What Won the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics? Quantum Physics You Can Hold in Your HandThis year's Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded for the discovery of quantum phenomena at the macro scale i.e. in devices that can fit in our hands
Quantum Phenomena At the Macroscopic Scale: The 2025 Nobel Prize in PhysicsOn October 7, 2025, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics to three physicists, namely John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret and John M. Martinis, “for the discovery of macroscopic quantum mechanical tunnelling and energy quantisation in an electric circuit.” In simpler terms, the trio demonstrated that the bizarre laws of the quantum world, which are typically seen only at the scale of atoms and subatomic particles, can apply on a scale big enough to hold in your hand. Their experiments revealed quantum physics in action in a tangible, human-scale device. What They Did and Why It Matters?Quantum mechanics is often associated with the microscopic: electrons, atoms, photons, etc., entities so tiny they can’t be seen directly. Phenomena like quantum tunnelling (particles “passing through” barriers) or energy quantisation (energy comes in discrete “chunks”) have been known for nearly a century. I explored Quantum Tunnelling at length in an old post on this newsletter for those of you interested: But applying these effects to large, engineered systems has long seemed like science fiction. However, the 2025 laureates challenged that assumption. They built an electronic circuit made of superconducting materials in which all the electrons behaved collectively as a single quantum system. In their experiments, this circuit exhibited two hallmark features of quantum behaviour:
By performing these experiments, Clarke, Devoret and Martinis proved that quantum mechanical effects aren’t confined to atomic-scale systems; they can emerge in macroscopic, engineerable devices. Devices that can fit in our hands & devices that are perhaps larger as well, furthermore elucidating that these quantum phenomena are no longer confined to the microscopic world of subatomic particles. Why This Is a Big Deal For Science and TechnologyThe significance of this breakthrough is twofold. Firstly, conceptually, it blurs the traditional boundary between the quantum world and the classical (everyday) world. Quantum physics and classical physics, if you will. Systems that look “normal” and “big” can, under the right conditions, act quantum-mechanically. That challenges how we think about quantum physics and expands the realm where quantum rules apply. Secondly, practically, their work laid the foundation for modern quantum technologies. Superconducting circuits with quantised energy levels, so-called “artificial atoms”, are core building blocks in quantum computing, quantum cryptography, and ultra-sensitive quantum sensors. In other words, thanks to their discovery, the strange world of quantum mechanics is no longer just theoretical or confined to labs. It is now the backbone of emerging technologies that could reshape computing, communications and measurement & in more ways than one, the future of technology in the coming decades itself. Looking Forward To The Quantum Future
The 2025 Nobel Prize for physics is a signal and a precursor to how the future could unfold. By proving that quantum behaviour can survive in macroscopic circuits, Clarke, Devoret and Martinis have unlocked several possibilities, i.e. from fault-tolerant quantum computers to next-generation sensors, and perhaps new technologies we can’t yet imagine. As quantum computing races forward with big companies and research labs worldwide building on these foundations, the 2025 Nobel Prize stands as a landmark & a confirmation that the quantum revolution is not just about theory, but about real, physical devices you can hold, fabricate and scale. Here’s another article I wrote last year about the basics of quantum computing… check it out if you’re interested
In a world increasingly shaped by quantum phenomena and now emerging quantum tech solutions, i.e. from encryption, to quantum computing to measurement, logistics and beyond, this year’s Nobel prize in physics award reminds us that the strange, counter-intuitive quantum realm is not just the playground of particles at the microscopic level. It is, quite literally, within our grasp. If you liked this article, you can buy my book Make Your Own Waves, which comprises 45 thought-provoking perspectives on life, which you can buy at the link: https://amzn.eu/d/dZaX8Dr If you’re in India, you can buy it here: https://amzn.in/d/fA4iDgb
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Saturday, 29 November 2025
What Won the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics? Quantum Physics You Can Hold in Your Hand
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