Daily Archives: December 16, 2023

Proof God, Prayer Transforms Public Schools? How Atheists’ Antics Could Inadvertently Fuel Spread of the Gospel – Faithwire

Posted: December 16, 2023 at 2:05 pm

A Christian leader on a mission to bring the Bible and truth to public school kids said atheist activists recent attacks on his organization have helped spread the word about his efforts.

Listen to them on the latestepisodeof Quick Start

Joel Penton, founder and CEO of LifeWise Academy and author of During School Hours: WHY and HOW LifeWise Academy is Reinstalling Religious Education into the Public School Day, told CBN Digital his organization offers something truly compelling to American youths.

LifeWise Academy provides Bible education to public school students during school hours, which to most people sounds crazy, because of the whole separation of church and state and how the Bible has been removed from the public school day, Penton said. But what very few people realize is that, in 1952, the Supreme Court actually ruled that public school students can be released from school during school hours to receive religious instruction.

Such instruction must unfold off school property, be privately funded, and the kids participating must have parental permission. Penton said the legal reality of this has flown under the radar for 70 years.

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He launched LifeWise Academy a few years ago after learning about the 1952 Release Time ruling in the Zorach v. Clauson Supreme Court case that found such instruction is constitutional and permissible, allowing kids to get religious instruction during the school day.

Penton launched with just two schools in 2019, with the effort quickly exploding to more than 340 schools across 15 states. Once a week, kids are bussed from their public schools to a local church or facility, with the schedule churning and rotating. For some schools with a plethora of kids in the program, the buses continue to run throughout the day as new groups shuffle to and from LifeWise.

With LifeWise making such a massive splash, it didnt take long for the organization to come into the crosshairs of the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), an atheist activist group based in Madison, Wisconsin. The group recently took action to dissuade schools from taking part.

They sent a letter out to every single superintendent in the state of Ohio, in part, because LifeWise is spreading so rapidly in Ohio, and next year we will be in a full quarter of the 600 school districts in the state, Penton said. But the letter didnt necessarily make a strong case for why schools shouldnt allow this type of thing.

He said the FFRF simply wanted to let schools know they dont have to allow LifeWise Academy, which, legally speaking, is true. In Ohio, districts can decline to allow students to use the Release Time ruling, though they are also free to allow the implementation of such programs if they so choose.

Public school districts under Ohio law arent legally required to authorize release time for students to attend religious instruction off-campus during school hours, the FFRF wrote.

But Penton said the FFRF actually made a really great case for why LifeWise and other programs like it are perfectly legal and permissible for districts to engage in. He also responded to the atheists letter with a fair amount of gratitude for the attention it garnered.

We were asked to make a public comment about them sending this letter, because we heard about it and, of course, we publicly thanked the Freedom From Religion Foundation for investing their time and money to spread the word about LifeWise, Penton said. Because when people learn about it, they tend to get pretty excited, and the people that dont like it are a very, very small minority.

Penton also discussed the fact that less than 20% of the kids participating in LifeWise attend church regularly. Meanwhile, in some schools, 80-90% of the student body opts to take part.

We have one school that has over a thousand students in the school, he said. And over 900 of them are enrolled in LifeWise Academy.

I would say the Freedom from Religion Foundation realizes that theres a lot of kids that are currently outside the faith that are being brought in and receiving Bible education, Penton said. Which, of course, is a wonderful thing, and it bothers them.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost recently responded to the FFRFs letter with his own note, informing superintendents across Ohio that theyre legally permitted to participate in LifeWise and other programs like it.

[He] said, just to clarify, release time is entirely legal, Penton said. I have to say it was amazing.

But far beyond platitudes and areas of debate, Penton said he believes theres evidence LifeWise Academy is very literally helping kids in all areas of their lives.

For now, Penton is focused on massive growth throughout new states and locations. Find out more about LifeWise Academy here.

***As the number of voices facing big-tech censorship continues to grow, please sign up forFaithwires daily newsletterand download theCBN News app, developed by our parent company, to stay up-to-date with the latest news from a distinctly Christian perspective.***

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Western Colorado Atheists and Freethinkers to run holiday billboard AnneLandmanBlog.com – AnneLandmanBlog.com

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WCAFs 2023 winter solstice billboard will be up at First and Ouray from Dec. 20-26, 2023

Western Colorado Atheists and Freethinkers (WCAF), the western slopes longest-established secular organization, will run a holiday billboard to commemorate the 2023 winter solstice.

