Quantum computers are computing systems that process information leveraging quantum mechanical effects. These computers rely on qubits (i.e., the quantum equivalent of bits), which can store information in a mixture of states, as opposed to binary states (0 or 1).

While quantum computers could tackle some computational and optimization problems faster and more effectively than classical computers, they are also inherently more prone to errors. This is because qubits can be easily disturbed by disturbances from their surrounding environment, also referred to as noise.

Over the past decades, quantum engineers and physicists have been trying to develop approaches to correct noise-related errors, also known as quantum error correction (QEC) techniques...

A University of Southampton study has revealed an intriguing new clue in the mystery of what triggers periods of very intense, brightly colored activity during displays of both the southern and northern lights.

Known as a “magnetospheric substorm,” this awe-inspiring phenomenon, which blankets the night sky in green and purple, is almost always preceded by what space scientists call “auroral beads”—a necklace-like wave of multiple luminous points of light which eventually evolve into the storm.

Southampton scientists have now shown there is a link between these auroral beads and the intensity of low frequency radio waves above the aurora in Earth’s magnetosphere—a vast area around our planet that is dominated...

A study conducted at Harvard University identified a group of metabolites that travel from the intestine to the liver and then to the heart, where they are pumped throughout the body. These metabolites play an important role in controlling metabolic pathways in the liver and insulin sensitivity. This discovery may contribute to future treatments for obesity and type 2 diabetes. The results were published in the journal Cell Metabolism.

“The hepatic portal vein drains much of the blood from the intestine to the liver...

Soft robots are prized for their agility and gentle touch, which makes them ideal for traversing delicate or enclosed spaces to perform various tasks, from cultivating baby corals in laboratories to inspecting industrial pipes in chemical plants. However, achieving embodied intelligence in such systems, where sensing, movement and power supply work together in an untethered configuration, remains a challenge.

Flexible materials can deform and adapt, but their power sources are unable to do so. Conventional batteries often stiffen the robot’s body, drain quickly, or degrade under strain, all of which leave soft robots tethered or with a short lifespan.

Assistant Professor Wu Changsheng and his team from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and the Department of Ele...