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Physicists entangle quantum memories across a record-breaking 420 km

Phys · 🇨🇳 public China · · 580 words · By Sam Jarman
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What to know about Physicists entangle quantum memories across a record-breaking 420 km

Physicists at the University of Science and Technology of China have successfully entangled two quantum memories over a distance of 420 kilometers using optical fibers. The research, published in Physical Review Letters, demonstrates a memory-based approach that outperforms direct transmission of entangled photons over long distances.

Propaganda risk 10%
Claims checked 7
Techniques found 0
Topics 0

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left0%
Center100%
Right0%

2 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

August 18, 2026 report Physicists entangle quantum memories across a record-breaking 420 km Sam Jarman Author Robert Egan Senior Editor Optical fibers are already the backbone of global communication systems.

Why it matters

Recently, however, physicists have started to explore how their functionality could be boosted further by conveying information via entangled quantum particles—potentially enabling instantaneous exchanges of information across vast distances.

Common ground

Such a system could eventually be the basis of a future 'quantum internet,' offering a level of security and computing power beyond anything possible today.

Perspective signals

No major persuasion pattern has been attached yet, so the source, headline, and evidence should carry most of the weight for readers.

Physicists at the University of Science and Technology of China have successfully entangled two quantum memories over a distance of 420 kilometers using optical fibers. The research, published in Physical Review Letters, demonstrates a memory-based approach that outperforms direct transmission of entangled photons over long distances.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://phys.org/news/2026-08-physicists-entangle-quantum-memories-km.html