The digital billboard will be up from 12/20-12/26 on the northeast corner of First Street and Ouray Ave., across the street from Bicycle Outfitters and Thai No. 9. There is plenty of free parking on the street so people can stop, get out of their cars and admire the billboard, and plenty of sidewalk space to stand on to take pictures of it.

Western Colorado Atheists and Freethinkers was established in 2007 to give a voice to atheists and other nonreligious western slope residents. WCAF also serves as a watchdog for separation of church and state locally. The group has a page on their website where people can report violations of separation of church and state.

WCAF successfully fought mandatory student participation in religious high school baccalaureates, awarded a $4,325 scholarship to a Delta High School student who exposed the Christian proselytizingin Delta County public schools, prevailed in a fight over on-campus Bible giveaways at Colorado Mesa University, successfully stopped CMU from forcing nursing students to accept Bibles at their pinning ceremonies, pushed the City of Grand Junction to allow anyone, not just religious people, to offer invocations at City Council meetings, donated money to the Food Bank of the Rockies, held road cleanups,exposed the anti-atheist bias of long-time former Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce President Diane Schwenke, and much more.

The group holds meetings monthly, usually at a local coffee bar. You can also connect with WCAF and follow the group on their Facebook page.

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This is the Smallest Country in the World Its Entire Population Could Fit in a Chair – AZ Animals

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Aerial view of Sealand in the North Sea.

Ryan Lackey / CC BY 2.0 License

When you think of the smallest country in the world, you might think of Vatican City. Technically, you would be right. However, the smallest country in the world is Sealand. The difference is in how other countries recognize the two.

For example, Vatican City is a city-state within Rome; it is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church. The Pope lives there among Vatican Museums, works of iconic art, and historical architecture. Only about 800 people live in Vatican City. Most countries recognize Vatican City not only as the smallest country in the world but also as an independent sovereign state.

Sealand, on the other hand, is an unrecognized micronation about seven miles off the coast of Suffolk, England. It has its own flag, currency, and government. Only one person permanently lives there. Sealand sits atop a sea fort built by the British in 1942 to protect the coast from German bombers during World War II. The problem, however, is that no country in the world recognizes Sealand as a sovereign state. Nevertheless, to some, Sealand is the smallest country in the world.

In the beginning, no one intended for Sealand to be a country, let alone the smallest country in the world. The United Kingdom built Roughs Tour in 1943, during World War II, to defend the coast from German bombers. It sat about seven miles from the coast of Suffolk, England.

In 1967, Major Paddy Roy Bates, a British pirate radio broadcaster, took over Roughs Tower. He intended to broadcast his pirate radio station, Radio Essex, from the platform. However, he never began broadcasting. Instead, he founded the Principality of Sealand. Michael Bates, Roy Batess son, defended Sealand. In 1968, British workmen entered waters near the platform. Michael fired warning shots from the fort, claiming the workers had entered Sealands territorial waters. The court ruled that the platform sat outside British territorial limits. Michael considers this Sealands first instance of de facto recognition.

Roy Bates introduced Sealands constitution, national flag, national anthem, currency, passports, and an immigration stamp in 1975. There have been several conflicts and hurdles since then, including an attack in 1978, the expansion of the United Kingdoms waters in 1987, and a fire in 2006. Roy Bates died at the age of 91 in 2012. His son Michael took over the operation of Sealand.

Sealand in the North Sea.

Ashley Dace / CC BY-SA 2.0 License

Today, Michael Bates calls himself Prince Michael of Sealand. While he is the only permanent resident of Sealand, the entire Bates family claims Sealand as its own. Still, however, it is the smallest country in the world.

By some accounts, Sealand has a population of 27 people. However, it measures only 1,800 square feet. Therefore, most of those people live full-time in the United Kingdom.

Michael Bates inherited Sealand from his parents, Roy and Joan Bates. He moved to Sealand permanently with his parents and sister Penelope in 1967. When Roy died in 2012, Michael took over as the reigning Prince of Sealand. While he is a permanent resident of Sealand, he also spends time in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, United Kingdom because he wants his children to go to English schools.

Three years after Roy died, in 2015, Michael published a memoir called Principality of Sealand: Holding the Fort, about his life experience with Sealand. And then, in 2017, he hosted a dinner to honor the 50th anniversary of Sealand, the smallest country in the world.

The Principality of Sealand is located in the North Sea.

