Is The Quantum Future Here?

Short Wave

NPR

Science, Life Sciences, Daily News, Astronomy, News, Nature

4.7 • 6K Ratings

🗓️ 15 December 2025

⏱️ 14 minutes

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Summary

This year, quantum science and computing came up a lot. There have been broad claims that quantum science and engineering could one day help cure diseases, design new materials, optimize supply chains -- or help in other ways not yet fathomable. And, while the Trump administration has made strides to cut scientific funding, quantum research is one of two things they’ve pledged to continue investing in – along with artificial intelligence. Meanwhile, scientists have been hard at work, pushing the research to move quantum engineering from sci-fi to real-world usefulness. All of this got science correspondent Katia Riddle wondering: When will all of this effort actually pay off? She talked to a lot of scientists to figure it out -- and to figure out how much scientist really understand about quantum science. She brings everything she learned onto the show today.

To hear more Short Wave reporting on quantum clocks, check out this episode: Quantum Mechanics For Beginners

Interested in more quantum science? Email us your question at [email protected].

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Transcript

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1:02.9	Hey, Shortweaver's Emily Kwong here. And today I am joined by NPR science correspondent, Katie A Riddle. Hey, Katie.
1:09.4	Hi, Emily. Hi. Okay. Today we're talking about quantum,
1:13.3	which is one of my favorite topics in science. Yeah, quantum science and computing. I think it's
1:18.7	to say they came up often in science news in 2025. Yeah. It used to be a concept that we heard about,
1:25.2	you know, like in sci-fi, but this year, scientists have been
1:27.9	talking about its utility, I are out. Okay, quantum in real life. How so? Well, for one thing,
1:34.6	despite all the slashing and burning, the Trump administration has done around science
1:39.0	investments this year, quantum computing and science is one of two things that they've pledged
	...

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