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Revolutionary Fast-Charging Quantum Battery Integrated with Quantum Computer Technology

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Quantum batteries are making their debut in quantum computers, paving the way for future quantum technologies. These innovative batteries utilize quantum bits, or qubits, that change states, differing from traditional batteries that rely on electrochemical reactions.

Research indicates that harnessing quantum characteristics may enable faster charging times, yet questions about the practicality of quantum batteries remain. “Many upcoming quantum technologies will necessitate quantum versions of batteries,” states Dian Tan from Hefei National Research Institute, China. “While significant strides have been made in quantum computing and communication, the energy storage mechanisms in these quantum systems require further investigation.”

Tan and his team constructed the battery using 12 qubits formed from tiny superconducting circuits, controlled by microwaves. Each qubit functioned as a battery cell and interacted with neighboring qubits.

The researchers tested two distinct charging protocols, one mirroring conventional battery charging without quantum interactions, while the other leveraged quantum interactions. They discovered that exploiting these interactions led to an increase in power and a quicker charging capacity.

“Quantum batteries can achieve power output up to twice that of conventional charging methods,” asserts Alan Santos from the Spanish National Research Council. This compatibility with the nearest neighbor interaction of qubits is notable, as this is typical for superconducting quantum computers, making further engineering of beneficial interactions a practical challenge.

James Quach from Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation adds that previous quantum battery experiments have utilized molecules rather than components in current quantum devices. Quach and his team have theorized that quantum batteries may enhance the efficiency and scalability of quantum computers, potentially becoming the power source for future quantum systems.

However, comparing conventional and quantum batteries remains a complex task, notes Dominik Shafranek from Charles University in the Czech Republic. In his opinion, translating the advantages of quantum batteries into practical applications is currently ambiguous.

Kaban Modi from the Singapore University of Technology and Design asserts that while benefits exist for qubits interfacing exclusively with their nearest neighbors, their research indicates these advantages can be negated by real-world factors like noise and sluggish qubit control.

Additionally, the burgeoning requirements of extensive quantum computers may necessitate researching energy transfer within quantum systems, as they might incur significantly higher energy costs compared to traditional computers, Modi emphasizes.

Tan believes that energy storage for quantum technologies, particularly in quantum computers, is a prime candidate for their innovative quantum batteries. Their next goal involves integrating these batteries with qubit-based quantum thermal engines to produce energy for storage within quantum systems.

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        <li class="ArticleTopics__ListItem">Quantum Computing <span>/</span></li>
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Source: www.newscientist.com

Garmin Fenix 8 Pro Review: Integrated LTE and Satellite Messaging Without a Phone

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The newest upgrade to Garmin’s leading Fenix adventure watch introduces potentially life-saving capabilities: independent communication and emergency messaging through 4G or satellite.


The Fenix 8 Pro builds upon the already remarkable Fenix 8, incorporating new cellular technology as well as an advanced microLED display in a special edition of the watch. As Garmin’s flagship model, it’s designed to be your comprehensive tool for exploration and tracking.

This ambitious design comes at a high cost, starting from £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, AU$2,300) for the 47mm OLED variant, and £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/AU$3,399) for the 51mm model with a microLED screen, nearly double the price of the standard Fenix 8.

You get remarkable value with top-tier exercise, activity, and adventure tracking capabilities. If you find yourself lost without your phone, an extensive offline map of the world will guide you back. It boasts a stunning, large, clear, and exceptionally bright touchscreen.


The Fenix 8 Pro is thicker and heavier than the regular Fenix 8 by 2.2 mm and 4 g, respectively, giving it a rather bulky presence on the wrist. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

The Fenix 8 Pro is offered exclusively in case sizes of 47mm or 51mm, lacking the smaller 43mm option available in other Garmin models, making it suitable for larger wrists. Nevertheless, the 47mm OLED version we examined supplies an additional day of battery life for smartwatch usage with the screen continuously on, lasting 8-9 days between charges.

Messaging, Calls, and Live Tracking Without Phone

Garmin utilizes its own inReach LTE (4G) and satellite subscription services, rather than depending on a watch plan linked to a smartphone provider like other smartwatches. However, unlike satellite-enabled devices from Apple and Google, emergency SOS messaging isn’t offered for free.