Ryan Lackey / CC BY 2.0 License

Sealand governs its small state as hereditary royal rulers, like a monarchy. However, Michael said he envisions a future that is representative and democratic. Michael said, We have been looking into technologies that could help us do this without a bloated and hugely bureaucratic system.

The smallest country in the world even has its own sports teams including the Sealand Seahawks and She-Hawks in American Football, which participate globally. They host an annual charity swim event from Sealand to the United Kingdom. The country also claims to have teams competing under the Sealand flag in curling, ice hockey, and long-distance running.

Sealand sits about seven miles off the coast of the United Kingdom in waters that the United Kingdom actually claims. It sits in the North Sea, a body of water that lies between Great Britain, Denmark, Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. The North Sea is one of the most dangerous seas in the world, known for its wild storms and foggy winters. The North Sea is mostly shallow, so the currents are strong and often pull in different directions. Even though the North Sea is dangerous, it is vital for international trade.

The photo featured at the top of this post is Ryan Lackey / CC BY 2.0 License / Original

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The 3 Most Undervalued Quantum Computing Stocks to Buy in December – InvestorPlace

Posted: at 2:04 pm

Economists outlooks of avoiding a recession now seem likely with CPI inflation down to 3.1% for December 2023, marking a slight decrease from the previous month of 3.2%.

In light of the recent CPI index data, 67% of economists now believe the economy will not sink into a recession over the next coming year. While uncertainty remains on interest rates, 17% of economists foresee a rate reduction in the first quarter of 2024. And, another 40% believe in an upcoming rate reduction in the second quarter. This reflects a general consensus of the economy thriving in 2024.

So, now is the time to catch companies before they break out. These three carefully curated quantum computing stocks will generate tremendous value for investor portfolios.

Source: Michael Vi / Shutterstock.com

First, PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:PYPL) is down around 7.52% to $58.94 in the past year, putting it in an attractive position for investors. The global banking and financial services market will grow at a 7.9% CAGR from 2023 to 2030.

PYPL boasts strong financials. Revenue year over year (YOY) increased 8.36% to $7.42 Billion, and EPS is up 20.37% to $1.30. Additionally, cash and short-term investments increased by 6.43% to $11.55 billion. Further, net change in cash has gone up to $968.00 million, showing confidence and stability in its financials.

Recently, PayPal Holdings has been down on concerns of slowing growth. However, like most technology darlings during the pandemic, PYPL experienced accelerated growth in 2019, 2020, and 2021. The slowdown appears to be a simple return to the mean. Similarly, this happened with Netflix when its user growth appeared to slow but then grew again in the following quarters.

Despite these concerns about user growth, the fundamentals continue to perform well. New management has stressed the importance of delivering value to shareholders through improved margins and stock buybacks. Impressively, the new CEO Alex Chriss hails from Intuit. Also, the business model is well diversified with a Stripe and Square competitor in the portfolio.

Accordingly, Yahoo Finance analysts see the value PYPL holds for future growth, with every analyst labeling it as a buy. Given the stock currently sits at $58.94, many feel it is undervalued. This new contract primes PYPL for an explosion in price.

Source: JHVEPhoto / Shutterstock.com

Intel Incorporated (NYSE:INTC) is a semiconductor and software company, best known for its world leading Central Processing Units (CPU) that it designs and manufactures. Yahoo! Finance has 36 analysts predicting a 1-year price range on QCOM to be between $17.00 and $56.00, with a mean of $44.04.

INTC has robust financials. In fact, $14.6 billion revenue for Q3 2023 beat analyst expectations by $540.4 million. INTC shows great signs of profitability with a 15.6% EBIDTA margin, well above the sector median. The stock even shows signs of being undervalued with a price/book ratio of 1.84, significantly lower than the sector median.

Intel Incorporated demonstrates its potential for growth through new government regulations and the factory expansion. The company will greatly benefit from approval of the CHIPS and Science Act. This law will fund over $280 billion for domestic research and manufacturing of semiconductors, subsidizing INTCs future growth. Also, its currently in the process of developing a $20-billion mega-factory in central Ohio. This $20 billion structure will add massive value to the companys total revenue once completed.

Source: Amin Van / Shutterstock.com

IonQ Incorporated (NYSE:IONQ) leads in quantum computing hardware and software, utilizing trapped ion technology. Analysts on Yahoo! Finance predict its one-year stock price between $14.00 and $21.00, averaging $17.80, with the current price at $12.76.

