Using Non-Abelian Anyons

Researchers Demonstrate New Path to Universal Quantum Computing Using Non-Abelian Anyons

Scientists from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (UChicago PME), Harvard, Stony Brook University, and Quantinuum have experimentally demonstrated a novel approach to universal quantum computing using non-Abelian anyons. This research, published in Nature, shows that these exotic quantum particles can support the broad range of operations required for a practical quantum computer. Unlike traditional qubits that store information in two states, non-Abelian anyons encode information through their braiding patterns and fusion operations. The team successfully created and tested a full set of operations, including an entangling gate via braiding and two measurements through fusion, which together can produce any quantum operation. This method could potentially offer a more efficient route to reliable quantum machines by sidestepping the costly 'magic state distillation' process typically used for quantum error correction. The experiment utilized Quantinuum's H2 trapped-ion proc...
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QuEra Computing Predicts Useful Quantum Computers Within Two Years, Challenging Industry Timelines

QuEra Computing Predicts Useful Quantum Computers Within Two Years, Challenging Industry Timelines

QuEra Computing Predicts Useful Quantum Computers Within Two Years, Challenging Industry Timelines
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Quantum Computing Unlikely to Drive Data Center Boom Like AI, Says HRL Scientist

Quantum Computing Unlikely to Drive Data Center Boom Like AI, Says HRL Scientist

Quantum Computing Unlikely to Drive Data Center Boom Like AI, Says HRL Scientist
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IonQ Seeks Global Government Affairs Director to Shape Quantum Computing Policy

IonQ Seeks Global Government Affairs Director to Shape Quantum Computing Policy

IonQ Seeks Global Government Affairs Director to Shape Quantum Computing Policy
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Senators Hickenlooper and McCormick Launch Bipartisan Science and Innovation Caucus

Senators Hickenlooper and McCormick Launch Bipartisan Science and Innovation Caucus

U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper (D-CO) and Dave McCormick (R-PA) have officially launched the U.S. Senate Bipartisan Science and Innovation Caucus. The caucus aims to highlight and elevate American scientific research and its application to promote innovation. A kickoff event was held at the U.S. Capitol, bringing together scientists, researchers, and legislative staff. Senator Hickenlooper emphasized the importance of U.S. investments in science for economic growth and entrepreneurship, stating that the nation has historically led the world in scientific knowledge and economic expansion. Senator McCormick highlighted Pennsylvania's strong research and innovation ecosystem, noting its contribution to job creation, economic strengthening, and national security. The caucus plans to collaborate with industry leaders and the research community to develop policies that ensure U.S. leadership in science and technology. They will host briefings, roundtables, and discussions to foster new legislation aimed at boos...
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U.S. Department of Energy Allocates $1.9 Billion for Grid Upgrades to Boost Capacity and Reliability

U.S. Department of Energy Allocates $1.9 Billion for Grid Upgrades to Boost Capacity and Reliability

The U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) has announced a significant investment of $5.25 billion, which includes $1.9 billion in federal funds and $3.35 billion in cost-share funding, to support numerous grid improvement projects across the nation. This initiative, part of the Speed to Power through Accelerated Reconductoring and other Key Advanced Transmission Technology Upgrades (SPARK) program, aims to unlock an additional 23 gigawatts of electrical capacity. The funding, made available under the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) program, will be distributed across 31 specific projects in 26 states. These projects will focus on reconductoring or rebuilding over 1,500 miles of transmission lines and deploying grid-enhancing technologies (GETs) such as sensors, power flow control devices, and analytical tools across 21,000 miles of American grid infrastructure. The DoE states that these investments are designed to improve reliability and lower electricity costs for approximately 100 million Am...
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Quantum Computing Explored to Reduce U.S. Reliance on China's Rare Earth Supply Chain

Quantum Computing Explored to Reduce U.S. Reliance on China's Rare Earth Supply Chain

Quantum Computing Explored to Reduce U.S. Reliance on China's Rare Earth Supply Chain