December 10, 2024: Today we're covering mystery drones, an error-rate reduction for quantum computing and addiction telemedicine. —Robin Lloyd, Contributing Editor | | | Close up of playful European brown bear (Ursus arctos arctos) cubs in the woods of Finland. Dgwildlife/Getty Images | | | • The 'cosmic dark ages,' as well as the universe's first stars and galaxies, lie beyond the reach of conventional observatories—but they could be revealed by a new generation of radio telescope arrays. | 10 min read | | | Error Dip in Quantum Computing | The details of a major stride in reducing quantum computing errors emerged this week. The advance was made possible with Google's creation of a silicon chip, called Willow, which computes using 105 qubits (the counterpart to a classical computer's bits). By linking multiple qubits together, Willow forms a "logical qubit," a conglomerate that proved more resilient to errors than any of the chip's individual qubits. By some metrics, Willow boasts a rate of one-in-1,000 errors per computation cycle. The error rate of conventional computers is essentially zero. Nonetheless, the Willow error-correction advance and others, including one announced in September by partners Microsoft and Quantinuum, represent a sea change in ongoing efforts to make practical quantum computers, which in principle could outperform any classical computer, writes freelance science journalist Dan Garisto.
What the experts say: "As you make a bigger and bigger system, you get better at correcting errors, but you're also causing more errors. When you pass this transition, where you can correct errors faster than they're caused, is when making bigger and bigger systems makes it better," says quantum information theorist Daniel Gottesman.
How it works: As quantum computers increase their numbers of qubits, they typically grow more powerful but also more susceptible to errors as a result of undesired interactions between qubits and the external environment. Spreading the information in quantum computing across logical qubits can counteract the problem, but conglomerates become more error-prone as they grow in size. Willow bucks this trend: as the size of its logical qubits grew, the error rate dropped precipitously, opening a path to more scalable quantum computing. | | | Rensburg/Alamy Stock Photo | | | An uptick in reports of drones and unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs) in New Jersey and New York in the past several weeks has prompted some local, state and federal responses. None of the craft appeared to operate in a stealthy manner. New Jersey governor Phil Murphy says the sightings are under investigation, but there is currently no threat to the public, reports Scientific American editor Lee Billings. Some eyewitnesses have submitted geolocated reports and recordings using an app made by Enigma Labs, a New York City-based start-up. For video of some of these reports, check out our story.
Why this is interesting: Recent observers describe a large, triangular craft shining too brightly to be conventional aircraft, fast-moving craft that appear small next to helicopters and some that probably are just conventional aircraft. Given the range in the content and quality of the reports, it's uncertain whether there is a clear pattern, says Enigma Labs' marketing head Christine Kim.
What this matters: Reports put some of the drones over the U.S. Army's Picatinny Arsenal, about 40 miles west of Manhattan, as well as over other sensitive military facilities, major waterways and municipal reservoirs. | | | • A rule that allows people to be prescribed the opioid-use-disorder drug buprenorphine via telemedicine expires at the end of December 2025 and should be made permanent, writes Robert Kent, the former general counsel in the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. Proposed limitations to the rule, advanced largely by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, are meant to prevent illegal sales of the drug. But there's no evidence that the rule has resulted in increased so-called diversion of the medication. | 5 min read | | | • Here's today's Spellements puzzle! See how many words you can find and send your best science words to games@sciam.com. Have fun! In recent days, Spellements player Anike, in Toronto, found "alogia," and Benjamin found "catenate." | | | DIY firearms, or "ghost guns," gained attention following last week's killing of United Healthcare's CEO Brian Thompson. These weapons can be made with kits and typically lack serial numbers for tracing by law enforcement. Check out Scientific American's past coverage of 3-D printed plastic guns and other ghost gun and 3-D printed weapon technological advances, as well as their associated risks.
On a much lighter note, let's celebrate the 12th anniversary of The Globe & Mail's story (paywalled), "Stylish but illegal monkey found roaming Toronto IKEA," with its accompanying photo of a macaque wearing a shearling coat. The news, along with social media posts, yielded an enduring, adorable monkey meme. | We always like to hear from you. Keep sending feedback, reflections and suggestions to: newsletters@sciam.com. | —Robin Lloyd, Contributing Editor | | Subscribe to this and all of our newsletters . | | | | Scientific American
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