The quantum computing industry is set to reach $4.37 billion by 2028, growing at a 38.1% CAGR. Factors include increased use in finance and drug development simulations, potentially saving years.

IONQ is poised for substantial growth for several compelling reasons. First, the company has already demonstrated the practical viability of its quantum computing technology. The successful operation of its 29AQ machine results in both commercial success and significant contributions to scientific research.

Second, the companys expanding clientele includes major players such as Hyundai, Airbus, GE Research, Goldman Sachs, and the U.S. Air Force Research Lab. These attest to the increasing commercial adoption and trust in IONQs capabilities.

Finally, the imminent release of the AQ64 promises unparalleled computing power at an affordable price. Further, it positions IONQ to capture a substantial share of the rapidly growing quantum computing market. This is especially relevant as it addresses key challenges such as temperature issues through its trapped ion technology operating at room temperature.

On the date of publication, Michael Que did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.comPublishing Guidelines.

Michael Que is a financial writer with extensive experience in the technology industry, with his work featured on Seeking Alpha, Benzinga and MSN Money. He is the owner of Que Capital, a research firm that combines fundamental analysis with ESG factors to pick the best sustainable long-term investments.

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Disruptive Concepts: Quantum Revolution The Interconnected World of Krylov and Nielsen Complexity – Medium

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Artistic depiction of the concept of quantum complexity, symbolizing the intricate nature of quantum systems.

Imagine stepping into a world where the laws of physics as we know them take a back seat, and a new set of rules, governed by quantum mechanics, reigns supreme. This is the world of quantum systems, a field so bewildering yet fascinating that it captures the imagination of scientists and enthusiasts alike. Today, were going to embark on an exciting journey into the depths of quantum evolution, exploring a groundbreaking study that links two complex concepts: Krylov and Nielsen complexity. This exploration is not just a theoretical exercise; it has profound implications for the future of quantum computing and our understanding of the quantum universe.

Before we dive deeper, lets break down these complex terms. In the realm of quantum physics, understanding how information spreads in a system is crucial. This is where Krylov complexity comes into play. It measures how a quantum state evolves over time, spreading across different levels of a quantum system.

On the other hand, Nielsen complexity approaches quantum evolution from a different angle. It is used in quantum computing and algorithms, focusing on finding the most efficient way to evolve one quantum state into another. Think of it as a GPS for quantum states, finding the shortest route from point A to point B in the complex network of quantum evolution.

The study we are focusing on, titled A Relation between Krylov and Nielsen Complexity, does something extraordinary. It finds a connection between these two seemingly unrelated aspects of quantum theory. This discovery is akin to finding a hidden bridge between two distant islands, each representing a different perspective on quantum evolution.

The researchers embarked on this journey by comparing the time-averaged Krylov complexity with the late-time value of the upper bound on Nielsen complexity. They found that despite their different starting points and applications, both complexities could be expressed through specific mathematical formulas that showed a tantalizing similarity. This revelation is not just a

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Chinese SpinQ ships "undisclosed" superconducting Quantum Processing Units (QPUs) to the Middle East market … – Tom’s Hardware

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This week, Shenzhen, China-based company SpinQ claimed the shipment of the first China-made Quantum Processing Unit (QPU), Shaowei, based on superconducting qubit technology. The claim that SpinQ is now the first Chinese quantum-focused company to sell its technologies beyond mainland China - whilst leveraging a superconducting qubit design setup at that - seems to point to a newfound source of quantum processing chips for any global players that wouldn't be easily provided for by the western market. According to SpinQ, the recipient of its Shaowei chips (and the first international customer of the company's product) is located somewhere in the Middle East.

Qubits are the quantum computing equivalent of a classical bit; while bits are deterministic and can only ever represent either a 0 or a 1, qubits are probabilistic, and consider the entire solution space between both. Recent advantages have brought quantum computing up to a point where the best products actually have enough quantum volume (a measure of a quantum computer's overall performance) to provide useful calculations that are beyond what could be possible with classical computers or even supercomputers.

Established in 2018, SpinQ recently drew our attention to its quantum processing offerings by providing "quantop" solutions: these are relatively simple, one-to-three-qubits, desktop-based quantum processing systems meant for the research and education markets. Far and away from providing any significant quantum computing capability, the "quantops" delivered by SpinQ used nuclear magnetic resonance qubits. But the new Shaowei QPU, being based on superconducting qubit technology that's theoretically similar to IBM's approach, means that the company is branching out its understanding and capability to deliver useful quantum computers. SpinQ says Shaowei utilizes a stable, all-solid-state system that's especially geared towards taking advantage of and reusing more classical chip manufacturing technology.

