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Google and XPRIZE want to find practical uses for existing quantum computers. Plus: organoids made from uterus fluid may help treat fetuses.

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Eric Lukero/Google

Eyes on the quantum prize

Google and XPRIZE are launching a $5 million competition to find practical uses for quantum computers that could actually benefit society. We already know quantum computers can perform specific tasks faster than classical computers, after Google first claimed quantum advantage for its Sycamore processor in 2019. However, these demonstration tasks are simple benchmarks with no real-world applications. To that end, Google and the XPRIZE Foundation are urging researchers to come up with new quantum algorithms as part of a three-year competition. Read more

Organoids from uterus fluid

Babies born with serious medical conditions could one day get better diagnoses and treatments while in the uterus, thanks to a new technique that involves taking samples of cells from fluid in the uterus and growing them in a dish. In a world first, researchers have shown that fetal cells from amniotic fluid can be coaxed into forming miniature balls of lung, kidney or small intestinal tissue. They also showed these lung organoids could potentially help guide the treatment of babies born with a sometimes-fatal lung condition called congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Read more

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Alexandra Thompson

Assistant news editor, New Scientist
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