Google Reveals Timeline for Commercial Quantum Computing Applications

Published

1 month ago

February 6, 2025

admin

Google aims to release commercial quantum computing applications within five years, Google’s head of quantum told Reuters on Wednesday, in a challenge to Nvidia’s predictions of a 20-year wait.

“We’re optimistic that within five years we’ll see real-world applications that are possible only on quantum computers,” founder and lead of Google Quantum AI Hartmut Neven said in a statement.

Real-world applications Google has discussed are related to materials science – applications such as building superior batteries for electric cars – creating new drugs and potentially new energy alternatives.

Google’s prediction arrives amid wider uncertainty about when such a breakthrough will occur. Predictions from investors and experts range from several years to at least two decades.

For decades, scientists have been discussing quantum computing, which promises to deliver machines that are thousands of times more powerful than traditional computers. Traditional computers process information one number at a time, whereas quantum computers use “qubits” that can represent several numbers at once.

Governments and businesses have kept a close eye on quantum computing’s potential to disrupt modern cybersecurity and other fields such as finance and healthcare.

Quantum computing resembles Artificial Intelligence (AI) in some ways. AI before ChatGPT’s launch in 2022 was understood mostly by scientists. Scientists had been quietly producing breakthroughs to accelerate the field but there was no firm understanding of when AI would be commercially useful.

Two Decades Out

Nvidia’s Jensen Huang has said that quantum computing is much farther away than five years. At an analyst event at the CES trade show in Las Vegas in January, Huang predicted practical uses for quantum computers are about 20 years away.

“If you kind of said 15 years… that’d probably be on the early side,” Huang said, “If you said 30, it’s probably on the late side. But if you picked 20, I think a whole bunch of us would believe it.”

Huang’s comments ripped about $8 billion in market value from a handful of quantum computing stocks. The sector was given a boost in December when Google announced it had cracked a key challenge in the field with its new chips.

Google has been working on its quantum computing program since 2012 and has designed and built several quantum chips. By using quantum processors, Google said it had managed to solve a computing problem in minutes that would take a classical computer more time than the history of the universe.

Google’s quantum computing scientists announced another step on the path to real world applications within five years on Wednesday.

In a paper published in the scientific journal Nature, the scientists said they had discovered a new approach to quantum simulation, which is a step on the path to achieving Google’s objective.

© Thomson Reuters 2025

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

Science

Rocket Lab’s Neutron Rocket to Land at Sea, First Launch Set for 2025

Published

22 hours ago

March 11, 2025

admin

Rocket Lab’s Neutron Rocket to Land at Sea, First Launch Set for 2025

Rocket Lab has confirmed that its reusable Neutron rocket is set for its first launch in the latter half of 2025. The announcement was made during the company’s earnings call on 26 February, where Peter Beck, Founder and CEO, outlined plans to address increasing demand for medium-lift launch services. He stated that rapid development efforts are underway to bring the rocket online as quickly as possible. The Neutron rocket has been designed to serve defence, security, and scientific missions, filling a gap in the market where launch options remain limited. A new offshore barge, named “Return on Investment,” is set to be used for rocket recovery, expanding mission possibilities.

Sea-Based Landing Platform Revealed

According to Rocket Lab, a modified offshore barge will be utilised as a landing platform for the Neutron rocket’s recovery. Peter Beck highlighted that this addition will enhance operational flexibility by allowing for greater mission efficiency. The company aims to improve accessibility to space while ensuring the maximum performance of Neutron’s capabilities.

Flatellite: Rocket Lab’s New Satellite Platform

Rocket Lab has also introduced “Flatellite,” a flat satellite system engineered for large-scale deployment. Sources have reported that these satellites will be manufactured in high volumes to support large constellations. The design enables efficient stacking, allowing for multiple satellites to be launched together, optimising payload capacity. Peter Beck stated that this initiative aligns with Rocket Lab’s vision of establishing an end-to-end space service, extending its role beyond launch services to satellite operations.