Considering how China keeps skirting the impact of the US technological sanctions and has achieved an internal 5 nm chip manufacturing milestone without the aid of US tech, this looks like a winning bet.

According to SpinQ, its new superconducting-qubit Shaowei chips were built completely in-house through the company's factories in the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Cooperation Zone. Its approach is much like IBM's (and like that of most quantum tech suppliers) in that the company aims to provide a "full-stack" approach to quantum computing by delivering every required element of the ecosystem: quantum processing units, low-temperature electronics, temperature and qubit measurement and control systems, as well as software and algorithm development applications.

Unfortunately, there's little information available on what exactly makes a Shaowei chip, well, tick. Qubit number and connection density are useful metrics, but SpinQ provides none. However, the company claims the coherence time for the qubits inside Shaowei is in the order of 10-100 microseconds (where a higher window of qubit coherence means the qubits are processing information without any catastrophic data loss). But in quantum computing (and every computational effort), results have to be trusted: SpinQ mentioned that Shaowei can perform both single and double-bit gate operations (in the nanosecond scale) and can achieve more than 99.9% single-bit gate fidelity and more than 98% double-bit gate fidelity. While that may sound like a lot, it really isn't: when your CPU can process millions of calculations per second, that 0.01% error rate can add up quickly, and impact the validity (and truthfulness) of the computed results.

It remains to be seen where SpinQ will take its superconducting qubits next, but it's perhaps surprising that China is already selling Quantum Processing Units overseas before 2023 comes to a close.

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The Future of Quantum Computing: Harvard Team Achieves Major Error Correction Milestone – SciTechDaily

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Quantum computing has made a significant leap forward with Harvards new platform, capable of dynamic reconfiguration and demonstrating low error rates in two-qubit entangling gates. This breakthrough, highlighted in a recent Nature paper, signals a major advancement in overcoming the quantum error correction challenge, positioning Harvards technology alongside other leading quantum computing methods. The work, a collaboration with MIT and others, marks a crucial step towards scalable, error-corrected quantum computing. Credit: SciTechDaily.com

Quantum computing technology, with its potential for unprecedented speed and efficiency, significantly surpasses the capabilities of even the most advanced supercomputers currently available. However, this innovative technology has not been widely scaled or commercialized, primarily because of its inherent limitations in error correction. Quantum computers, unlike classical ones, cannot correct errors by copying encoded data over and over. Scientists had to find another way.

Now,a new paper inNatureillustrates a Harvard quantum computing platforms potential to solve the longstanding problem known as quantum error correction.

Leading the Harvard team isquantum optics expert Mikhail Lukin, the Joshua and Beth Friedman University Professor in physics and co-director of theHarvard Quantum Initiative. The work reported in Nature was a collaboration among Harvard, MIT, and Boston-basedQuEra Computing. Also involved was the group ofMarkus Greiner, the George Vasmer Leverett Professor of Physics.

An effort spanning the last several years,the Harvard platformis built on an array ofvery cold, laser-trappedrubidium atoms. Each atom acts as a bit or a qubit as its called in the quantum world which can perform extremely fast calculations.

The teams chief innovation is configuring their neutral atom array to be able to dynamically change its layout by moving and connecting atoms this is called entangling in physics parlance mid-computation. Operations that entangle pairs of atoms, called two-qubit logic gates, are units of computing power.

Running a complicated algorithm on a quantum computer requires many gates. However, these gate operations are notoriously error-prone, and a buildup of errors renders the algorithm useless.

In the new paper, the team reports near-flawless performance of its two-qubit entangling gates with extremely low error rates. For the first time, they demonstrated the ability to entangle atoms with error rates below 0.5 percent. In terms of operation quality, this puts their technologys performance on par with other leading types of quantum computing platforms, like superconducting qubits and trapped-ion qubits.

However, Harvards approach has major advantages over these competitors due to its large system sizes, efficient qubit control, and ability to dynamically reconfigure the layout of atoms.

Weve established that this platform has low enough physical errors that you can actually envision large-scale, error-corrected devices based on neutral atoms, said first author Simon Evered, a Harvard Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences student in Lukins group. Our error rates are low enough now that if we were to group atoms together into logical qubits where information is stored non-locally among the constituent atoms these quantum error-corrected logical qubits could have even lower errors than the individual atoms.