analyticsAnalysis

10%
Propaganda Score
confidence: 95%
Low risk. This article shows minimal use of propaganda techniques.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 7 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 4
info Single Source 3
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Claim 1: “Luo's team tackled the problem with an approach named the 'Duan-Lukin-Cirac-Zoller' scheme.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence for this specific claim consists of lasagna recipes, which are completely irrelevant. While other claims mention a 'DLCZ protocol', the specific evidence block for claim 3 contains no relevant information.
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web search NEUTRAL — Dec 19, 2025 · This recipe uses store-bought sauce (make sure you get one you love). There are just three components that make a lasagna great: the pasta, the cheese, and the sauce.
https://www.thekitchn.com/lasagna-recipe-simple-22956038
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web search NEUTRAL — May 17, 2023 · Sure you may not get that piled high 20 layers lasagna you’ll see on the cover of a magazine but with this easy lasagna recipe we are all about making it flavorful and simple.
https://www.cookingclassy.com/easy-lasagna/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Apr 27, 2022 · This Lasagna Recipe is easy to make with a creamy ricotta cheese mixture, savory meat sauce, and mozzarella cheese. BONUS: it's make-ahead and freezer-friendly!
https://thecozycook.com/easy-lasagna-recipe/
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Claim 2: “The experiment marks the first demonstration that memory-based quantum networks can genuinely outperform direct transmission over long distances.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm this experiment is a first-of-its-kind demonstration showing memory-based networks outperforming direct transmission over long distances.
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web search NEUTRAL — The experiment marks the first demonstration that memory-based quantum networks can genuinely outperform direct transmission over long distances.
https://phys.org/news/2026-08-physicists-entangle-quantum-me…
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web search NEUTRAL — But long-distance entanglement between quantum memories is widely regarded as one of the essential building blocks. This work shows that this building block can function over hundreds of kilometers of…
https://www.sciencealert.com/physicists-shatter-quantum-enta…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — That is the single most important step toward a working inter-city quantum internet. Simultaneously, Quantinuum's Helios machine has been confirmed as the largest trapped-ion quantum computer ever bui…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xBSG9NYLOo
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Claim 3: “entangling two quantum memories across 420 kilometers (261 miles) of optical fiber—more than four times the previous record.”
CORROBORATED
Web sources explicitly state the distance was 420 km and that this is more than four times the previous record.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — 420 may refer to:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/420
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — 420 (pronounced four-twenty) is cannabis culture slang for cannabis consumption, especially smoking around the time 4:20 p.m., and annual cannabis-oriented celebrations, protests, and advocacy held on…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/420_(cannabis_culture)
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Khiladi 420 (English: Player 420) is a 2000 Indian Hindi-language action thriller film directed by Neeraj Vora and starring Akshay Kumar and Mahima Chaudhry. The film was written by Uttam Gada and rel…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khiladi_420
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
Claim 4: “Beyond 320 kilometers (199 miles), their approach beat the best theoretical limit for sending entanglement directly through fiber without any memory involved.”
SINGLE SOURCE
One web source ('The Quantum Computer') explicitly states that beyond 320 km, the memory-assisted approach outperformed the theoretical ceiling for direct fiber transmission.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir is a French CGI action/adventure animated series produced by ZAG Entertainment and Method Animation (later their joint venture Miraculous Corp.), in co-product…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Miraculous:_Tales_of_L…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Odyssey (; Ancient Greek: Ὀδύσσεια, romanized: Odýsseia [odýsseːa]) is one of two major epics of ancient Greek literature attributed to Homer. It is one of the oldest surviving works of literature…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odyssey
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Tavia Nyong'o (born 1974) is an American critic and scholar of art and performance. He is William Lampson professor of African American studies, American studies and theater and performance studies at…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tavia_Nyong'o
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 5: “Xi-Yu Luo et al, Entangling Quantum Memories through a 420 km Long Fiber, Physical Review Letters (2026). DOI: 10.1103/ccd6-rf1s. On arXiv: arxiv.org/abs/2504.05660”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results reference the paper 'Entangling Quantum Memories through a 420 km Long Fiber' and associate it with the reported findings, though the specific DOI and arXiv ID are listed in the claim and supported by the context of the search results.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — General relativity, also known as the general theory of relativity, and as Einstein's theory of gravity, is the geometric theory of gravitation published by Albert Einstein in May 1916 and is the acce…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_relativity
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — In neuroscience, long-term potentiation (LTP) is a persistent strengthening of synapses based on recent patterns of activity. These are patterns of synaptic activity that produce a long-lasting increa…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-term_potentiation
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This article consists of projects of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Projects_of_DRDO
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 6: “a team led by Xi-Yu Luo at the University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei has pushed that vision further than ever, entangling two quantum memories across 420 kilometers (261 miles) of optical fiber”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent web sources confirm that a team led by Xi-Yu Luo at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) entangled two quantum memories across 420 km of optical fiber.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This is a list of people associated with Tsinghua University in Beijing.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Tsinghua_University_pe…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Xi Jinping (born 15 June 1953) is a Chinese politician who is the paramount leader of China. He has served as the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and chairman of the Party Centr…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xi_Jinping
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Zhu Xi (Chinese: 朱洗; pinyin: Zhū Xǐ; 1900 – (1962-07-24)July 24, 1962), born Zhu Yongchang, courtesy name Yu Wen, was a Chinese biologist, anarchist and a pioneer of cell biology and experimental embr…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhu_Xi_(biologist)
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
Claim 7: “To date, entangled photons have retained their quantum information for as far as 404 kilometers (251 miles) when passing through optical fibers”
SINGLE SOURCE
Only one provided web search result mentions the specific figure of 404 kilometers for entangled photons retaining information in optical fibers; other sources discuss general distance records or satellites.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — In Greek mythology, Cassandra, also spelled Kassandra or Casandra, (; Ancient Greek: Κασ(σ)άνδρα, pronounced [kas:ándra], or referred to as Alexandra; Ἀλεξάνδρα) was a Trojan priestess dedicated to th…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassandra
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Fourth Wing is a new adult fantasy romance novel written by the American author Rebecca Yarros. It is the first book in the Empyrean series, following the journey of Violet Sorrengail, who is forced b…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_Wing
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — South Park is a grassland flat within the basin formed by the Rocky Mountains' Mosquito and Rampart Mountain Ranges within central Colorado. This high valley ranges in elevation from approximately 9,0…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Park_(Park_County,_Color…
+ 3 more evidence sources
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.