Three U.S. scientists have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for their discoveries demonstrating quantum tunneling in action. DW Science reporter Sushmitha Ramakrishnan explains how these discoveries could pave the way for next-generation quantum technologies.

Three scientists have received the Nobel Prize in Physics for their research on quantum tunneling, a phenomenon in quantum mechanics where particles can pass through barriers that would be insurmountable in classical physics. This breakthrough has enabled the development of new technologies, making quantum effects observable in everyday devices.

The work has far-reaching implications for fields such as fiber optics, communication, and data security. Quantum encryption, which leverages these principles, could revolutionize data protection and computational speed, potentially leading to more secure and faster devices in the future.

Nobel Prize in Physics: What is quantum tunneling?

And joining me in the studio now is DW science reporter Sushmita Ramakrishnan. Sushmita, in one sentence, in a nutshell, what is quantum physics? Well, if it was that easy, we wouldn't have 100 years worth of work on it. But quantum mechanics in a nutshell is observing the properties of subatomic particles in their wave form. Okay, I can live with that for the moment. But the three got the Nobel Prize for their work in quantum mechanics. What stands out in their work? So the three laureates who won the Nobel Prize, they won it for a phenomenon called quantum tunneling. So the idea of passing through a wall sounds like science fiction, but at the subatomic level, this is possible. So this is kind of what quantum tunneling does. There is a set of electrons that's here. Between the two of us, there's an insulator. But from me to you, the particles can just jump, or rather the charge just jumps. And this is what is quantum tunneling. And this has significant implications because now we can use this technology in handheld devices. It no longer just exists at a scale where we cannot observe it in a really, really small microscopic level. It's not there. You can observe this in handheld devices. And this is where the work of these scientists play a big role. So how groundbreaking is this? As far as the whole research itself is concerned, it has tremendous impact on fields like fiber optics, communication, quantum encryption, and the future of quantum in that sense is focused on having this concept to deliver what the practical needs are. So quantum itself is groundbreaking, but it's not definitely new. It's been there around for 100 years now. In fact, this is the centenary year of quantum mechanics, so it's not completely surprising that the scientists won it for this. We had the Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, Erwin Schrodinger's wave equation, and all of these, which are T-shirt material, has culminated in this kind of work, which leads us to be able to have handheld quantum devices. Okay, just walk me through this. What kind of use will this have? What kind of handheld quantum device could I have in, let's say, 10, 15, or 100 years? In simpler words, for example, quantum encryption is becoming the future of all data security. Once quantum encryption becomes a reality, we will no longer have bits like zeros and ones. This is not going to happen. We're going to have quantum encryption means each zero, each one will have multiple values, which means everything that we've been dealing with in binaries and computers, we're going to be dealing with it in eight-fold times instead. So the speed of processing, the speed of having computational devices is going to massively increase. So probably 20 years, 30 years down the line, if quantum encryption becomes a reality, you would be carrying devices that has a very basic security protocol made of qubits, quantum bits. So it's safer than anything we know now? Or more dangerous than anything that we know now because it can hack into anything in a matter of moments. Okay, let's hope that dangerous bits will not be developed too soon. Thank you very much, science reporter Sushmita Ramakrishnan here in the studio with me.

As the war in Gaza reaches its two-year mark, Israel and Hamas continue negotiations in Egypt. Talks are centered on a proposed ceasefire deal, which includes a partial Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a hostage-prisoner exchange.

Cairo

Middle East Conflict

Israel and Hamas resume Gaza ceasefire talks in Egypt

Leaders in the U.S. state of Illinois are taking President Donald Trump to court, looking to stop the deployment of hundreds of National Guard troops to the streets of Chicago. The White House argues that soldiers are needed to prevent so-called lawlessness.

Chicago

Chicago declares 'ICE Free Zones' amid clashes over raids

French President Emmanuel Macron has given Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu 48 hours to stabilize the government following his sudden resignation. Lecornu stepped down hours after naming his cabinet, amid criticism and growing political instability in a parliament without a clear majority.

Paris

Macron gives Lecornu two days to salvage government after resignation

Microchip maker AMD got a huge boost in the race to supply the artificial intelligence revolution. OpenAI, the company behind major AI platform ChatGPT, announced a deal for AMD to provide the AI startup with its high-performance processing chips starting next year.

Santa Clara

Rise of AI

AI chipmaker AMD strikes major deal with OpenAI

It's a race against time to save the remaining 200 or so stranded climbers on Mount Everest after a massive storm dumped at least three feet of snow over the weekend.

Gorakshep

About 200 Mount Everest climbers still stranded

Clashes broke out at ICE facilities in Chicago and Portland after President Trump ordered National Guard troops into both cities. The move has intensified tensions between federal authorities and local officials amid ongoing protests.

Clashes erupt as Trump deploys National Guard

Former NFL quarterback and Fox Sports analyst Mark Sanchez was charged with felony battery involving serious bodily injury, and could face up to six years in jail, according to Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears.