The Harvard teams advancesare reportedin the same issue of Nature as other innovations led by former Harvard graduate studentJeff Thompson, now at Princeton University, and former Harvard postdoctoral fellowManuel Endres, now at California Institute of Technology. Taken together, these advances lay the groundwork for quantum error-corrected algorithms and large-scale quantum computing. All of this means quantum computing on neutral atom arrays is showing the full breadth of its promise.

These contributions open the door for very special opportunities in scalable quantum computing and a truly exciting time for this entire field ahead, Lukin said.

Reference: High-fidelity parallel entangling gates on a neutral-atom quantum computer by Simon J. Evered, Dolev Bluvstein, Marcin Kalinowski, Sepehr Ebadi, Tom Manovitz, Hengyun Zhou, Sophie H. Li, Alexandra A. Geim, Tout T. Wang, Nishad Maskara, Harry Levine, Giulia Semeghini, Markus Greiner, Vladan Vuleti and Mikhail D. Lukin, 11 October 2023,Nature. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06481-y

The research was supported by the U.S. Department of Energys Quantum Systems Accelerator Center; the Center for Ultracold Atoms; the National Science Foundation; the Army Research Office Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative; and the DARPAOptimization with Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum Devices program.

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University of Chicago, IBM Strike Quantum Computing Education and Research Partnership – WTTW News

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Ambassador Rahm Emanuel and officials from IBM and Japanese universities announce a new quantum education and research program. (Credit: U.S. Embassy in Japan)

IBM announced a partnership with the University of Chicago and universities in Japan and South Korea to provide education in quantum research for up to 40,000 students.

The announcement of the tri-lateral agreement took place at the residence of the U.S. Ambassador to Japan and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

Quantum research and technology is fast developing but still in its infancy. It could lead to the creation of ultra-fast and powerful quantum computers far outstripping the capabilities of current supercomputers, and could be applied to help solve complex global problems like climate change.

The agreement is meant to expand the quantum workforce and expands upon a Quantum Alliance deal the University of Chicago struck with Japans Tohoku University. That deal aims to advance the development of transformational quantum technologies.

IBM says it will participate with the universities to develop and teach quantum curriculum as well as provide mentorship and exchange programs.

The University of Chicago is excited and proud to partner with IBM, and to build on its long-standing ties to Keio University, Yonsei University, Seoul National University, and the University of Tokyo to deliver world-class programs that will prepare thousands of students for jobs and opportunities in quantum informational sciences, said Paul Alivisatos, president of University of Chicago, in a statement.

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What is IBM doing in the race towards quantum computing? – TechHQ

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Quantum computing uses electrons rather than transistors, for a much more rapid solution to complex problems. Theres every likelihood that the technology will be able to rapidly reduce current encryptions to dust. The quantum race is largely between China and a handful of western companies.

We may be on the verge of revolutionary AI problem-solving with news of IBMs quantum computing advancements. (We say may in tribute to Werner Heisenberg and his famous principle, and because nothing since has ever been entirely certain in the quantum world).

We are living in a golden age of artificial intelligence, with innovations seemingly bombarding us every day. The trend has continued with IBM announcing advancements in a new kind of computing that is capable of solving extraordinarily complex problems in just a few minutes.

Why is this newsworthy? Surely thats what all computers do?

Yes, but todays supercomputers would need millions of years to solve problems as complex as the ones IBM is making progress with.

Welcome to the wonderful world of quantum.

Quantum computing is a technology being developed by companies like IBM and Google. Operating in a fundamentally different way to classical computing, it relies on quantum bits (qubits) and principles including superposition and entanglement. As the name suggests, quantum physics is an intrinsic part of quantum computing. We may even need a quantum computer to explain how this type of computing works, but this technology is without question changing the world.

Everything we know is pushed to the limits with quantum computing. From science to finances and from AI to computational power, this supercomputer offers the potential for solutions to problems that are currently intractable for classical computers.

The revolutionary nature of quantum computing lies in its potential to transform problem-solving approaches. It has the potential to tackle previously unsolvable problems, and impact many fields worldwide. It presents a paradigm shift akin to the introduction of classical computing, though in comparison, quantum computings possibilities are on a vastly different and exponentially more powerful scale.

IBM director of research Dario Gill believes quantum computing will have a significant impact on the world, but that society is not yet prepared for such changes.