Plans begin at £7.99 per month or its equivalent, offering unlimited LTE text and voice messaging, calls, and services. LiveTrack enables location sharing, allowing friends and family to monitor your whereabouts while engaging in activities like running or cycling, and providing emergency satellite SOS messaging as well.


Establishing and activating an inReach subscription can be relatively time-consuming, but it’s a one-time process. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

Satellite check-ins and text messages incur extra costs, escalating to an unlimited plan of £50 monthly for higher-tier options that provide various satellite allowances. The watch includes a 30-day free trial enabling you to test the service.

Once configured, simply step outside without your phone, and your watch will connect to LTE. While it can’t stream music, you can make calls, send texts, and stay in touch with loved ones.


Messages—including texts, reactions, audio messages, and transcriptions—will display on your watch as well as in the recipient’s Garmin Messenger app. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

When you send a text, Garmin transmits an SMS from a random number, and the recipient can reply directly to your watch. Install the Garmin Messenger app to send and receive both text and voice messages as well as making voice calls. Recipients don’t need a Garmin account; a phone number is all that’s required to register for text messaging.

Messaging on the smartwatch functions adequately, but typing on the small onscreen keyboard can be slow. It also includes customizable quick replies for faster interactions. Voice messages and calls work fine, though the quality may not be ideal for lengthy conversations.

LiveTrack is an especially valuable feature. You can configure it to automatically send a link to select contacts when you start an activity, allowing them to track your real-time location on a map. This feature is fantastic for monitoring progress during races and primarily acts as a safety measure for someone you trust to know your whereabouts. The actual location may experience slight delays when transitioning in and out of a strong LTE signal, but it generally performs well.


To transmit a satellite message, your watch must be oriented correctly, with a clear view of the sky. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

All these features are accessible on other Garmin watches as long as you have your phone, but in locations where LTE coverage is absent, the Fenix 8 Pro activates satellite communication for sending texts, location check-ins, and emergency SOS notifications.

The guide provides instructions on how to establish a line of sight to a satellite and to send and receive messages within approximately 10 to 30 seconds. While this function is remarkably user-friendly and can prove to be a critical lifesaver, it’s essential to understand that satellite coverage is confined to the continental U.S., most of Canada, and much of Europe, excluding certain regions of Scandinavia above 65 degrees north latitude.

Sustainability

Watches are typically optionally repairable as explained on the support site. The battery is rated to retain at least 90% of its initial capacity after two years of weekly recharging. Currently, this model contains no recycled materials. Garmin provides a recycling program for new purchases.

Price

Pricing for the Fenix 8 Pro begins at £1,029.99 (€1,199.99/$1,199.99/A$2,299). Optional Garmin inReach subscription plans are available starting at £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).

Verdict

The Fenix 8 Pro enhances the existing Fenix 8, transforming it into an exceptional adventure watch by adding LTE capabilities for messaging, calling, and LiveTrack, alongside satellite messaging, check-ins, and emergency SOS features when a signal is unavailable.

The result is an even more powerful adventure tool for those seeking to go phone-free. If you’re looking to have someone monitor your safety while you’re out at night or in remote areas, Garmin provides this capability without the need for additional devices.

While it is liberating to venture outdoors without your phone, this convenience comes with a hefty price tag, both in terms of the watch’s significant cost and the ongoing subscription fee for the inReach service. At least it is independent of phone providers, working with any smartphone brand or network.

The Fenix 8 Pro is an excellent choice for those who prefer not to carry the bulk of their phone while running, cycling, or hiking but still want to remain trackable and reachable. For others, it might feel excessive, especially given that the excellent Fenix 8 model is readily available.

Pros: Track everything with LTE and satellite messaging, an ultra-bright OLED display, best-in-class GPS, an integrated torch, phone and offline voice control, over 8 days of battery life, Garmin Pay, complete offline mapping and routes, offline Spotify access, 100m water resistance and 40m diving capability, with both button and touchscreen functionalities.

