Replication efforts suggest 'smoking gun' evidence isn't enough to prove quantum computing claims

January 8, 2026 Replication efforts suggest 'smoking gun' evidence isn't enough to prove quantum computing claims by University of Pittsburgh edited by Sadie Harley, reviewed by Robert Egan Sadie Harley scientific editor Meet our editorial team Behind our editorial process Robert Egan associate editor Meet our editorial team Behind our editorial process Editors' notes This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: fact-checked peer-reviewed publication trusted source proofread The GIST Add as preferred source Dramatic smoking gun patterns can signify important effects in topological condensed matter physics, but these originate from mundane fine-tuning in complex samples. Credit: Frolov Lab A group of scientists, including Sergey Frolov, professor of physics at the University of Pittsburgh, and co-authors from Minnesota and Grenoble have undertaken several replication studies centered around topological effects in nanoscale superconducting or semiconducting devices. This field is important because it can bring about topological quantum computing, a hypothetical way of storing and manipulating quantum information while protecting it against errors. In all cases, they found alternative explanations of similar data. While the original papers claimed advances for quantum computing and made their way into top scientific journals, the individual follow-ups could not make it past the editors at those same journals. Reasons given for its rejection included that, being a replication, it was not novel; that, after a couple of years, the field had moved on. But replications take time and effort and the experiments are resource-intensive and cannot happen overnight. And important science does not become irrelevant on the scale of years. The scientists then united several replication attempts in the same field of topological quantum computing into a single paper. The paper was published in the journal Science. The aim was two-fold: demonstrate that even very dramatic signatures that may appear consistent with major breakthroughs can have other explanations–especially when fuller datasets are considered, and outline changes to the research and peer review process that have the potential to increase the reliability of experimental results: sharing more data and openly discussing alternative explanations. It took significant time and argumentation for the rest of the community to accept this possibility: the paper spent a record two years under peer and editorial review. More information: S. M. Frolov, Data sharing helps avoid "smoking gun" claims of topological milestones, Science (2026). DOI: 10.1126/science.adk9181. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adk9181 Journal information: Science Provided by University of Pittsburgh Citation: Replication efforts suggest 'smoking gun' evidence isn't enough to prove quantum computing claims (2026, January 8) retrieved 8 January 2026 from https://phys.org/news/2026-01-replication-efforts-gun-evidence-isnt.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only. Scientists solve the mystery of Europe's missing dinosaurs. Spoiler alert! They were never actually missing 1 hour ago 0 Repeating fast radio burst shows diverse activity and hints at magnetar origin 5 hours ago 0 A case of mistaken identity: Mammoth fossils from Alaska turn out to belong to two ancient whales Jan 7, 2026 0 Antiferromagnetic metal exhibits diode-like behavior without external magnetic field Jan 7, 2026 0 Smartphone use cuts into school hours, with social media leading the way Jan 7, 2026 1 How did these strange, ancient organisms turn into such remarkable fossils? 27 minutes ago Self-configuring optical devices automatically learn how to sort out light 50 minutes ago Marine pollutants disrupt cellular energy production in seabirds 1 hour ago Scientists solve the mystery of Europe's missing dinosaurs. Spoiler alert! They were never actually missing 1 hour ago Entanglement enhances the speed of quantum simulations, transforming long-standing obstacles into a powerful advantage 1 hour ago Earliest known barred spiral galaxy spotted just 2 billion years after Big Bang 1 hour ago A new way to view shockwaves could boost fusion research 1 hour ago Asteroid impact simulation reveals the hidden strength of space rocks 1 hour ago How population bottlenecks shape bacterial cooperation and competition 2 hours ago Ultrasonic sensor capable enables cuffless, non-invasive blood pressure measurement 2 hours ago Analysis: Peer review process unlikely to be primary cause of gender publishing inequalities in scholarly journals Jan 7, 2021 New AI tool can spot shady science journals and safeguard research integrity Aug 28, 2025 Researcher predicts that AI will play an increasing role in scientific publications Sep 3, 2024 10 million peer reviews expected in 2025: Experts advocate for AI integration Mar 28, 2025 Peer review is meant to prevent scientific misconduct: But it has its own problems Mar 22, 2025 Research replication can determine how well science is working, but how do scientists replicate studies? Jul 17, 2025 Entanglement enhances the speed of quantum simulations, transforming long-standing obstacles into a powerful advantage 1 hour ago Scientists use string theory to crack the code of natural networks Jan 7, 2026 Making the invisible visible: Space particles become observable through handheld invention Jan 7, 2026 New evidence for a particle system that 'remembers' its previous quantum states Jan 7, 2026 Advanced quantum detectors are reinventing the search for dark matter Jan 6, 2026 Solving quantum computing's longstanding 'no cloning' problem with an encryption workaround Jan 6, 2026