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Google on Monday said that it has overcome a key challenge in quantum computing with a new generation of chip, solving a computing problem in five minutes that would take a classical computer more time than the history of the universe.

Like other tech giants such as Microsoft and International Business Machines, Alphabet’s Google is chasing quantum computing because it promises computing speeds far faster than today’s fastest systems. While the math problem solved by the company’s Santa Barbara, California quantum lab does not have commercial applications, Google hopes quantum computers will one day solve problems in medicine, battery chemistry and Artificial Intelligence (AI) that are out of reach for today’s computers.

The results released Monday came from a new chip called Willow that has 105 “qubits,” which are the building blocks of quantum computers. Qubits are fast but error-prone, because they can be jostled by something as small as a subatomic particle from events in outer space.

As more qubits are packed onto a chip, those errors can add up to make the chip no better than a conventional computer chip. So since the 1990s, scientists have been working on quantum error-correction.

In a paper published in the journal Nature on Monday, Google said that it has found a way to string together the Willow chip’s qubits so that error rates go down as the number of qubits goes up. The company also says it can correct errors in real time, a key step toward making its quantum machines practical.

“We are past the break even point,” Hartmut Neven, who leads the Google Quantum AI unit, said in an interview.

In 2019, IBM challenged Google’s claim that Google’s quantum chip solved a problem that would take a classical computer 10,000 years, saying the problem could be solved in two-and-a-half days using different technical assumptions about a classical system.

In a blog post Monday, Google said it took some of those concerns into account in its newest estimates. Even under the most idealistic conditions, Google said a classical computer would still take a billion years to get the same results as its newest chip.

Some of Google’s rivals are producing chips with a larger number of qubits than Google, but Google is focused on making the most reliable qubits it can, Anthony Megrant, chief architect for Google Quantum AI, said in an interview.

Google fabricated its previous chips in a shared facility at the University of California, Santa Barbara, but built its own dedicated fabrication facility to produce its Willow chips. Megrant said that new facility will speed up how fast Google can make future chips, which are chilled in huge refrigerators called cryostats to run experiments.

“If we have a good idea, we want somebody on the team to be able to … get that into the clean room and into one of these cryostats as fast as possible, so we can get lots of cycles of learning,” Megrant said.

© Thomson Reuters 2024

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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New Study Challenges Great Filter Theory, Suggests Life Evolves with Planetary Changes

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February 24, 2025

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New Study Challenges Great Filter Theory, Suggests Life Evolves with Planetary Changes

The likelihood of intelligent life emerging elsewhere in the universe may not be as improbable as previously believed, as suggested by recent research. A new model proposes that the development of life on Earth was not dictated by a sequence of rare, chance events but was instead influenced by evolving geobiological conditions. It has been argued that Homo sapiens appeared at an expected point in Earth’s history, rather than as an anomaly, due to environmental factors aligning at the right time to support complex life.

Study Challenges ‘Hard Steps’ Theory

According to the study published in Science Advances, the long-standing belief that life’s evolution required a series of highly improbable breakthroughs has been questioned. The research, led by Dan Mills of the University of Munich, along with Jennifer Macalady from Penn State University and astrophysicists Adam Frank and Jason Wright, suggests that planetary conditions played a crucial role in determining the timeline of life’s development.

The study re-examined the “hard steps” model introduced by Australian physicist Brandon Carter, which proposed that intelligent life required an extraordinary number of evolutionary hurdles to be overcome. The team identified five major transitions in the history of life, including the emergence of eukaryotic cells, atmospheric oxygenation, multicellular life, and the appearance of Homo sapiens. It was suggested that rather than occurring through sheer improbability, these stages of evolution were dictated by Earth’s changing environment.

Planetary Conditions Dictated Evolutionary Timeline

Key planetary changes, such as the delayed oxygenation of Earth’s atmosphere, have been cited as evidence that evolution did not proceed randomly but was dependent on environmental readiness. Sources indicate that cyanobacteria played a crucial role in oxygen production, but conditions were not suitable for their emergence until approximately 2.4 billion years ago. It was further observed that oxygen levels conducive to complex life only became available around 400 million years ago, which aligns with the eventual appearance of intelligent species.

