This week’s edition of The Prototype explores new discoveries about dark energy, the state of the quantum technology industry, using magnetic nanoparticles to combat cancer, and more. Sign up to receive The Prototype in your inbox here.
NSF’s NOIRLab
Nearly a century ago, physicist and Catholic priest Georges Lemaître first proposed the theory of the Big Bang – suggesting that the universe originated from an explosion and has been expanding ever since. While scientists initially believed that the universe’s expansion would eventually slow down due to gravity, it was discovered about 30 years ago that the rate of expansion is actually accelerating.
To explain this phenomenon, physicists introduced the concept of “dark energy” as a potential force driving the universe’s expansion over time. To delve deeper into this theory, the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) was constructed. This instrument allows for the study of distant galaxies billions of light years away, providing insights into the workings of dark energy by leveraging the speed of light to observe different epochs of the universe.
The results of a three-year study on the universe have now been published, revealing a surprising revelation. It appears that the nature of dark energy evolves over time, contrary to the existing model that assumes it to be constant. This discovery raises questions about whether dark energy undergoes changes and weakens over time, potentially impacting the universe’s expansion in varying ways.
With new tools for measuring dark energy being introduced in the coming years, scientists aim to gain a better understanding of its properties and evolution.
Stay tuned.
Quantum Computing Companies Generated Over $1 Billion In Revenue In 2024
Boston Globe via Getty Images
Quantum technology companies collectively earned revenues exceeding $1.4 billion in 2024, as indicated by a recent report from the Quantum Economic Development Consortium. Of this revenue, over $1 billion was attributed to quantum computing companies, with the remainder coming from quantum sensing applications.
The industry received a total investment of $5.7 billion last year, with $3.1 billion from government sources and $2.6 billion from venture capital. The report highlights the United States as the leading country in terms of pure-play quantum tech companies, followed by the United Kingdom and Canada.
Projections suggest that revenues in both quantum technology sectors will triple in the coming years, with quantum computing companies expected to generate around $2.2 billion in revenue by the end of 2027, and quantum sensing reaching $915 million by 2028. Currently, the U.S. and Canada account for nearly half of the global quantum computing market, states the report.
The anticipated growth in quantum sensing applications, which utilize quantum mechanics principles to measure various data points, is foreseen across multiple industries. Sectors like defense see potential in this technology as an alternative to GPS satellites, while healthcare aims to leverage its sensitivity for enhanced patient monitoring and diagnostics.
DISCOVERY OF THE WEEK: CANCER-FIGHTING NANOPARTICLES
Scientists at Oregon State University have developed a novel type of magnetic nanoparticle with potential applications in cancer treatment. These nanoparticles are combined with a special protein that guides them to ovarian tumors. By applying magnets to heat the nanoparticles to high temperatures, the cancer cells can be effectively destroyed. The efficacy of this technology has been successfully demonstrated in mice by the research team.
FINAL FRONTIER: BUTCH AND SUNI RETURN TO EARTH
Following an intended week-long mission on the International Space Station that extended to nine months, astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have finally returned to Earth this week. Joining them on the return journey were NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. Upon the SpaceX capsule’s splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean, they were greeted by a pod of dolphins in the vicinity.
WHAT ELSE I WROTE THIS WEEK
In my other newsletter, InnovationRx, my colleague Amy Feldman and I explored the uncertainties surrounding vaccine policies, gender differences in GLP-1 drug side effects, the complexities of using AI for epidemic prediction, and more.
I stepped in for my colleague Rashi Shrivastava on Forbes’ AI newsletter, The Prompt, where I covered topics such as Meta achieving a one billion download milestone for its open-source LLM Llama, Google’s latest AI models for robots, AI chatbots refusing tasks, and more.
On the Forbes YouTube channel, I sat down with my colleague Brittany Lewis to discuss the repercussions of the Trump Administration’s budget cuts on the scientific community and their potential impact on America’s technological and economic standing.
SCIENCE AND TECH TIDBITS
A star in the binary star system T Corona Borealis is anticipated to undergo an explosion next week, visible without a telescope for a few days in the Northern Hemisphere. (Technically, the explosion occurred 3,000 years ago, but it takes time for the light to reach us.)
In the future, you might be able to enjoy private phone audio without headphones, courtesy of audio engineering research published this week, demonstrating how sound can be precisely directed using ultrasonic beams.
A French researcher was denied entry to the United States due to criticism of Trump Administration policies regarding scientific research.
Brain computer interface company Synchron is partnering with Nvidia to develop an AI model trained on human neural activity, facilitating the creation of new features for its hardware.
The greenhouse gas methane can now be converted into biodegradable plastics through a new fermentation process.
PRO SCIENCE TIP: SHARE MEALS WITH FRIENDS
If you’ve been feeling low lately, one simple way to enhance your well-being is by inviting friends for a meal. Researchers at University College London report that individuals who regularly share meals exhibit higher levels of life satisfaction and positive emotions compared to those who dine alone. In fact, the study suggests that sharing meals is a stronger predictor of happiness than income or other economic factors.
WHAT’S ENTERTAINING ME THIS WEEK
Actor Bruce Willis celebrated his 70th birthday this week, prompting me to revisit the film where he delivered his standout performance: Death Becomes Her. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, this dark comedy features Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn, satirizing society’s fixation on beauty and youth – a theme that remains relevant even 33 years later. The film showcases pioneering special effects using early CGI techniques and includes one of my favorite Bruce Willis line deliveries: “I don’t want to live forever. I mean, it sounds good, but what am I gonna do? What if I get bored?” It’s currently available for streaming on Peacock.
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