Three Scientists Win 2025 Nobel Prize for Quantum Discovery

Published OCT 7

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Above: (L-R) The portraits of John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret and John M. Martinis. Image copyright: Christine Olsson/TT/TT NEWS AGENCY/AFP/Getty Images

The Spin

Techno-optimist narrative

The 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics is a monumental breakthrough that bridges the gap between quantum mechanics and the tangible world. Clarke, Devoret and Martinis proved that quantum effects can operate on macroscopic scales through Josephson junctions. This foundational 1985 work directly enables today's quantum computing revolution and advances in cryptography.

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Techno-skeptic narrative

Quantum computing remains plagued by controversy and overhype despite decades of promises. Microsoft's disputed claims about topological qubits show researchers can't even agree on basic results. The technology won't deliver practical applications for at least another decade, risking a quantum winter when disappointed investors flee.

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