When will quantum technologies become part of everyday life?

In a new article, scientists from UChicago and universities in the US and EU look to computing’s past to chart quantum’s future. Their conclusion: the technology is maturing rapidly, and the next challenges are related to scaling.

University of Chicago

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A student holds a semiconductor chip with electron and nuclear spin qubits in the laboratory of Prof. David Awschalom at the University of Chicago. (Jean Lachat)

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Credit: Jean Lachat

Quantum technology is accelerating out of the lab and into the real world, and a new article in Science argues that the field now stands at a turning point—one that is similar to the early computing age that preceded the rise of the transistor and modern computing.

The article, authored by scientists from University of Chicago, Stanford University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Innsbruck in Austria, and the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, offers an assessment of the rapidly advancing field of quantum information hardware, outlining the major challenges and opportunities shaping scalable quantum computers, networks, and sensors. The paper appears in the December 4, 2025, issue of Science.

“This transformative moment in quantum technology is reminiscent of the transistor’s earliest days,” said lead author David Awschalom, the Liew Family Professor of molecular engineering and physics at the University of Chicago, and director of the Chicago Quantum Exchange and the Chicago Quantum Institute. “The foundational physics concepts are established, functional systems exist, and now we must nurture the partnerships and coordinated efforts necessary to achieve the technology’s full, utility-scale potential. How will we meet the challenges of scaling and modular quantum architectures?” 

Over the past decade, quantum technologies have transitioned from fundamental laboratory demonstrations to systems capable of enabling early real-world applications in areas such as communication, sensing, and computing. The authors note that this rapid maturation has been driven by the same tri-sector collaboration that fueled the rise of microelectronics: strong ties among academia, government, and industry. 

Comparing platforms

The article surveys the current state of six leading quantum hardware platforms, including superconducting qubits, trapped ions, spin defects, semiconductor quantum dots, neutral atoms, and optical photonic qubits. To compare the progress between these platforms across the applications of computing, simulation, networking, and sensing, the authors used large language AI models such as ChatGPT and Gemini to assess the relative technology-readiness level (TRL) of each. TRLs evaluate the maturity of a technology on a scale of 1 (basic principles observed in a lab environment) to 9 (proven in an operational environment), though a higher TRL could still apply to an early-stage technology that has demonstrated a higher level of system sophistication. 

The results offer a comparative snapshot of the field’s progress. Although advanced prototypes have demonstrated system operation and public cloud access, their raw performance remains early in development. For example, many meaningful applications, including large-scale quantum chemistry simulations, could require millions of physical qubits with error performance far beyond what is technologically viable today. 

Context, therefore, is essential when evaluating technology readiness, said coauthor William D. Oliver, the Henry Ellis Warren (1894) Professor of electrical engineering and computer science, professor of physics, and director of the Center for Quantum Engineering at MIT.

“While semiconductor chips in the 1970s were TLR-9 for that time, they could do very little compared with today’s advanced integrated circuits,” he said. “Similarly, a high TRL for quantum technologies today does not indicate that the end goal has been achieved, nor does it indicate that the science is done and only engineering remains. Rather, it reflects a significant, yet relatively modest, system-level demonstration has been achieved—one that still must be substantially improved and scaled to realize the full promise.” 

Assessing challenges by looking to history

The highest TRL scores went to superconducting qubits for quantum computing, neutral atoms for quantum simulation, photonic qubits for quantum networking, and spin defects for quantum sensing. 

The authors identify several overarching challenges that must be addressed for quantum systems to scale effectively. Significant advancements in materials science and fabrication are required to enable consistent, high-quality, mass-producible devices that can be manufactured through reliable and cost-effective foundry processes. Wiring and signal delivery remain a central engineering bottleneck; most quantum platforms still require individual control channels for most qubits, and simply increasing the number of wires is not sustainable as these systems attempt to scale to the millions of qubits. (Similar problems were faced in the 1960s by computer engineers, known as the tyranny of numbers.) Power delivery, temperature management, automated calibration, and system control all pose related challenges, which will demand continuous advances as systems grow in complexity.

The article connects these engineering needs to lessons from the history of computing. Many of the most transformative developments in classical electronics—from the introduction of lithography to novel transistor materials—took years or decades to transition from laboratory research to industrial deployment. The authors argue that progress in quantum technologies will follow a similar arc. They emphasize the importance of system-level, top-down design strategies, a shared body of open scientific knowledge that avoids premature siloing, and…patience. 

“Patience has been a key element in many landmark developments,” they write, “and points to the importance of tempering timeline expectations in quantum technologies.”