Cons: High price point, LTE and satellite features require a monthly subscription, limited banking support for Garmin Pay, sluggish voice functionalities, and smartwatch features are comparatively limited compared to Apple/Google/Samsung devices.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Integrated Fire Extinguisher: A Safeguard Against Battery Explosions

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Lithium-based batteries, such as those used in electric vehicles, face the danger of overheating

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Batteries enhanced with polymeric materials that emit chemicals to suppress flames at elevated temperatures are considerably less prone to catching fire. This innovation can markedly improve the safety of battery-operated devices, including electric vehicles and medical equipment.

“Our method enhances safety in conventional liquid lithium batteries,” says Ying Chan from the Chemistry Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. “It functions like a safety valve. These chemicals help to stifle flammable gases before they ignite, thus preventing fires.”

Zhang and her team developed and examined polymeric materials that extinguished flames in prototype lithium metal batteries. These batteries are presently being utilized, but upcoming versions are expected to potentially replace current batteries in electric vehicles and portable electronic gadgets. Lithium metals can store ten times more energy than widely used lithium-ion batteries by utilizing pure lithium in place of graphite for the negative electrodes.

The researchers incrementally raised the temperature of the prototype battery along with standard lithium metal batteries to 50°C. When the temperature exceeded 100°C, both batteries began to overheat, yet the special polymeric material in the prototype began to break down autonomously, releasing chemicals that functioned as “microscopic fire extinguishers.”

At temperatures surpassing 120°C, the standard battery without safety mechanisms overheated to 1000°C within 13 minutes and ignited. In contrast, under similar circumstances, the prototype battery’s peak temperature reached 220°C without any fire or explosion.

This “innovative material science strategy” suggests that it’s not only lithium metal batteries that can benefit, but also specific lithium-ion and lithium-sulfur batteries which may lower the risk of battery fires and overheating. Jaggit Nanda at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, California, expresses that this could lead to safer batteries, especially for electric vehicles and aircraft.

Fire control technology has been incorporated into current battery manufacturing as a “short-term safety enhancement,” and the industry is actively seeking a long-term solution that encompasses alternative battery designs and materials, according to Zhang. However, she notes that integrating polymeric materials into the battery necessitates a re-manufacturing process.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Health monitoring technology can be integrated into clothing using thread-based computers

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Computer threads woven with metal and textile yarn to make potential clothing

Hamilton Osoi, IFM

An elastic computer on threads sewn onto clothing can be used to record whole-body data that most medical sensors cannot pick up.

Wearable technologies such as smartwatches monitor body signals, such as heart rate and temperature, but usually only from a single location. This gives you an incomplete picture of how your body works.

now, Yoel Fink The Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his colleagues developed a computer that could be sewn into clothing made from chips connected with copper and elastic fiber threads.

This thread has 256 kilobytes of onboard memory around that of a simple calculator, and sensors that can detect temperature, heart rate, and body movement. There is also Bluetooth to allow various threads to communicate.

This means that location-specific data can be collected collectively on the body. It says that it is theoretically used by artificial intelligence to allow for more accurate monitoring of human health. “We're starting to write apps for fabrics, monitor our health and, frankly, we're very close to the point where we can do all sorts of things that our phones can't.”

To create individual threads, Fink and his team folded the chips into conductive boxes and connected them to copper wire. The wire was then wrapped in a protective plastic casing and pulled into a thin tube that could be covered with fabrics such as cotton or synthetic Kevlar.

To test them, four fibers were sewn onto the feet and arms of human clothes. Researchers found that they could identify various movements a person has made, such as lunges, squats, and arm circles.

The team is currently testing thread-computer-made clothing on an Arctic expedition as part of Operation Nanook, an annual military exercise led by the Canadian Army. Clothes record temperature and data from various parts of the body. Fink says it could one day help protect people in extreme circumstances.

Threads are being tested by Army personnel during training

US Army Cold Area Research & Engineering Lab

Not only does it record, but it says this could help vulnerable people detect dangerous falls. Theo Hughes-Riley At Nottingham Trent University, England.

Without the need to wire the sensors together, the design becomes much simpler than other electronic fabrics, he says. Researchers also demonstrated that the thread can be washed, but only water was used, not detergent. Therefore, durability in everyday use must be proven before it is widely adopted, says Hughes Riley.

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Source: www.newscientist.com