After almost 20 years in development Microsoft’s Majorana 1 chip has been unveiled. Experts are seeing it as a leap towards quantum computing but what is that? And what does it mean?

Elsewhere, researchers at Imperial College London and Google have been testing an AI co-scientist to see how it might contribute to advanced experiments.

Dr Tiago Costa, who co-led the experimental work tells us how they challenged the tech and what they learnt from collaborating with AI.

Also in this episode:

• Microsoft unveils new quantum chip
• Apple’s iPhone 16e revealed
• NASA’s latest asteroid warning
• Placenta tissue is used to save a man’s eye
• NASA’s Curiosity rover captures shimmering rainbow clouds over Mars.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The scent of ancient Egyptian mummies has been unlocked thanks to pioneering smell analysis. We hear from UCL’s Dr Cecilia Bembibre about the research conducted on nine mummified bodies that could allow museum visitors to experience the aromas of the past through "smellscapes."

Also in this episode:

• South Korea halts downloads of DeepSeek over security fears.
• The Royal Society faces pressure over Elon Musk’s fellowship.
• Cambridge researchers develop a brain implant that could revolutionise Parkinson’s treatment.
• Leaked details suggest Apple is working on a foldable iPhone.
• Scottish company Skyrora prepares to launch a rocket from Shetland in 2026.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.