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Journal

Science

DOI

10.1126/science.adz8659 

Article Title

Challenges and opportunities for quantum information hardware

Article Publication Date

4-Dec-2025

 

Aluminum prevents 'rapid aging' in high-energy batteries

Pohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)

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Schematic illustration of the suppression of double ligand hole formation via modulation of structural distortion in high-nickel cathode materials

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Credit: POSTECH

To increase driving range, electric vehicle (EV) batteries rely on high-nickel cathodes. However, this high nickel content has a critical drawback: battery performance degrades rapidly during charging and discharging. The primary cause has now been identified as internal structural distortion, which generates “oxygen holes“ that shorten the battery's lifespan—similar to how a warped pillar can crack a building's walls.

 

A research team from POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology), led by Professor Kyu-Young Park of the Department of Battery Engineering (Graduate Institute of Ferrous & Eco Materials Technology) and the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, has confirmed that this structural distortion creates “double oxygen ligand holes” (simplified as “oxygen holes”), which shortens battery life. Crucially, the team discovered that adding a small amount of aluminum (Al) to the cathode dramatically extends its lifespan by preventing the formation of these holes. The study was published online in the international journal Advanced Functional Materials.

 

There is a growing trend to increase the nickel content in EV batteries to store more energy. However, while more nickel increases energy density, it also causes capacity to fade quickly over repeated charging and discharging cycles.

 

The research team theoretically identified the fundamental mechanism behind this capacity fading: lattice structural distortion, which intrinsically occurs during the charge/discharge process. When the structure distorts, significant oxygen holes form on the oxygen atoms, which destabilizes the lattice oxygen and shortens the battery's lifespan.

 

By substituting a small amount of nickel with aluminum, the team successfully suppressed the formation of these oxygen holes. The aluminum stabilizes the structure by improving the electronic environment around the oxygen atoms. This was confirmed to significantly enhance the battery's lifespan.

 

This research is significant for identifying the cause of degradation in high-nickel cathodes at the atomic level and proposing a strategy to simultaneously improve both energy density and lifespan. It is regarded as a core technology that can enhance both the performance and safety of EV batteries.

 

“This study, which identifies the capacity degradation caused by structural distortion in high-nickel cathodes for EVs, will help expand the design possibilities for next-generation, high-performance batteries,” said Professor Kyu-Young Park, who led the research. He added, “This achievement provides a key strategy that not only improves lifespan but can also mitigate thermal runaway, a critical issue in high-nickel cathodes. We expect it to have a significant impact on the entire rechargeable battery industry.”

 

This research was supported by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE), the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT), and the Supercomputing Center of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI).

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Journal

Advanced Functional Materials

DOI

10.1002/adfm.202512501 

Article Title

Origin of Double Ligand Holes and Abnormal Inductive Effect of np6 Elements in Ni-rich Cathodes

 

Wood that bounces water off like rubber

Elastic silicone-ZnO armour gives timber superhydrophobicity that survives sandstorms, peel tests and 33 days of UV

Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts

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Elastic silicone-ZnO armour gives timber superhydrophobicity that survives sandstorms, peel tests and 33 days of UV.

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Credit: Yunnan Key Laboratory of Wood Adhesives and Glue Products, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China

The team started by soaking pine cubes in a low-cost room-temperature-vulcanising (RTV) silicone cocktail containing vinyl-triethoxysilane (VTES) and the cross-linker TEOS. Alcoholysis between RTV hydroxyls and ethoxy groups builds a flexible Si–O–Si network whose elastic modulus drops slightly but whose hardness rises 50 %, as nano-indentation reveals. Into this cushioned scaffold they grow ZnO nanorod arrays 5 µm long by a seed-hydrothermal route; rods anchor covalently through Si–O–Zn bridges, forming a micro/nano topography with a 5:1 aspect ratio. The rods’ tips poke above the silicone like miniature pikes, trapping air pockets that force water into a Cassie–Baxter state where droplets skate off at sliding angles below 10°.
Mechanical abuse tells the story: after 400 cm of 1200-grit sandpaper and a 2 kg load, contact angles still exceed 140° because fractured rods absorb energy while the elastomer underneath relaxes back, preserving roughness. XPS mapping shows Zn content on the surface drops 30 %—proof the sacrificial layer is doing its job—yet water repellence holds. Likewise, a 60 mL min⁻¹ water jet fired for 66 h removes only outermost nanorods; the underlying lattice keeps droplets bouncing, as high-speed video confirms. Even 1000 cycles of aggressive tape peel, simulating wind-blown debris, cannot expose bare wood.
Chemical warfare fares no better: dipping samples for 30 h in pH 1 hydrochloric acid or pH 13 sodium hydroxide leaves superhydrophobicity intact, whereas conventional silica-nanoparticle coatings collapse within hours. UV-A lamps at 340 nm for 33 days bleach untreated pine to a colour difference ΔE of 18; the modified face shifts only 1 unit, thanks to ZnO’s inherent UV-screening and the silicone’s visible-light reflectance. Water absorption plummets from 64 % to 7 % after two hours immersion, cutting volumetric swelling by half and delivering an anti-swelling efficiency of 56 %—critical for decking or cladding that sees rain and sun in quick succession.
The process uses no fluorine, needs only ambient curing, and works on six species—from balsa to fir—suggesting mills could retrofit existing dipping lines. With global demand for durable bio-based building materials rising, a timber that cleans itself, rejects graffiti and never needs re-sealing could command premium prices while keeping 70 million tonnes of lignin waste out of furnaces. The authors are now scaling to metre-long boards and accelerated weather chambers that mimic monsoon cycles, but they say the chemistry is ready: just dip, dry, and let the wood take the beating instead of the coating.