It feels to us like the pioneers of the 1940s and 50s that were building the first digital computers, he said. Its plain to see how much impact digital computers have had on the world since the 1950s, but quantum computing is another kettle of deeply unusual fish.

We are now at a stage where we can do certain calculations with these systems that would take the biggest supercomputers in the world to do, Gill explained. But the potential of this technology is only just being realized. The goal is to continue the expansion of quantum computing capabilities, so that not even a million or a billion of those supercomputers connected together could do the calculations of these future machines.

A quantum computer from IBM the future appears to be agreeably steampunk.

We have already witnessed significant progress in this field of technology, but the difference now is that Dario Gill, and others working in the quantum field, have a clear plan or strategy in place for further advancements. That means the rate of progress is only expected to accelerate possibly at a pace that will surprise the world.

Today, computers process information on transistors, something they have done since the advent of the transistor switch in 1947. Over time, however, the speed and capabilities of computers have increased substantially. This is due to the continuous advancement of technology. This enhancement stems from the strategy of densely integrating an increasing number of transistors onto a single chip, reaching a scale of billions of transistors in todays computer chips.

Computers require billions of transistors because they are in either an on or off state. Known as complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology, quantum computing is now presenting alternatives to this hallmark of classic computing.

Rather than using transistors, quantum computing encodes information and data on electrons. These particles, thanks to the rules of quantum mechanics, can exist in multiple states simultaneously, much like a coin spinning in the air. Simultaneously, it shows aspects of both heads and tails. Unlike traditional computing methods, that deal with one bit of data at a time on a transistor, quantum computing uses qubits. These can store and process exponentially more information because of their ability to exist in multiple states at once.

Classical computers require a step-by-step process when finding information or solving problems. Quantum computers, on the other hand, are capable of finding solutions much faster by handling numerous possibilities concurrently.

Like any up-and-coming technology, countries around the world are vying for quantum supremacy. Currently, private free enterprises and state-directed communism are the main competitors. In other words, the race is between China on one side, and IBM, Google, Microsoft, [and] Honeywell, according to physicist Michio Kaku. These are the big boys of quantum computing.

America has approximately 180 private firms researching quantum computing, most of which fund themselves. The US also has a number of government initiatives investing heavily in quantum research. Along with IBM, Google, and Microsoft, institutions including NASA, DARPA, and NIST are at the forefront of quantum computing and technology development.

Quantum computing bringing the sci-fi home.

China has been making substantial investments in quantum development and research for a number of years. For instance, it has several state-backed initiatives and research institutions, including the Chinese Academy of Sciences, all working on quantum technology. Large corporations, including Alibaba and Huawei, are also involved in quantum computing research.

The US government currently spends close to $1 billion a year on quantum research, whereas China has named quantum as a top national priority. New standards for encryption are to be published by the US in 2024, something that will cause waves (or potentially particles) in the quantum field.

If youre looking for revolutions in computing as big as quantum, youre probably looking back to the machine that cracked the Enigma code

The winner of this quantum race will have striking implications, as Kaku believes the nation or company that succeeds will rule the world economy.

Think OpenAI and ChatGPT, but with the potential to crack any code, open any safe, and of course, demand any price.

As we immerse ourselves in quantum computings promising possibilities and how it is a savior to all of humanitys problems, we must not forget the challenges it also faces. For instance, coherence times need to be enhanced and machines require scaling up to operate effectively with quantum computing.

Hartmut Neven, founder and manager of Googles Quantum Artificial Intelligence Lab, believes that small improvements and effective integration of existing pieces are key to building larger quantum systems. We need little improvements here and there. If we have all the pieces together, we just need to integrate them well to build larger and larger systems.

Neven and his team aim to achieve significant progress in quantum computing over the next five or six years. He believes that quantum computing holds the key to solving problems in fields like chemistry, physics, medicine, and engineering that classical computers are currently, and will always, be incapable of. You actually require a different way to represent information and process information. Thats what quantum gives you, he explained.

Further challenges persist due to the delicate nature of qubits, which are prone to errors and interference from the surrounding environment. As James Tyrrell discusses here, efforts to mitigate this noise and enhance the reliability of quantum computers are underway. The expansion of the (Quantum-Computing-as-a-Service) QCaaS ecosystem is expected to shift the focus from technical intricacies to practical applications. This will potentially allow users to harness the power of quantum computing for real-world problem-solving.

