Letters to the Universe

Issue 2 | On the delicate balance of skepticism and creativity in scientific discovery

Author

Cierra Choucair
April 13, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes

Letters to the Universe

Issue 2 | On the delicate balance of skepticism and creativity in scientific discovery

Saturday musings are not complete without coffee & books.

THE DELICATE BALANCE

Every week comes laden with new discoveries in the realm of quantum. Some worth only anecdotal mention, and others forever altering our worldview. But nonetheless, these discoveries remind us that we have only just begun. This is a golden age for both theorists and experimentalists. And, as scientists forever tasked at revealing the universe, we must find where healthy skepticism and thinking outside of the box meet.

This is a delicate balance and it can go wrong as often as right. I am reminded of Peter Higgs, who held steadfast to the theoretical existence of the Higgs boson for almost five decades. Despite facing skepticism, he did not waver until the particle's experimental confirmation in 2012.

Richard Feynman's relentless advocacy for quantum mechanics shaped modern physics. His early speculations of a quantum computer now fuel a whole field of scientific endeavor.

Equally inspiring is Andrea Ghez, 2020 Physics Nobel Prize winner. Despite the challenging nature of her research and initial doubts within the scientific community, her team's work confirmed the presence of a supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy.

There are, of course, instances in which revolutionary aspirations do not play out the way we hope.

Linus Pauling, two-time Nobel Laureate in chemistry, proposed a triple-helix model for DNA—an idea that was later refuted by the discovery of the double-helix model by Watson and Crick.

On a personal (and less impactful) note, I am reminded of the first time I took physics. Emphasis on “first time”. Our professor claimed he was borrowing a novel peer-to-peer style of teaching from MIT. He would teach high-level concepts to the honor students, and they, in turn, would teach us. It turned out exactly as one would expect. He thought himself a revolutionary. We thought ourselves existentially unraveled and in need of changing our major.

So how do we strike the balance? How do we focus on that which might be a revolutionary discovery and that which might be better placed in the bin?

Before we propose a framework, we must first define where quantum technology makes the most sense.

QUANTUM SENSE

Quantum computing is lately often misunderstood and misappropriated. I see the term “quantum” popping up everywhere from webinars promising personal energy alignment to consulting services promising “quantum leap” business solutions.

Not only has this buzzword status obscured the genuine scientific value of quantum technologies, but there are many examples in which we’ve been too quick to label quantum computing as the panacea for all computational challenges. It’s a mistake to underestimate the capabilities of existing state-of-the-art technologies. Today's supercomputers are formidable tools which can handle complex computational demands with ease for a multitude of scenarios.

There also seems to be confusion on which applications quantum computing is best suited for. Quantum computing is particularly effective in combinatorial computing, and in solving factorization and optimization problems. These applications benefit the most from quantum computing due to its ability to process complex probability amplitudes and perform exponential speedups.

Understanding these niches allows us to realistically assess where quantum computing can make valuable contributions. While this might seem lackluster, it’s important to not underestimate the ways in which these niches apply to the natural world.

A PROPOSED HEURISTIC

To push forward in pursuit of scientific discovery, the formula to apply is an organized approach coupled with a healthy dose of creativity.

Our current understanding of physics and the universe was made possible because past scientists dared to dream beyond the observable. Creativity and imagination are not just supplementary to scientific rigor; they are essential. It’s important to never get too lost in what is and neglect what could be.

As Dr. Chris Ballance, co-founder of Oxford Ionics recently noted in this article, “As with all forms of new technology and computing, what we have seen time and time again is that the killer application is not one you’ve anticipated.”

What are we not anticipating?

To guide this exploration, I suggest a heuristic approach. In tackling complex problems you hope worthy of quantum computing application, consider the following steps:

  1. Break down the problem into into smaller pieces that can be individually addressed.

  2. Evaluate each component for quantum suitability. Ask whether quantum computing provides a clear advantage over classical methods. Is the problem one of optimization, factorization, or does it involve simulating quantum systems themselves? If so, proceed to the next step.

  3. Once a problem is identified as a good candidate for quantum computing, map it onto a quantum algorithm. For optimization, consider algorithms like the quantum approximate optimization algorithm. For factorization, explore the use of Shor’s Algorithm, and for simulation, look to algorithms based on the quantum phase estimation technique.

  4. Design a solution that utilizes both classical and quantum computing, where classical algorithms prepare and post-process data, and quantum algorithms handle the computationally difficult tasks.

  5. As with any science, experimental validation is key. Iterate over your problem with actual quantum hardware when possible, or use quantum simulators to fine-tune the application.

(And hey, if you think you’re on to something, don’t forget Google & XPRIZE are offering a cool $5mil.)

In leaning on methodical approaches, we can transform quantum computing into a practical tool, guiding us toward the revolutionary breakthroughs we dream of.

ONWARD

As we stand on the edge of the quantum era, each discovery reveals a layer of the universe's grand tapestry, revealing not just new patterns but also blank spaces that our creativity must fill. The journey is a testament to human curiosity and persistence. Let us carry forth the legacy of the great minds like Higgs, Feynman, and Ghez. Let's embrace that the only true certainty is the unexpected.