 

See the article:

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobab.2025.11.004

Original Source URL

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2369969825000830

Journal

Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts

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Journal

Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts

DOI

10.1016/j.jobab.2025.11.004 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Sacrificial Strategy to Fabricate Durable Superhydrophobic Wood via Hierarchical Roughness and Elastic Crosslinking

Article Publication Date

1-Dec-2025

 

Study reveals key psychological barriers to game meat consumption in Japan

Tohoku University

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Researchers employed an extended Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) framework, incorporating Food Neophobia and Prior Experience, to identify consumer barriers. Their findings demonstrate that acceptance is primarily driven by quality perceptions; Food Neophobia acts as a dominant psychological constraint, and prior experience creates distinct behavioral pathways for consumption. 

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Credit: Tomoko Imoto

A new study provides a crucial roadmap for Japan to address an escalating ecological challenge while advancing food sustainability: overcoming the psychological barriers to game meat consumption.

The research, published in the journal Food Quality and Preference on October 30,2025, analyzed consumer psychology to understand why this sustainable yet underutilized protein source remains widely rejected. The findings offer crucial insights for policymakers and industry leaders seeking to transform this ecological liability into an economic and environmental asset.

Japan faces an escalating human-wildlife conflict, with agricultural damage caused by wild animals exceeding 16 billion yen annually. Despite intensive culling efforts, the vast majority of the culled deer and wild boars are discarded. Over 80% of the meat is wasted, representing a massive loss of a nutritionally superior protein source.

"Game meat is not just an ecological solution; it is a sustainable food resource," says Tomoko Imoto, Associate Professor at Tohoku University's Graduate School of Agricultural Science, who led the research. "However, the low utilization rate is a demand-side issue. We needed to understand the mindset of the consumer to figure out why."

To identify these psychological drivers, the researchers expanded the well-established Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) framework. They incorporated two crucial external factors into the model: Food Neophobia (the reluctance to try new, unfamiliar foods) and consumers' prior experience with game meat. This comprehensive model allowed the team to rigorously evaluate how beliefs, fears, and past experiences collectively influence the intention to eat game meat.

Analyzing 537 valid responses using advanced statistical modeling (PLS-SEM), the researchers identified the key psychological factors influencing consumers' intentions. They found that consumer attitudes are two-dimensional and remain a significant predictor of willingness to eat game meat. Among the influencing factors, perceptions of taste, safety, and health proved far more decisive than ethical or sustainability considerations.

Crucially, the analysis identified Food Neophobia as a dominant psychological barrier. This "food fear" negatively influences consumers' intentions, primarily because they tend to associate the meat's unfamiliarity with poor quality. Moreover, by comparing experienced and inexperienced consumers, the model revealed that prior experience leads to distinct behavioral patterns. Among the roughly 40% of respondents who had previously tried game meat, positive personal experiences and familiarity enhanced their perceptions of quality, resulting in a markedly more accepting consumer segment.

This study extends the theoretical boundaries of the TRA framework in the context of novel foods, offering actionable insights to guide policies and marketing strategies for positioning game meat as a sustainable, high-quality food option within Japan's modern food system.

"The key lies in strengthening the supply chain with strict quality and hygiene standards," Dr. Imoto concludes. "By providing tasting opportunities and presenting game meat in familiar dish formats, we can effectively address both the quality concerns and the fear of unfamiliar foods, hopefully integrating this untapped protein source into Japan's diet."

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Journal

Food Quality and Preference

DOI

10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105768