The development of quantum computing is accelerating at an exponential rate. Over the next decade or so, Dario Gil sees no reason why quantum computing can expand to thousands of qubits. He believes that systems will be built that will have tens of thousands and even a 100 thousand qubits working with each other. Where quantum technology goes from here is (thank you, Werner!) distinctly uncertain, but if the excitement is anything to go by, it may potentially have the answers to all the worlds problems.

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What is IBM doing in the race towards quantum computing? - TechHQ

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3 Stocks Leading the Quantum Computing Revolution – InvestorPlace

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In recent times, the fascination with quantum computing has surged, driven by technological advancements and a notable uptick in investments. More and more companies and institutes are performing a comprehensive exploration of the quantum-computing landscape and searching for use cases. Along these lines, investors are seeking to better understand quantum computing stocks and how they will affect various sectors.

For instance, there has been a lot of focus on the pharmaceutical industry in recent years. This industry has been affected by quantum computing through the recruitment of quantum scientists. They have set out to explore potential applications like quantum simulation in drug design.

Moreover, quantum technology holds significant implications for the financial-services sector. Particularly in the realm of security, signifying its potential to reshape how businesses and industries operate.

Here are three leading quantum computing stocks that could lead the next tech revolution.

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International Business Machines (NASDAQ:IBM) is probably the safest bet on quantum computing. And arguably one of the top quantum computation stocks one should own. IBM operates in various domains, including cloud computing, artificial intelligence and data analytics.

With a global presence, IBM provides solutions and services to enterprises, leveraging its expertise in cutting-edge technologies. Most recently, the company has increased its focus on AI and machine learning applications.

Through the IBM Quantum Network, the company collaborates with over 250 Fortune 500 companies, universities, labs. and startups. The network fosters partnerships and providing exclusive access to meetings and channels. In addition, it also facilitates collaborative efforts and close interactions with IBMs internal experts.

Most recently, IBM introduced the IBM Quantum Heron, marking the first in a new series of utility-scale quantum processors. Engineered over four years, it boasts IBMs highest performance metrics and lowest error rates among its quantum processors.

Furthermore, IBM unveiled the Quantum System Two, its inaugural modular quantum computer. The system is operational with three IBM Heron processors and associated control electronics, representing a significant step in IBMs quantum-centric supercomputing architecture.

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Quantum Computing (NASDAQ:QUBT) is the pure-play name to own in the quantum computing sector. QUBT aims to provide widely accessible and cost-effective quantum solutions for real-world business applications.

The companys model is based on vendor-neutral software and ready-to-run systems. These offer business users immediate access to various quantum processing units and quantum technologies.

The acquisition of QPhoton, a quantum photonics innovation company, enhances QUBTs capabilities with a series of quantum photonic systems (QPS). The integration of Quantums flagship software, Qatalyst, with QPhotons QPS positions the company to provide a widely accessible and cost-effective quantum solution.

Quantum achieved a significant milestone recently in commercializing its cutting-edge computing technologies, securing hardware sales of its Reservoir Computer and Quantum Random Number Generator. The Reservoir Computer reportedly exhibits exceptional speed and efficiency. These properties allows it to enhance data analysis and machine learning as well as other applications.

In Q3 2023, QUBT reported an earnings per share negative 11 cents. While this metric was up over 50% year-over-year, the aforementioned technological milestones are anticipated to bring a further boost to EPS, and QUBTs future prospects overall.

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The Redmond-based tech titan has made significant efforts in the last decade to diversify its product family and become less dependent on the sales of software products. In addition to cloud, gaming and AI, Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) has also made significant strides to improve its understanding of quantum computing technology.

For instance, the company works to highlight its work on Azure Quantum. Azures aim is to achieve scalability towards the realization of a general-purpose quantum computer. Along these lines, Azure Quantum applications are crafted to empower quantum chemists and scientists in their research endeavors.

More precisely, the tech giant says it is actively working to achieve quantum at scale by developing a stable qubit, and introducing a comprehensive, fault-tolerant quantum machine to Azure. To aid these efforts MSFT is working with a long-term approach through its lab at the University of Sydney. The lab is trying to develop quantum computers at the scale needed for applications with real impact. The project is headed by Dr. David Reilly, who has already developed a cryogenic quantum control platform.

On the date of publication, Shane Neagle did not hold (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com Publishing Guidelines.

Shane Neagle is fascinated by the ways in which technology is poised to disrupt investing. He specializes in fundamental analysis and growth investing.

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3 Stocks Leading the Quantum Computing Revolution - InvestorPlace

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