Free Republic

The field of quantum computing has taken a giant leap forward with the development of the Willow chip. Over a decade in the making, this achievement stems from a vision to harness the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics for scientific discovery, problem-solving, and transformative applications. The Willow chip represents a major step toward realizing large-scale, commercially useful quantum computers.A critical hurdle in quantum computing has been error correction. Qubits, the foundational units of quantum computation, are notoriously fragile and prone to interacting with their environment, leading to errors. These errors increase with the number of qubits, often rendering the system...

With radar-cross-section (RCS) trials for Boeing’s Silent Eagle semi-stealthy F-15 prototype complete, company officials are now focusing on South Korea as a possible first customer. The RCS testing took place during a two-week period last August and September, although Boeing has only just acknowledged it because of proprietary issues, says Mark Bass, vice president of F-15 programs. The company is eyeing South Korea’s forthcoming F-X3 competition for 60 fighters as the first sales opportunity for the Silent Eagle. The South Korean parliament’s recent hesitancy about investing in all-stealth aircraft “validates our approach” with the aircraft, says Bass. The company is...

Every morning, Jackie Avelar wakes up to a predicament. On one side of her bed is a clock that sounds the Islamic call to prayer five times a day. On the other side is a statue of Mary. As a Muslim, she wants to remove it. As a Latina, she can't. Her father, who is a Catholic from El Salvador, wants the statue to stay. "I have to respect him," Avelar said. < break> So she has found a comfortable balance: She covers the statue with a photo of her family. Across the nation, thousands of Latino immigrants are redefining...

by Mark Shields RELEASE: WEEKEND, MARCH 16-17, 2002 THE CHURCH'S ACTS OF BETRAYAL Let me tell you about Tom Duffy, my pastor at Blessed Sacrament Church. Today, 50 years after his ordination, he continues to inspire his flock to feed the hungry, to clothe and shelter those in need. He visits the sick, buries the dead, comforts the lonely, welcomes the stranger, counsels the perplexed and still finds time to read almost everything. Father Duffy is both a good man and a good priest. But because of the arrogance -- yes, the criminal indifference -- of the hierarchy of the...