More Quantum Quandaries and an Oil Opportunity
Before anyone asks, yes, I like alliteration.
A couple of stories I touched on in my previous post have continued to pop up in the news:
First, another step towards quantum computing has been made as scientists successfully tested a method of storing quantum information. Even though the test was successful, scientists still caution that this is a primitive method and may not store the quantum information flawlessly.
Also in quantum computing news, scientists in Korea are exploring the possibility of using carbon nanotubes to build a single electron device for use in a quantum computer. Unfortunately, they also state that we currently don’t have the necessary technology to test such a structure.
So while these two stories show that we are continuously learning more and more about quantum computing, they also show that we still have a ways to go before Bill Gates begins designing Windows Quantum. Either way, it’s great to see different fields of science combining to further innovation. It certainly seems that research in material technology (especially on carbon nanotubes) will be key in the future, and that a breakthrough in this field would result in shockwaves of innovation across the scientific community.
In a sign that robots are progressing in becoming more life-like, toddlers treated a simple robot as a fellow human. Even if this technology does not translate to adult robots with artificial intelligence, it can certainly further the future of robotic design.
Finally, there has long been debate about the world’s oil supplies. Most recently, the International Energy Agency threw their hat into the ring with a declaration that “only a massive and immediate investment in sustainable energy will prevent a global crisis.”
While it’s beyond my expertise to debate their pronouncement, I do find it very interesting to speculate what this will mean for innovation, particularly regarding bio-fuels and electric/solar powered vehicles. While the movement for a cleaner method of transportation is certainly increasing, it’s still lacking the backing from large corporations (read: people willing to throw big bucks around) that it needs to get further off the ground. Hopefully, this provides the push that the science community needs to finally develop alternative energy sources for a cleaner planet.