As per reports, experts have pointed out that if life had to wait for the right environmental conditions on Earth, similar constraints could influence the emergence of life on other planets. This perspective shifts the debate from whether life is rare to how planetary environments shape the possibilities for its evolution. While it remains uncertain whether intelligent life is common in the universe, the research challenges the idea that its development depends on a series of unlikely events.

Despite these findings, questions remain regarding the origins of life and whether biological evolution unfolded in a unique manner.

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Rare Seven-Planet Alignment 2025: How to Watch in India, Best Viewing Tips

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February 24, 2025

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Rare Seven-Planet Alignment 2025: How to Watch in India, Best Viewing Tips

A celestial event of rare significance is set to unfold as seven planets align in the sky, creating a phenomenon that will not be witnessed again until 2040. Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune will appear along the ecliptic, the Sun’s apparent path across the sky. While they will not form a perfect line, their alignment will be visible to observers under the right conditions. This planetary gathering will first become apparent on February 28, 2025, with optimal viewing conditions expected in India around March 3, 2025. To locate the planets accurately, the use of sky-mapping applications is recommended.

Event Date and Visibility in India

According to reports, the planetary alignment will commence on February 28, 2025. However, skywatchers in India will find the best viewing opportunity around March 3, 2025. Visibility will depend on atmospheric conditions, light pollution, and the observer’s location. The western horizon after sunset will be the best place to catch a glimpse of the alignment.

Which Planets Will Be Visible?

Several planets will be observable without any special equipment:

  • Venus – Among the brightest celestial objects, it will be easy to identify in the western sky.
  • Mars – Recognizable by its reddish hue, it will be located high above the southern horizon in the Gemini constellation.
  • Jupiter – The second-brightest planet after Venus, it will be visible near the Taurus constellation.
  • Mercury – It will appear close to the horizon, briefly joining the lineup.

Challenges in Spotting Uranus and Neptune

Uranus and Neptune will require assistance for visibility due to their distance from Earth. To view these planets, experts suggest using binoculars or a small telescope. A dark sky away from urban light pollution will improve chances of spotting them. NASA has recommended observing shortly after sunset for the best experience.

The rare alignment presents an opportunity for astronomers and enthusiasts alike to observe the dynamics of the solar system. Star-tracking applications can aid in pinpointing the planets based on real-time positioning. If weather conditions permit, this event will be a remarkable sight in the night sky.

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NASA Lowers Impact Probability of Asteroid 2024 YR4 After New Data

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February 24, 2025

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NASA Lowers Impact Probability of Asteroid 2024 YR4 After New Data

A significant shift has been observed in the potential threat posed by asteroid 2024 YR4. Initially raising concerns due to its size of approximately 55 meters and the potential to release 500 times more energy than the Hiroshima atomic bomb, the asteroid’s impact probability peaked at 3.1 percent before rapidly declining. Currently, NASA estimates the chance of impact in 2032 at just 0.28 percent. The rapid changes in impact probability were expected due to limited data, which continues to be refined through further observations.

Impact Probability and Astronomical Observations

According to the Torino Impact Hazard Scale, developed by Richard Binzel, Professor of Planetary Sciences at MIT, asteroid 2024 YR4 was briefly classified as a Level 3 threat, meaning it could cause localised destruction. As new observations were conducted, the asteroid was downgraded to Level 1, indicating no cause for public concern. Speaking to Live Science, Binzel noted that such fluctuations in risk assessment are part of the scientific process, as additional data allows for greater certainty regarding an asteroid’s trajectory. Clearer conditions in mid-February enabled NASA to improve tracking, contributing to the lowered impact probability.

Potential Consequences and Global Preparedness

If an asteroid of this size were on a collision course, localised devastation or even tsunamis could result, depending on the impact location. While 2024 YR4’s risk has significantly decreased, NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office continues to monitor space objects that could pose future threats. The International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN) remains responsible for coordinating responses to potential impacts, including deflection strategies should an asteroid pose an imminent risk. As detection technology advances, astronomers predict that more potentially hazardous asteroids will be identified, requiring continued tracking and assessment. Binzel told Live Science that improved detection methods mean asteroids previously unnoticed will become part of ongoing evaluations, ensuring that potential threats are addressed long before they pose real danger.

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