Indianapolis

Mark Sanchez charged with felony, could face up to 6 years in jail

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson announced on Monday a lawsuit against the Trump administration over plans to deploy the National Guard to Chicago.

Illinois, Chicago sue Trump over National Guard deployment

A selloff in French markets gathered pace after French media reports that Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has resigned. French stocks fell sharply, government bond yields were up 8 basis points and the euro was last down 0.65% at $1.1667.

French markets tumble after PM Lecornu resigns

Former NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez has been charged with battery, intoxication, and unlawful entry after allegedly attacking a 69-year-old truck driver in Indianapolis. The driver stabbed Sanchez in self-defense, believing his life was in danger. Sanchez is currently hospitalised.

Ex-NFL star Mark Sanchez faces criminal charges in alleged assault

U.S. President Donald Trump's battle with Democratic-led cities is heating up after 200 California National Guard troops have been reassigned to Oregon, despite a judge blocking the deployment to Portland.

Portland

Trump sends National Guard to Oregon despite court block

Israeli planes and tanks pounded areas across the Gaza Strip overnight and on Sunday, destroying several residential buildings, witnesses said, as Palestinians hoped a U.S. plan to end the war would soon ease their suffering.

Jerusalem

Israeli strikes on Gaza continue ahead peace talks

Amenhotep III ruled between 1390 and 1350 BC and was one of the most prominent pharaohs of ancient Egypt.

Pharaoh's tomb reopened after more than 20 years of renovations

President Trump has thrust the U.S. military into a critical role deterring illegal crossings into this country at the southern border. As Charlie D'Agata reports, their presence is having unintended consequences.

Santa Teresa

U.S. military presence at southern border angers hunters, hikers

A new CBS News poll shows a majority of Americans disapprove of how President Trump and congressional Republicans and Democrats have handled the government shutdown. Willie James Inman reports on that and Mr. Trump's latest National Guard moves.

Washington

Americans fed up with shutdown, poll finds

Negotiators between Hamas and Israel will begin meetings in Cairo on Monday (October 6) for the release of the remaining 20 hostages and a prisoner swap.  There is a lot of pressure on both sides to get a deal done.

Negotiations between Israel, Hamas set to begin

Japan's ruling party picked hardline conservative Sanae Takaichi as its head on Saturday, putting her on course to become the country's first female prime minister in a move set to jolt investors.

Tokyo

Right-wing Sanae Takaichi set to be Japan's first female premier

For a second day, Israel is launching more strikes on the Strip defying demands from the U.S. to stop attacks. At least 61 Palestinians were killed in attacks across the Strip.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Israel intensifies Gaza bombardment despite U.S. pressure to stop

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he hopes to announce the release of all the hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza in one fell swoop in the coming days.

Netanyahu: Gaza peace deal is 'close'

The government shutdown reached its fourth day on Saturday. The Senate on Friday went home after another failed vote to keep the government open. Willie James Inman has the latest.

No signs of compromise as government shutdown continues

Tensions are high in Portland, Oregon, as National Guardsmen could possibly be deployed there as early as this weekend. Federal agents and demonstrators squared off again, but Portland's mayor and chief of police say they don't need the help.

Protests in Portland as National Guard mobilizes

“I believe they are ready for a lasting peace.” the U.S president wrote on social media after Hamas announced it was willing to release the hostages and hand over power to other Palestinians.

Trump urges Israel to stop bombing Gaza after peace breakthrough

Israel slowed its Gaza offensive on Saturday after U.S. President Donald Trump demanded it stop bombing in response to Hamas saying it was ready to free hostages under the U.S. plan to end the two-year-old war.

Could the Trump deal end the Gaza war?

Sanae Takaichi has been elected as the head of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and is therefore likely to become the next prime minister and the first woman to lead the country.

Japan's ruling LDP elects first female prime minister

U.S. President Donald Trump has acknowledged Hamas's partial acceptance of a ceasefire proposal drafted with Israel, and ordered Israel to stop bombing the Gaza strip.

Trump orders Israel to stop bombing Gaza

The state Attorney-General says the city is violating the law by sharing license data with federal agencies. The El Cajon mayor has accused the state of 'bullying' cities.

El Cajon

State sues El Cajon over license plate data

Sean "Diddy" Combs was sentenced on Friday to more than four years in prison on two prostitution-related charges. It follows a roughly two-month-long trial where Combs was acquitted on more serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking.

Manhattan

Sean "Diddy" Combs sentenced to over four years in prison

The United States Senate on Friday (October 3) failed to advance competing plans to extend federal funding and end the government shutdown, likely pushing the funding lapse into at least next week.

U.S. Senate fails to pass funding bill to end government shutdown

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced on social media another strike targeting a vessel allegedly connected to narco-trafficking off the coast of Venezuela. CBS News' Reed Cowan reports.

Breakdown