Over the past six years, quantum science hasnoticeably shifted, from the domain of physicists concerned with learning about the universe on extremely small scales, to a source of new technologies we all might use for practical purposes. These technologies make use of quantum properties of single atoms or particles of light. They include sensors, communication networks, and computers. Quantum technologies are expected to impactmany aspects of our society, including health care, financial services, defence, weather modelling, and cyber security....

If you’re vaccinated against COVID-19 and back out in the world, chances are you’re encountering requests for your vaccination card. An increasing number of places require visitors to prove their vaccination status before being allowed in. New York Cityand San Franciscomandate proof of vaccinationfor public indoor dining, exercising, and entertainment, while New Orleansrequires vaccination or a negative test. Other cities,such as Los Angeles, are considering similar measures. At least one international airline and many cruisesrequire a vaccine....

How CAPTCHAs could show if an algorithm’s getting closer to AGI How does the mind develop common sense? “Efficient learning and effective generalization come from inductive biases, and building Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) is an exercise in finding the right set of inductive biases that make fast learning possible while being general enough to be widely applicable in tasks that humans excel at,” the Vicarious AI researchers write. Human and animal brains are proof that such biases exist....

The words “games” and “work” don’t go well together – or so you would think. Well, think again. More than a buzzword, gamification is actually becoming a major trend. It will impact many aspects of our daily lives, and work won’t remain untouched. At the forefront of this trend are companies such asArcaris, the Chilean-born company which plans to bring game mechanics to call centers. So what is it all about?...

How China could win 2021’s space race and take Mars as its prize Space Age 2.0 Different countries have different development models when it comes to space, so the new space race is partly a competition for having the best approach. This reflects the specific character of the so-calledSpace Age 2.0, which, compared to the first one, looks more diverse, and where non-US actors, public and private, feature prominentlyespecially Asian ones....