Confused by quantum science? You’re in good company — even Einstein thought it was too weird to be true.
But since his time, experiments have shown that quantum science is, indeed, both weird and true. And it raises exciting possibilities.
Quantum science is a growing field poised to accelerate discovery and transform our future. Imagine medicines created in days instead of decades, weather forecasts that predict natural disasters weeks in advance or hack-proof online security.
In fact, the United Nations declared 2025 the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology. This isn’t science fiction — the quantum revolution is already underway.
So, what is quantum science?
You may not know it, but you’ve already used quantum technology. Have you had an MRI, used solar electricity or let your cat chase a laser? Are you reading this on a laptop or phone? If so, congrats — you’re a quantum-tool user.
But what does that mean?
Simply, these everyday devices harness quantum effects to work properly. The tiniest building blocks of our world — like electrons, protons and atoms — don’t follow the same laws of physics we do. Instead, these particles’ strange behavior is ruled by quantum physics.
To make sense of this bizarre behavior, we have quantum science. It uses what we know about quantum physics to build new, problem-solving technologies. One key idea that shapes quantum science is that an atomic particle, when left alone, lives in a blend of possibilities. It exists in multiple places and spins in multiple directions at once. This state is called superposition.
But superposition is fragile. Any disturbance — like heat, light, magnets or X-rays — breaks that state and causes a particle to be in one spot and spin one way.
It’s like a game of musical chairs. While the music plays, the kids circling the chairs don’t have specific seats. But when the music stops, each one must pick a spot.
Entanglement is another important idea in quantum science. Two particles become perfect twins when they’re entangled. They will behave exactly the same no matter how far apart they are — even if they’re on different planets.
If scientists measure the spin of one entangled particle, they know the spin of its partner without ever measuring it. This perfect synchronization powers emerging technologies like quantum sensors and quantum computers.
Why does quantum technology matter?
“I believe in quantum technology's transformative potential. While it won't solve everything, it will be revolutionary and create meaningful innovations that will change humanity,” says Justin Earley, assistant professor in the School of Molecular Sciences.
Earley is using ingredients from nature — molecules — to make durable quantum tools.
"Most quantum technologies need special labs with temperatures colder than outer space," Earley says. "But I'm interested in creating quantum devices that work in everyday conditions like room temperature. This would make quantum technology much more accessible and practical for solving real-world problems."
Earley designs and studies molecules with electrons that act like qubits. These molecular qubits could transform everyday technology, such as smartphones that run powerful AI without draining the battery, navigation systems that don’t rely on satellites, or unbreakable protection for personal data.
Read more about Earley’s research
How does a quantum computer work?
While classical computers use bits — ones and zeroes — to transmit data, quantum computers use quantum bits, or qubits. A qubit can be both one and zero at the same time, thanks to superposition. Qubits can also entangle with each other, which boosts their computing power even more.
Quantum computers, for example, may one day solve problems that would take today’s supercomputers thousands of years. Quantum sensors could detect anything from buried rare-earth minerals to microscopic changes in a single cell with unmatched precision. Artificial intelligence, a growing field of its own, will also advance with quantum science.
Quantum technology is vital to national security. The global fight for quantum dominance is the modern space race. Top priority is building the first fully functioning quantum computer. But we also need quantum encryption to protect our information online.
“Once you have a quantum computer, you have an advantage in the sense that you could crack, for example, encryption protocols that our emails and banks rely on,” says Christian Arenz, assistant professor in the School of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering. “But in the long term, the fact that you can simulate complex systems much faster would also give other advantages.”
Arenz sees himself as a music conductor, keeping many parts in tune — but instead of a baton, he uses algorithms, and instead of a symphony, he directs a quantum computer.
Join the quantum community
Arenz and the other researchers advance their work and connect their students to technology resources through the Quantum Collaborative at ASU, which fosters a network of quantum experts and industry and academic partners.
Much of Arenz’s research is on fundamental math, which he uses to write algorithms that help quantum computers solve complicated problems quickly and accurately.
“With a working quantum computer, we could simulate complex systems — where many factors play a role, exponentially faster,” Arenz says. “That could be useful to better understand the behavior of complex physical systems, such as the universe, materials or solar cells. It would open up a whole new world.”
Read more about Arenz’s research
Still confused? That’s fine!
The researchers agree: You don’t need to master quantum science to thrive in the quantum era.
Earley compares it to wind. We can only see the wind’s effects, not the wind itself. But we’ve found useful ways to harness it, like sails and turbines. In the same way, we can harness quantum effects to make powerful tools.
Just like you don’t have to be a weather scientist to fly a kite, you don’t have to be a brilliant physicist to work with quantum technology. In fact, this field needs people with different interests.
“The cool thing about quantum science and technology as an emerging field is that it really brings people from different research disciplines together,” says Mouzhe Xie, assistant professor in the School of Molecular Sciences. “My own field of quantum sensing is usually at the interface of quantum science, metrology, chemistry, biology and sometimes materials sciences.”
Xie is helping scientists see smaller through a tool called nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), which makes images using magnetic waves that interact with molecules. While its sensors can only see down to a certain size, Xie’s team is building a quantum sensor for NMR to overcome those limits. The new sensor is made with a glowing diamond that holds a trapped quantum particle. By boosting sensitivity to magnetic fields, it allows NMR to detect a single cell or even a single molecule.
The sensor could one day drive biological discoveries and medical breakthroughs.
Read more about Xie’s research
Want to learn more?
The need for diverse expertise and applications inspired Arenz, along with Xie and Earley, to create and teach a new collection of classes. Called the quantum engineering and data science pathway program, it tailors quantum science intro courses for undergraduate engineering students.
Interested students can find more information about the program here.
Explain quantum science to your friends
- Quantum science uses the strange physics of particles to build new, problem-solving technologies.
- Like kids circling seats in musical chairs, particles live in a state of multiple possibilities called superposition. Disturbances push them out of this state, like when the music stops and the kids choose a seat.
- Two quantum particles become perfect twins when they’re in a state called entanglement. They will behave exactly the same, no matter how far apart they are.
- Quantum computers use quantum bits, or qubits. A qubit can be both one and zero at the same time, thanks to superposition.
- Just like you don’t have to be a weather scientist to fly a kite, you don’t have to be a physicist to work with quantum technology.
The ASU research covered in this story was made possible in part by the ASU Core Research Facilities, including the Eyring Materials Center, NanoFab and Research Computing.
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