Cool news coming out of UChicago:

Researchers just turned a protein found inside cells into a functioning quantum qubit (the building block of quantum technology). Instead of forcing machines into biology, they let biology build the machine.

Atomic-level precision made in Chicago.

Traditional quantum sensors are built from special materials designed to perform under extremely cold conditions, like diamonds cooled near absolute zero. They’re powerful but not practical for studying real biology.

UChicago’s approach is different. They hacked fluorescent proteins which are the same glowing markers biologists already use to tag genes and made them quantum sensors.

The upside for this could be very exciting. This could allow scientists see protein folding in real time or spot disease at its earliest moment. In other words: imagine biology with an ultra-HD camera.

This discovery comes out of David Awschalom’s lab at UChicago, where he also leads the Chicago Quantum Exchange.

It’s exactly the kind of interdisciplinary breakthrough Chicago is betting on: physicists, engineers, and biologists working side by side.

Billions in federal and private capital are already flowing into Chicago’s deep-tech economy. This breakthrough is a proof point and another win for Chicago’s deep tech community.

Special things are happening here.

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