Quantum science research is full of promises. When will they happen? December 15, 20253:00 AM ET By Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/nx-s1-5630515/nx-s1-mx-5630515-1" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Artistic illustration of a colorful atomic particles. NASA/NASA hide caption toggle caption NASA/NASA This year, quantum science and computing came up a lot. There have been broad claims that quantum science and engineering could one day help cure diseases, design new materials, optimize supply chains — or help in other ways not yet fathomable. And, while the Trump administration has made strides to cut scientific funding, quantum research is one of two things they’ve pledged to continue investing in – along with artificial intelligence. Meanwhile, scientists have been hard at work, pushing the research to move quantum engineering from sci-fi to real-world usefulness. All of this got science correspondent Katia Riddle wondering: When will all of this effort actually pay off? She talked to a lot of scientists to figure it out — and to figure out how much scientist really understand about quantum science. She brings everything she learned onto the show today. Sponsor Message Source: https://www.npr.org/2025/12/15/nx-s1-5630515/quantum-computing-physics-research-science