Yoram Alhassid asked the question at the end of my Yale Quantum Institute colloquium last February. I knew two facts about Yoram: (1) He belongs to Yale’s theoretical-physics faculty. (2) His PhD thesis’s title—“On the Information Theoretic Approach to Nuclear Reactions”—ranks … Continue reading
You would hardly think that a quantum channel could have any sort of thermodynamic behavior. We were surprised, too. Continue reading
An 81-year-old medical doctor has fallen off a ladder in his house. His pet bird hopped out of his reach, from branch to branch of a tree on the patio. The doctor followed via ladder and slipped. His servants cluster … Continue reading
In elementary and middle school, I felt an affinity for the class three years above mine. Five of my peers had siblings in that year. I carpooled with a student in that class, which partnered with mine in holiday activities … Continue reading
Some of you may have wondered whether I have a life. I do. He’s a computer scientist, and we got married earlier this month. Marrying a quantum information scientist comes with dangers not advertised in any Brides magazine (I assume; … Continue reading
Mr. Mole is trapped indoors, alone. Spring is awakening outside, but he’s confined to his burrow. Birds are twittering, and rabbits are chattering, but he has only himself for company. Sound familiar? Spring—crocuses, daffodils, and hyacinths budding; leaves unfurling; and … Continue reading
London, at an hour that made Rosalind glad she’d nicked her brother’s black cloak instead of wearing her scarlet one. The factory alongside her had quit belching smoke for the night, but it would start again soon. A noise caused … Continue reading
On my right sat a quantum engineer. She was facing a melanoma specialist who works at a medical school. Leftward of us sat a networks expert, a flatworm enthusiast, and a condensed-matter theorist. Farther down sat a woman who slices … Continue reading
A year ago, the “I’m a little teapot” song kept playing in my head. I was finishing a collaboration with David Limmer, a theoretical chemist at the University of California Berkeley. David studies quantum and classical systems far from equilibrium, including … Continue reading
Every spring, a portal opens between Waltham, Massachusetts and another universe. The other universe has a Watch City dual to Waltham, known for its watch factories. The cities throw a festival to which explorers, inventors, and tourists flock. Top hats, goggles, … Continue reading
