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Quantum China, Burning Satellites, Metalenses, and the Arrow of Time
This week’s science bits from SWTG
Sabine Hossenfelder
March 12, 2025
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China Makes Amazing Quantum Computing Progress – and No One Takes Notice
Image: The cooling system of the Zuchongzhi quantum computer. Credits: USTC
Researchers from the University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei announced remarkable progress with their quantum computer. Called Zuchongzhi-3 (after Zu Chongzhi, a famous Chinese mathematician), it works with superconducting circuits like Google. Their new system also has 105 qubits, the same as Google’s Willow. Google reported in December that they were able to perform a calculation in 5 minutes that would have taken a supercomputer 10^25 years. The analyst firm Global Quantum Intelligence has found that the two computers are basically on par in all measures. Paper here.
This week’s episode of Science News is about time passing in two directions. Why time passes is one of the biggest mysteries in physics, as the fundamental laws of nature don’t reflect a difference between moving forward and backward in time. In a new paper, researchers have shown that time might actually be able to run in two directions, meaning we might have a twin universe where time runs opposite our universe’s. Let’s take a look. This week’s video also comes with a quiz, which you can take here.
Speaking of quizzes, you can now create and share your own quizzes on QuizWithIt for free! Each quiz has a unique URL, can be embedded into websites or newsletter, and be shared on social media. Happy quizzing!
4-5 Starlink Satellites Burn Up in Atmosphere Each Day
According to a report from The Watchers, approximately 4-5 Starlink satellites are burning up in the upper atmosphere each day as part of SpaceX's planned retirement of older first-generation satellites. This process involves intentionally lowering the satellites' orbits so they fully disintegrate upon re-entry, leaving no debris behind. However, scientists have expressed worries about potential pollution, particularly the release of metallic vapors like aluminum oxides, which could damage the ozone layer.
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Ultraflat Metalenses Without Colour Distortion
The new metalens. Credits: Menon Lab
Scientists from the University of Utah have made great progress with metalenses: They have succeeded with focusing all colors of the rainbow at one point. Metalenses are ultrathin, flat lenses – less than a millimeter thick – that use nanostructures to manipulate light. A problem with these metalenses has so far been chromatic aberration, where different colors focus at different points, causing distortion. The researchers were now able to develop a metalens suitable for astrophotography that eliminates this issue and competes with normal, curved lenses. Press release here. Paper here.
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