The Dead End Quantum Dragon
The Dead End Quantum Dragon
Some algos ain't gonna make it. Some algos just can't take it.
After Laurent Prost and Dr. Bob Sutor rallied against using “hybrid,” I wrote that I would continue using the term for parameterized circuits… unless I could find an easy-to-explain alternative. A very distinguished member of the quantum community read my plight and has suggested “dead end,” hence this week’s theme.
Zapata AI Job Seekers
If you were laid off by Zapata AI and would like a free listing in this newsletter, please reach out and let me know. I’ll maintain a list in The Quantum Dragon until everyone on the list has been gainfully employed elsewhere or is otherwise no longer actively job seeking. I might extend this offer to all job seekers, but I’ll start with these layoffs.
Shawn Gibford Industrial PHDc: Quantum Applications in the Life Sciences
Dr. Francesco Benfenati Quantum Solutions Engineer
Dr. Yanbing Zhou, Quantum Application Scientist
Computer scientists are dummies?
The 1st slide of Avimita Chatterjee’s presentation reads, “Quantum Error Correction For Dummies.” The 2nd slide reads, “For computer scientists.” Grammatically, dummies and computer scientists are interchangeable. This link might require a LinkedIn account.
Radio Broadcast on Quantum Musical Instruments
Prof. Eduardo R. Miranda shared, and will somehow be involved in, a November 8 broadcast on ORF Ö1 Radio in Austria. The topic has something to do with quantum computers being used as tools for electronic music, but my German is a little rusty and my browser’s translator isn’t particularly insightful.
Not Classical-Quantum, but Classical-to-Quantum
Petar Korponaić and Quantastica have added a “Classical to Quantum Program Converter” to the company’s portal. If you’d like to check it out, I have verified that the Fibonacci example used in the above video is already available. I don’t know about you, but I’ll be following to see where this goes….
Quantum Computing Jobs?
When I think about quantum computing jobs, I obviously think about building managers, welders, health & safety interns, mechanical engineers, electrical and instrumentation technicians, and senior electrical engineers. Okay, okay, some of those titles could potentially be relevant… but then you read the job descriptions….
A quantum particle walks into two bars.
Thanks to Mark McGuire for sharing Teena Idnani’s joke. Unlike the silly little jokes I normally tell, this is a proper joke. This link might require a LinkedIn account.
Quantum Break
Enjoy a full gameplay walkthrough of “Quantum Break.” What I do know is that is has a sprinkling of profanity and a protagonist that looks like Iceman from the X-Men cinematic franchise. What I don’t know, due to its 5:54:49 runtime, is whether or not there is anything about quantum in it.
Did you hear that?
Speaking of misappropriating the word “quantum,” how about the JBL Quantum 360P Console Wireless headset with JBL QuantumSOUND and JBL QuantumENGINE PC software? That’s too many “quantums,” even for The Quantum Dragon. If you don’t mind, I’ll stick with the Sony WH-1000XM5 and its successors.
Alanis Morissette finds this ironic.
I’m not going to dignify this article with a link, but you may encounter an article out there that addresses the ethics of quantum computing by providing D-Wave quantum annealers and SpinQ NMR devices as its only examples of quantum computers. Appropriately for this week’s theme, both are dead end technologies.
Live from New York… it’s Saturday night!
It’s good to see the continued diversification of quantum memes. I’m a one trick pony myself. This is the first meme I’ve seen using this particular Saturday Night Live (SNL) skit, or any SNL skit for that matter, and I’m pleased that it’s relevant for this newsletter. This link might require a Twitter account.
“Meow!”
This tweet by Dr. Clifford Pickover claims that this meme is “circulating widely on the Web,” but this is the first time I’ve seen it. As you may be able to guess from the “meow,” there’s a non-zero probability that it involves Schrodinger’s famous thought experiment. This link might require a Twitter account.
Bonding Moments
Brothers and sisters, can you spare 59 seconds of your time? This EPFL tweet contains a short video about hydrogen bonds in water. I don’t have enough self-imposed space to describe it, so I’m afraid you’re just going to have to watch it yourself. This link might require a Twitter account.
Wait for the monkey.
Thanks to Dr. Felipe Ochoa Cornejo for sharing this video of Prof. Walter Lewin. Even though it involves classical physics, it perfectly illustrates why The Quantum Dragon exists: if something is too interesting to be boring, don’t let it be boring. This link might require a LinkedIn account.
Sculpting Quantum Steampunk
Dr. Nicole Yunger Halpern and her team apparently want to build a quantum-steampunk sculpture of a quantum engine. A tabletop version is due this year, which will be exhibited in 2025. But they don’t seem content with settling there and envisage a 512 sq ft model at some undetermined point in the future.
