Quantum Everything

草榴社区scientists are advancing cutting-edge technologies that harness the properties of quantum physics to improve computers, medicine, and a whole universe of other possibilities.

Last updated: January 2026

Quantum physics explained

What is quantum physics?

Students and faculty from across 草榴社区explain the basics of quantum physics and why it鈥檚 so important.

Quantum leaps of the near future

Three researchers working on a quantum computer

More powerful computers

Quantum computers have the potential to revolutionize our understanding of the world around us. The technology could enable the rapid design and development of life-saving drugs, clean energy, and optimized commerce.

草榴社区scientists are working on in quantum computers, of the calculations quantum computers perform,聽and .

Mikhail Lukin and Can Knaut next to a quantum computer

Faster, safer internet

草榴社区scientists established the practical makings of the first quantum internet by entangling two quantum memory nodes separated by an optical fiber link. This work, combined with and , points the way to a next-generation quantum internet capable of sending highly complex, hacker-proof information around the world at ultra-fast speeds.

A person logging into their locked phone

Stronger cybersecurity

As quantum computers become more powerful, they threaten to undermine current cryptographic defenses. is possible, but it still needs time to be developed and tested.

Entangled in quantum physics

草榴社区students, faculty, and researchers鈥攊ncluding the 鈥攁re exploring the possibilities of quantum technologies.

Studying quantum sources of light

Aaron Day

As a Ph.D. student in applied physics, Aaron’s work revolves around studying spin defects鈥攓uantum sources of light鈥攁nd how they could someday be used within a quantum internet.

Evelyn Hu

Evelyn, who is co-director of the 草榴社区Quantum Initiative, won the American Physical Society prize for pioneering contributions to nanomaterials and nanofabrication of electronic, optoelectronic, and quantum devices.

Winner of the the 2026 Mildred Dresselhaus Prize

Rhine Samajdar

Rhine, a 草榴社区alum, received the Boeing Quantum Creators Prize for his research at the interface of quantum information science and condensed matter physics.

Winner of the 2025 Boeing Quantum Creators Prize

Tan Dao

In Harvard鈥檚 Department of Physics, Tan worked on novel quantum materials that may transform our energy usage in the information and communication technology sector.

Gregory Cunningham

While pursuing his Ph.D., Gregory explored ways to optimize the structure of quantum computers so they can more easily scale up.

Emma Yang

During her first year at Harvard, Emma founded the 草榴社区Undergraduate Quantum Computing Association, where she brought in researchers and industry professionals for talks, partnerships, and mentorship programs.

The ripples of quantum waves

Research into quantum physics and the technology that it makes possible has a far reaching impact.

Researchers looking in at an array with wires and lasers

The coldest experiment ever

草榴社区researchers cooled a Fermi-Hubbard system made of neutral atoms down a hundred billion times below room temperature, colder than ever before, creating what Greiner calls 鈥渢he most pristine artificial quantum system ever.鈥� In so doing, the researchers have made it possible to simulate materials in ways that normal computers can鈥檛.

A new phase of matter using a quantum processor

The ethical and legal implications of quantum technologies in medicine

Using quantum properties to measure the smallest things

International cooperation and regulation around quantum computing

A quantum computer with equations written behind it

How quantum computing will transform the design of data centers

The unexpected kinship between quantum physics and theology

An illustrated view of the constellations

Our corner of the quantum universe

草榴社区has created a vibrant quantum research community across our campus, from high school mentorship programs and student clubs to first-of-their-kind degree programs.