News Excerpt:
The United Nations has announced that 2025 will be designated as the 'International Year of Quantum Science and Technology'.
What is Quantum Science?
- Quantum science explores the behaviour of matter and energy at the smallest scales, typically at the level of atoms and subatomic particles.
- It encompasses quantum mechanics and quantum field theory, which describe phenomena like superposition, entanglement, and wave-particle duality.
- These principles enable advancements in quantum computing, quantum communication, and quantum cryptography, promising significant impacts on technology, medicine, and security.
- Unlike classical physics, quantum science reveals that particles can exist in multiple states simultaneously and influence each other instantaneously over distances, challenging traditional notions of reality and paving the way for revolutionary technological breakthroughs.
More about the announcement:
- The organisation stated that the initiative would be "year-long," "worldwide," and would include activities to increase public awareness of the significance of quantum science and its applications.
- This proclamation resulted from a resolution led by Mexico in May 2023, which quickly garnered support from other countries. By November 2023, nearly 60 countries had co-sponsored the resolution, leading to its adoption by the UNESCO General Conference.
- In May 2024, Ghana submitted a draft resolution to the U.N. General Assembly, with the backing of over 70 countries, requesting an official proclamation. The General Assembly approved this on June 7.
- The UN statement also highlighted endorsements from several prominent scientific organisations, including the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, the International Union of Crystallography, and the International Union of History and Philosophy of Science and Technology.
Significance of the year 2025:
2025 is the centenary of German physicist Werner Heisenberg's pivotal paper that laid the groundwork for quantum mechanics.
- The paper reinterpreted classical mechanics to explain newly discovered quantum phenomena in 1925.
- Heisenberg was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1932 for creating the field of Quantum Mechanics, roughly around the time he devised his famous uncertainty principle.
The implication of the announcement:
- Quantum science and technology have been increasingly prominent in public discourse, particularly with the advent of quantum computers.
- Researchers anticipate that functional quantum computers will revolutionise fields such as electronics, clean energy, and drug development due to their superior computational capabilities.
- The proclamation serves as a call to action for individuals, groups, schools, institutions, and governments to use 2025 as an opportunity to raise awareness about quantum science and technology.
- A steering committee is also planning global initiatives and events, particularly targeting audiences currently unaware of this field's importance.
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National Quantum Mission (NQM)
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