Electron Launches Continue

Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket remains active, with an upcoming launch scheduled for this month. Reports indicate that an agreement has been signed with the Japanese company Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space (iQPS) for multiple missions over the next two years. According to Shunsuke Onishi, CEO of iQPS, the reliability and frequency of Electron missions align with their objectives for building a satellite constellation.

Science

Boeing Starliner Astronauts Set To Return on March 16 After 10-Month ISS Stay

Published

22 hours ago

March 11, 2025

admin

Boeing Starliner Astronauts Set To Return on March 16 After 10-Month ISS Stay

A mission initially planned for ten days has stretched into nearly ten months, with two NASA astronauts finally set to return to Earth. Astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams, who launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner on June 5, 2024, were meant to conduct a short-duration test flight to the International Space Station (ISS). However, issues with the spacecraft resulted in their prolonged stay. Their return is now scheduled for March 16, 2025, following the arrival of their relief crew.

Details of The Return

According to NASA’s flight schedule, Starliner was originally expected to bring the astronauts back, but after assessing its performance, the decision was made to return it uncrewed in September 2024. As reported, NASA instead adjusted its crew rotation plan, allocating seats for Wilmore and Williams on the SpaceX Crew Dragon, which launched as part of Crew-9. The return mission was initially scheduled for February but was delayed further due to operational constraints. The ISS program has now confirmed that their journey back will take place this month.

Crew-10 Mission Prepares for Launch

Four astronauts are set to launch aboard SpaceX’s Crew-10 mission on March 12, 2025, from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The mission, commanded by NASA astronaut Anne McClain, includes pilot Nichole Ayers, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov. Their arrival at the ISS will facilitate the Crew-9 team’s return, including Wilmore and Williams.

Adjustments in Spacecraft Selection

NASA officials have confirmed that Crew-10 will travel aboard the previously flown Dragon capsule, Endurance. The switch from a newly manufactured spacecraft was prompted by battery-related delays, leading to the decision to use a flight-proven alternative. Steve Stich, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program manager, stated during a briefing that changes in vehicle assignments are a routine part of mission planning.

Science

ISS Captures Rare Gigantic Jet, a Massive Upward Lightning Over New Orleans

Published

23 hours ago

March 11, 2025

admin

ISS Captures Rare Gigantic Jet, a Massive Upward Lightning Over New Orleans

A rare “gigantic jet” of lightning was captured in a newly released image taken from the International Space Station (ISS). The photograph, dated November 19, 2024, shows a powerful discharge of blue light extending from a thunderstorm, likely reaching around 50 miles (80 kilometers) above Earth’s surface. The image, originally not publicised by NASA or any other space agency, surfaced after photographer Frankie Lucena identified it on the Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth website. The striking phenomenon was later shared by Spaceweather.com on February 26, bringing renewed attention to these elusive atmospheric events.

Gigantic Jet Confirmed by Analysis

According to reports, the ISS had captured four photographs of lightning around the time of the event, with only one displaying a clear upward-shooting jet. The exact location of the phenomenon remains uncertain due to cloud cover, but ISS tracking data suggests it likely occurred just off the coast of New Orleans. Gigantic jets are rarely observed, with only a limited number of documented cases since their discovery in 2001.

How Gigantic Jets Form

These towering lightning bolts occur when electrical charge distributions within a thunderstorm are disrupted, causing energy to be released upwards rather than toward the ground. The distinctive blue hue results from interactions with nitrogen in the upper atmosphere. Most gigantic jets extend into the ionosphere, the electrically charged layer of Earth’s atmosphere starting around 50 miles above the surface.

Energetic Nature of Upward Lightning

Previous studies have shown that gigantic jets can carry significantly more energy than standard lightning bolts. A record-breaking event over Oklahoma in May 2018 was found to have 60 times the energy of an average strike. In addition to the main jet, faint branching red discharges, similar to sprites, can be seen in the recent ISS image, highlighting the complexity of these high-altitude electrical events.