IBM Research
The Future is Quantum
Some of the most important technical advances of the 20th century were enabled by decades of fundamental scientific exploration, whose initial purpose was simply to extend human understanding. When Einstein discovered relativity, he had no idea that one day it would be an important part of modern navigation systems. Such is the story of quantum […]
Breaking Through a Major Quantum Barrier
Quantum computing is at the threshold of tackling important problems that cannot be efficiently or practically computed by other, more classical means. Getting past this threshold will require us to build, test and operate reliable quantum computers with 50 or more qubits. Achieving this potential will require major leaps forward in both science and engineering. […]
5 nanometer transistors inching their way into chips
Announced at the 2017 Symposia on VLSI Technology and Circuits conference in Kyoto this week, IBM and our research alliance partners, GLOBALFOUNDRIES and Samsung built a new type of transistor for chips at the 5 nanometer (nm) node. To achieve this feat, the architecture – how the elements of a chip are arranged and the […]
Why We Patent
To some, today’s announcement that IBM once again led the U.S. in patents in 2016 might sound as predictable as snow in upstate New York in January. After all, this marks the 24th consecutive year IBM has received the most patents. It’s what we do, right? But to gloss over this news would be to […]
Exploring the Brain in Search of New Ways to Combat Disease
Understanding the brain is one of the grandest challenges we have in science. By understanding the brain, we will understand how the brain creates our cognitive processes, how these processes are implemented in brain tissues, and how the brain differs from other systems we see and build. I’m a neuroscientist and have worked at modelling […]
Cognitive Research Grows in Canada
Research is a key driver of how the world is shaped. It provides insight into society’s most important challenges and issues. It drives innovation, creates jobs, and contributes to the economy and the treatment and prevention of diseases. It also enhances our culture and diversity. Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario is one of Canada’s leading […]
Bringing ‘Hidden Figures’ of Innovation to STEM
When I saw the movie Hidden Figures, I was struck by the determination of the so-called human “computers” – the African-American women whose mathematical calculations made it possible for astronaut John Glenn to be launched into orbit during the 1960s Space Race that coincided with American advances in Civil Rights. The inspiring stories of these […]
The Power of Thinking Big: IBM Research’s “5 in 5”
Great scientific leaps rarely happen incrementally. They come from setting big, ambitious goals that move discovery forward. Think of the Wright brothers’ determination to fly, President John F. Kennedy’s pledge to put a man on the moon, or IBM Research’s resolve to build a computer that could understand spoken language and beat the greatest human […]
How to Fix the Fake News Phenomenon
Academics, medical professionals, humorists and others gathered in New York City last week at the Future Today Summit to share their expertise in how technology is changing the world, and how man can and will adjust to it. Amy Webb, After the event, Founder and CEO of the Future Today Institute, and also an adjunct […]
Age Matters
Today, most people can expect to live into their seventies and beyond. According to a US Census Bureau report, within the next 15 years the world will have close to a billion people over the age of 65, and for the first time in human history, people aged 65 and over will outnumber children under […]
Advancing AIDS Treatment Through Machine Learning
According to estimates, 17 million people worldwide are currently being treated for AIDS – that’s more than ever before despite the fact that the number of people being infected with the virus has gone down. The secret is the ‘cocktail’ that is helping AIDS patients live longer, which is essentially increasing the population of AIDs […]
New Research Isolates Early Evidence of Cancer to Aid Diagnostics
Next time you’re seated at a table over dinner with four of your friends, pause for a moment and consider the following: statistically, it’s likely that two of you will be diagnosed with cancer at some point during your lifetimes. These two are 2.5 times more likely to go bankrupt because of the high cost […]