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HEST Investments, a private equity firm specializing in biotech, life sciences, and technology, announced a $1 million strategic investment in American Binary, a company focused on post-quantum encryption. This investment, completed in late 2023, is aimed at strengthening digital security as quantum computing emerges as a powerful force capable of breaking traditional encryption methods. American Binary’s cutting-edge solutions will help protect sensitive information from potential quantum threats. With the advent of quantum computing, current encryption techniques are becoming increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks. American Binary is at the forefront of developing quantum-resistant encryption, ensuring that both businesses and governments can safeguard their [...]

by Amara Graps The BB84 protocol In 1984, Brassard and Bennett presented their 4-page, conference paper,  which described the BB84 algorithm, thus fixing in history the first quantum cryptography protocol for the Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) concept. The BB84 algorithm is still in-use today. See BB84’s roots to physics principles in the first words of their Abstract: When elementary quantum systems, such as polarized photons, are used to transmit digital information, the uncertainty principle gives rise to novel cryptographic phenomena unachievable with traditional transmission media […]  --Brassard and Bennett Given that QKD distributes cryptographic keys produced by quantum techniques across terrestrial and [...]

PsiQuantum is set to open a ‘Test & Characterization’ lab at Griffith University’s Nathan Campus in Brisbane, Australia, expected to be operational by early 2025. Announced by co-founder Pete Shadbolt, the lab will focus on critical testing for high-performance subsystems as PsiQuantum progresses toward building its first utility-scale quantum computer in Brisbane. The lab will handle both cryogenic and room-temperature subsystems and integrate its findings into production pathways. It will also offer training and collaboration opportunities for engineers and physicists, supporting the company’s global facilities. This expansion follows PsiQuantum’s partnerships with Queensland universities, supporting quantum education and research. Griffith University views [...]

D-Wave Quantum Inc., a leading provider of quantum computing systems, software, and services, has joined the Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE) as a corporate partner. This collaboration aims to advance quantum education and industry adoption efforts. D-Wave, which serves various industries by solving complex computational problems in optimization, research, and artificial intelligence, plans to engage with the CQE community on materials science research, quantum education, and practical optimization use cases for manufacturing and logistics. David Awschalom, a professor at the University of Chicago and director of the CQE, emphasized the potential of quantum computing to address significant societal challenges and the importance [...]

by Amara Graps What Will Be Quantum Technology’s First ‘Killer App’? Quantum researchers have addressed this question since 2019 in their research articles, in a variety of (sometimes surprising) ways. O'Brien et al., 2019 proposed the answer was quantum chemistry with a focus on the FeMoco molecule, while von Burg et al., 2021 agreed that quantum chemistry, in particular, the calculation of quantum electronic energies in molecular systems, was the killer application. Lau et al., 2022 pondered the question, but didn’t have an answer. Instead, they offered a comparison timeline for classical computers to demonstrate their effectiveness, including the period when [...]

Mesa Quantum, a quantum sensing startup, has secured $3.7 million in seed funding led by J2 Ventures, with participation from SOSV. This funding will support Mesa Quantum in building a new R&D facility, hiring top technical talent, and advancing the commercialization of its chip-scale quantum sensors. The company’s technology targets defense, energy, telecommunications, and other sectors, focusing on alternatives to Global Positioning System (GPS), which is vulnerable to disruptions like jamming. Mesa Quantum aims to offer more resilient Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) solutions using quantum sensors, crucial in GPS-denied environments. In addition to this funding, the company has been awarded [...]

By Amara Graps The most astonishing feature of the quantum computing field to newcomers is the variety of methods (‘modalities’) to make a qubit. With the state-of-the-art today, what evidence, if any, is there for particular applications that are better suited to particular quantum computing modalities? GQI’s Doug Finke says in a recent Laser Focus article : We aren’t at the point yet where we can definitely say which quantum applications will be able to provide commercially useful results on which machines. But the one thing that makes us optimistic is the diversity of innovative approaches and rapid advances organizations are [...]

By Amara Graps 45+ years ago, the availability of Apple I, II, Commodore, Kim and other personal computers, inspired a generation of hobbyists, who relished accessing the computer’s 6502 chip. I worked in a group at NASA-Ames, where we kept a half-dozen extra Apple IIs for parts to maintain the operations of our ‘portable’ infrared astronomy, data-acquisition system. One (left in this team photo) of the astronomy team members wrote the code closest to the Apple II’s hardware, which was in 6502 assembly-language; code that looked similar to this. 6502-Hobbyists should not throw out their old Apple II 6502 Assembly Language [...]

Although many organizations will be able to implement the new NIST PQC algorithms in software using their existing computers, other applications, particularly small IoT (Internet of Things) devices may need a dedicated chip for this function because their IoT device doesn't have the performance to process the PQC algorithms along with the other things it is doing. And other organizations may want to develop an SoC (System on a Chip) device that integrates the PQC processing functionality along with other functions on a single piece of silicon. For those applications, PQShield has developed an initial test chip that implements the first [...]