Quantum could solve productivity problems and kidney disease found to severely impact children

Archer Materials’ October newsletter covers its latest research with the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) on improving electron spin coherence, boosting Australia’s productivity through quantum, the largest computer with 6100 qubits, and Kidney Research UK releasing a report showing chronic kidney diseases’ (CKD) impact.

Archer and EPFL bolster qubit spin coherence

In collaboration with Archer’s research partner, the EPFL team recently improved electron spin coherence performance for its qubit, which helps quantum function. As published in ACS Nano, Archer and EPFL validated their model by engineering atomic defects like carbon vacancies and hydrogen chemisorption, to show spin polarisation spreads over ~5 nm in its carbon nanosphere material.

Investment in quantum could boost Australia’s productivity

New technologies are seen to help Australia out of its productivity slump. There has been a lot of talk about AI as a key lever but its quantum computing that could really bolster classic systems, as it speeds up processes and enables more solutions. But the leap won’t happen by inertia. There are calls for a coordinated national strategy through more investment in quantum education, stronger bridges between research and industry, and the ambition to build foundational quantum companies on Australian soil, not just be users of foreign platforms.

The largest quantum computer yet with 6100 qubits

The California Institute of Technology has built what is known to be the largest quantum computer yet with 6100 qubits. It is made of an array of 6100 ultracold caesium atoms controlled by lasers. Although, researchers believe that if quantum computers are to be useful, they will need more qubits than this to function. California Institute of Technology is now looking to run error proof computations. Archer’s carbon-based qubit materials, its 12CQ product, looks to help quantum function at warmer temperatures, rather than the current ultracold temperatures.

CKD found to severely impact children, better testing needed

A new report commissioned by Kidney Research UK reveals that rare kidney diseases, though individually uncommon, contribute disproportionately to the burden of kidney failure and transplant demand. Key findings outline the impact of CKD particularly on children, including those on dialysis often miss more than 100 school days per year, and many endure years of delay before diagnosis, limited access to novel therapies, and exclusion from clinical trials, especially for children. The report estimates dialysis costs for rare kidney diseases to the UK’s National Health Service at £263 million per year. One of the report’s recommendations to combat this is to have faster diagnosis and better access to testing.