From breakthroughs in computing to a new Ebola research program in Japan, senior physical sciences reporter Davide Castelvecchi of Nature News explains some of the top science stories of recent weeks:
- Google published evidence that they’ve achieved quantum supremacy … and, yes, that’s a technical term, not just overblown techno-bragging.
- A modified version of the CRISPR gene editing system, known as CRISPR Prime, could make the technology less error-prone, and effective in a wider array of cell types.
- The Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo finally appears to be slowing down, thanks in part to experimental vaccines that are now close to approval.
- Meanwhile, Japan has imported Ebola and started a research program aimed at heading off the spread of infectious diseases at the 2020 Olympics.
- UK has announced plans to build the world's first fusion power plant. The question is, will it fare any better than previous attempts to harness the energy of nuclear fusion?
