QLN 24 (140) - 100,000-qubit Quantum Computer, Virgin Orbit Bankruptcy, 3-Person IVF, Neuralink Human Trials, 5000 Species, eAUD Launch & Helix AI

This newsletter has?7?cover stories,?29?articles,?7?videos &?1?quote

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SMALL TALK

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IBM plans to build a 100,000-qubit quantum computer

IBM made headlines last year when it claimed the record for the largest quantum computing system. The processor boasted 433 qubits, the essential units for quantum information processing. Now, the company has set an even more ambitious goal: constructing a machine with 100,000 qubits within the next decade. This endeavor is part of IBM's strategy to propel quantum computing into full-scale operation, where it can address crucial problems that conventional supercomputers cannot solve. The objective is for these 100,000 qubits to collaborate with state-of-the-art classical supercomputers, leading to groundbreaking advancements in various domains such as drug discovery, fertilizer production, and battery performance, among others.

Virgin Orbit shuts down after bankruptcy sales

Virgin Orbit, a bankrupt rocket company, has officially announced its closure after selling its facility leases and equipment through an auction to a group of aerospace companies. Founded by Sir Richard Branson as a spin-off of Virgin Galactic in 2017, Virgin Orbit achieved notable success by conducting numerous missions. However, the company faced challenges in securing funding and encountered delays in execution, leading to its decline from a once-valued multibillion-dollar enterprise to bankruptcy and eventual shutdown. Rocket Lab, a prominent player in the aerospace industry, emerged as the successful bidder, acquiring Virgin Orbit's headquarters in Long Beach, California, spanning approximately 140,000 square feet, for a sum of $16.1 million.

1st babies born in Britain using DNA from 3 people

The United Kingdom's fertility regulator has recently confirmed the successful births of the country's initial babies created through an experimental approach that involves combining DNA from three individuals. This innovative technique aims to prevent the transmission of rare genetic diseases to children. The Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority disclosed that fewer than five babies have been born using this method in the UK, but specific details were not provided to safeguard the privacy of the families involved. In 2015, the UK became the first nation to implement legislation governing such methods, designed to assist women with faulty mitochondria (the cell's energy source) in avoiding passing on genetic defects to their offspring. The world witnessed the first baby born using this technique in the United States in 2016.

Musk's Neuralink wins FDA approval for human trials

Neuralink, the brain-implant startup founded by Elon Musk, has achieved a significant milestone by obtaining clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its inaugural clinical trial involving human participants. This regulatory approval comes at a crucial time for Neuralink, as it faces investigations in the United States regarding its handling of animal experiments. While the FDA has acknowledged granting Neuralink permission to conduct trials on patients using its brain implant and surgical robot, specific details were not provided in the agency's statement. Previously, Reuters reported that Neuralink employees had expressed concerns about rushed and problematic surgeries performed on monkeys, pigs, and sheep, leading to a higher number of animal fatalities than necessary. This situation arose as Musk exerted pressure on the staff to obtain FDA authorization.

More than 5,000 new species discovered in the Pacific Ocean

In a comprehensive analysis of environmental surveys conducted in the Pacific Ocean, scientists have made a remarkable discovery. They have identified over 5,000 previously unknown species residing on the seabed in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ), an untouched area that is anticipated to become a future hub for deep-sea mining. Spanning an expansive 1.7 million square miles between Hawaii and Mexico, the CCZ is renowned for its abundance of mineral resources. This recent study marks the first time that the extraordinary biodiversity of the CCZ has been thoroughly documented. Astonishingly, most of the creatures observed by the researchers are new to the field of science, with nearly all of them being exclusive to this particular region.

Australia marks first FX transaction using a CBDC

In a significant development, Australia has achieved its inaugural foreign exchange transaction using eAUD as part of a live pilot for the country's potential central bank digital currency (CBDC). This milestone arrives at a time when numerous countries worldwide are displaying a growing interest in understanding and launching their own central bank-issued digital currencies. Blockchain infrastructure provider, Canvas, revealed that on May 17, crypto fund managers DigitalX and TAF Capital conducted a trade between eAUD and the stablecoin USD Coin. The transaction was swiftly settled, and Canvas hailed it as a triumph over the traditional foreign exchange and remittance networks, which are often criticized for being slow, expensive, and error-prone. This foreign exchange trade is one of several tests presently being conducted as Australia explores various potential use cases for a CBDC.

What does Dell’s Project Helix entail?

Dell is venturing into the realm of artificial intelligence with its new initiative called Project Helix, aimed at enhancing its edge software service. This service enables organizations to develop and implement generative AI while prioritizing security and trustworthiness to minimize inaccuracies and vulnerabilities. Project Helix provides an early glimpse into an upcoming Dell product designed to support organizations in utilizing generative AI effectively. It encompasses the entire lifecycle of AI creation, from infrastructure provisioning to modeling, training, fine-tuning, application development, and deployment. To bring Project Helix to life, Dell has joined forces with NVIDIA, combining their expertise to deliver comprehensive and scalable solutions. Dell's compute, storage & software infrastructure complement NVIDIA's accelerators, AI software, foundational models & valuable experience in delivering generative AI solutions.

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