Not Classical-Quantum, but Quantum-for-Classical
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), J.A.R.V.I.S. never saved the day. It helped Iron Man save the day. Likewise, Qunova’s HIVQE doesn't solve any problems. It helps a classical algorithm solve problems. Using a quantum computer improves scalability while using a classical algorithm provides chemical accuracy.
I’m on a boat.
I know you’re already subscribed to Sergio Gago’s Quantum Pirates newsletter, but I’m sharing this edition anyway because you may have missed me waving from my seat. Look for “The Export Certainty Principle,” published by Inside Quantum Technology and featuring Robert Friedman and Paul Stimers of Holland & Knight.
Come on, join the joyride.
Lelys Hrvatin Jugovac is looking for a marketing analytics intern, and if she wants to make Alice & Bob look like a fun work environment: achievement unlocked! I’m zooming in on the photo and I think I see dragon heads, so that earns bonus points. This link might require a LinkedIn account. This link does not.
Sensing the Dark Side of The Force… I mean matter….
Everything CERN does is interesting, but the search for dark matter particles using quantum sensors gets The Quantum Dragon’s undivided attention. Contrary to popular misconceptions, dark matter is not what you find concealed way in the back of a dragon’s cave. This link might require a Twitter account.
Foaming at the Mouth… or Planck Length, Anyway
Who doesn’t enjoy a nice visualization of quantum foam? Well, I guess if you don’t subscribe to the theory, you might not care for it. Otherwise, I think most laypeople ought to find the concept at least a wee bit (pardon the Planck Length pun) interesting. This link might require a Twitter account.
The Dawn Of AI Music: Quantum Computing
Prof. Eduardo R. Miranda of Moth and the University of Plymouth will be a guest speaker at the CultTech Summit 2024. This event will take place in Vienna on November 5th and 6th, with Prof. Miranda scheduled to speak on the 5th. If you plan on being in the area, there are only 31 tickets left at the time I’m publishing this.
No-PhD Junior Quantum Engineer
Georgia B. is hiring for Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC), and it’s an engineering role that does NOT require a PhD. One of the requirements is a “Genuine interest in Quantum Computing,” but since you’re reading The Quantum Dragon you’ve surely got that covered.
Resuscitated Quantum Bullshit Detector
Thanks to Alan Ho and Prof. Michael Biercuk for the idea to resuscitate the Quantum Bullshit Detector. This Twitter account would controversially tweet a paper with a simple “bullshit” or “not bullshit,” but I’ll go one step further and provide links to the microscopic, chemical, microbiologic, and immunochemical analyses of the bullshit.
China cracked encryption? Still bullshit.
https://www.bing.com/images/create/a-hyperrealistic-young-red-dragon-very-sad-at-a-cu/1-671c3c0432a046adb815204b2ddff9a9?id=oluDBnLqxW4udwArCNan%2fA%3d%3d&view=detailv2&idpp=genimg&idpclose=1&thId=OIG4.20.xzvHOfaA49FXIn6BS&frame=sydedg&skey=u0pbLGvpoqa0uLomPmMyulg3xyxXMycmsPR7B1XgJvI&FORM=SYDBIC
https://www.bing.com/images/create/two-young-red-dragons-walking-into-different-pubs/1-671e4d32af464ae9afbfb6526b43ad33?id=KhjCo2gUHMYy%2F4S%2F999Ixg%3D%3D&view=detailv2&idpp=genimg&idpclose=1&thid=OIG2.3YXYaoi0s7HGrhOTCOQA&frame=sydedg&skey=u0pbLGvpoqa0uLomPmMyulg3xyxXMycmsPR7B1XgJvI&form=SYDBIC
https://www.bing.com/images/create/a-young-red-dragon-as-a-pirate-on-a-pirate-ship/1-6722134586de450ca3df78ce33943917?id=nNnQGmCxt0zH3qctKCE43g%3D%3D&view=detailv2&idpp=genimg&idpclose=1&thid=OIG1.Ku9Q3EeqxF.ujVf0YlR7&frame=sydedg&skey=u0pbLGvpoqa0uLomPmMyulg3xyxXMycmsPR7B1XgJvI&form=SYDBIC
https://www.bing.com/images/create/a-young-red-dragon-enjoying-a-roller-coaster-at-an/1-67221bafd6f14f198762ec5b511243e4?id=Ppc1MKURaUD1h8cV8RlIkQ%3D%3D&view=detailv2&idpp=genimg&idpclose=1&thid=OIG1.IXN4V_thvynNgIwCCrRr&frame=sydedg&skey=u0pbLGvpoqa0uLomPmMyulg3xyxXMycmsPR7B1XgJvI&form=SYDBIC