Quantum computer reveals a mind-blowing protein: medicine will never be the same - Futura, le média qui explore le monde

Rumors spread quickly: somewhere out there, a quantum computer had revealed a mind-blowing new protein with the power to revolutionize both medicine and the entire human condition. The buzz hinted at implications not just for the most ambitious transhumanist dreams, but even for upcoming chapters in our quest for space exploration.Before you get your hopes (or your transhumanist membership card) ready, let’s set the record straight: As the publication date unmistakably indicates, the earth-shaking discovery announced was, of course, an April Fool’s prank. The so-called magic protein? Pure fiction. But there’s a kernel of truth hiding beneath the joke: quantum computers — especially the ones still coming down the pipeline — could indeed help us discover new molecules for medicine or materials for things like ultra-efficient batteries or carbon capture efforts combating climate change. Fun fact: Richard Feynman really was one of the key pioneers behind the quantum computer.And yes, it’s equally true that “Elon Musk is an über Moron” (the quote’s words, not ours!), but the startup Walter Mitty Quantum Life (WMQL) doesn’t exist at all. The name? It’s a playful wink to the film The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, in the scene where Walter lands in Greenland.Walter Mitty is an ordinary man, stuck in his routine, who only dares to escape through dreams, both funny and wildly extravagant. But when faced with a professional hurdle, Walter must find the courage to act in the real world. He then sets out on an incredible journey, living an adventure far richer than everything he could ever have imagined. And one that should change his life forever. © 20th Century Studios FRStill, Greenland really is a paradise for geologists and mining companies, boasting massive reserves of rare earths and other strategic metals. Among its treasures are some of the oldest rocks known on Earth.The quantum realm, however, has been part of scientific history since the years 1925 to 1927, which saw the discovery of the fundamental equations governing this strange world and the birth of a theoretical corpus (with plenty of interpretations!). In truth, the quantum revolution started tentatively yet radically with Max Planck revealing the quantum of action at the close of the 19th century, and in the early 20th century, with contributions from Einstein, Bohr, Louis de Broglie, and Arnold Sommerfeld.One of those who truly grasped this first quantum revolution was the brilliant Richard Feynman, whose insights laid the groundwork for a second quantum revolution — the one seemingly unfolding before our very eyes. This modern wave is mostly seen through the research of labs and startups worldwide, working on quantum computers or, at least, super-specialized quantum processors built to solve problems that would stump a conventional supercomputer (even one with all the classical physics horsepower in the world).These machines harness core quantum effects, like superposition of states and quantum entanglement. They manipulate information via qubits and employ quantum error correction codes to counteract environmental disturbances. All this, in addition to protocols that try to shield fragile quantum calculations as much as possible. As a result, quantum computers often operate in a vacuum and at extremely low temperatures — not the most cozy office setup, but it gets results.Feynman, for his part, believed these quantum machines might enable us to predict and understand the quantum behavior of molecules and materials better than ever before. Today, the hope is that such possibilities could help us discover new medicines or, for example, achieve room-temperature superconductors that could revolutionize fusion reactors like ITER.If you’re curious, check out the perspective of Loïc Henriet, Chief Technology Officer at Pasqal, a company founded in 2019 and specialized in quantum computing, currently working on the development of a neutral atom-based quantum computer. © Polytechnique Insights, École Polytechnique Executive EducationThe United Nations isn’t joking about quantum, though. In recognition of its past and future significance, on June 7, 2024, the UN officially declared 2025 the “International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQST).”But back to our tall tale: there was word that the fictional startup WMQL had made a fundamental breakthrough both in quantum computing and in its application to the discovery of new molecules for medicine and biology. Allegedly, an article about all this would soon appear as a preprint on viXra — don’t hold your breath, unless you want to turn blue (not recommended).It was said that the breakthrough relied on the naturally cold, seismically isolated regions of Greenland to run a superconducting chip powered by topological calculations with Majorana fermions. Success supposedly stemmed from a natural rare earth alloy found near the mythical Isua greenstone belt in Greenland, rocks dating back at least 3.7 billion years, from a time when Earth’s geodynamics were so wildly different that they produced volcanic lavas that don’t even exist today — like the famous komatiites.If that spurs your inner explorer, imagine this: you can walk the wilds of Greenland alongside Dr. Abigail Allwood and her team as they investigate the controversial claim of ancient life in an outcrop over 3.7 billion years old. The same team has developed VR technology that NASA’s Mars program uses to bring scientists to the Red Planet’s rover sites (and yes, you can get English subtitles and French subtitles via YouTube settings if you’re so inclined). © NASA AstrobiologyNow, let’s admit it: the magic discovery is still just a theory (and a joke), but in this story, it would have been a photosynthetic protein in the form of a biopolymer, especially resistant to radiation. Quantum simulations (in the spirit of the prank, at least!) would even show it could serve as a structural protein for all sorts of exotic applications. Wouldn’t that be something?