Year of Quantum

What do cellphones, the Global Positioning System and a ’90s TV show about time travel have in common?

They all rely on quantum science. Add to the list MRI medical imaging, lasers and fiber optics networks that carry high-speed internet, and you can see that modern life would be unrecognizable without this weird way of looking at the world at the smallest of scales. In honor of the 100th anniversary of quantum physics, the United Nations has declared 2025 the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology.

UT Austin physicists, chemists and computer scientists are inventing real-world applications for quantum computers, designing materials that can split water into hydrogen fuel, developing tools for ultrasensitive medical diagnostics and more.