Nobelpreis 2025: Hat Google es wieder gewonnen?

In 2025, the laurels of the Nobel Prize in Physics were awarded to three pioneers in the field of quantum circuitry - John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret, and John M. Martinis. Their outstanding contribution lies in being the first to prove that peculiar quantum phenomena such as tunneling and energy quantization can completely occur in the macroscopic electrical circuits we see in our daily lives.

However, behind these scientifically remarkable achievements that will be written in history, each of the three laureates has a colorful life and little - known anecdotes.

John Clarke:

A Precision Craftsman Pursuing Perfection

John Clarke

At the age of eight decades, Clarke is the senior among the three. This experimental physicist, born and raised in Cambridge, has dedicated his academic career of over five decades to the University of California, Berkeley. His achievements in the field of superconductivity are world - famous, and his meticulous work style and lifelong love for "creation" are also legendary.

Clarke's innate hands - on ability was evident in his childhood. He was extremely fascinated by mechanical gadgets since childhood. Every Christmas, his parents would give him upgraded kits of metal construction toys (Meccano sets), and these parts would transform into hundreds of different machines in his hands.

Such construction toy kits were Clarke's favorite when he was a child | Billy Black

In high school, he built a working analog computer with his own hands using vacuum tubes he "salvaged" from the retired EDSAC - 1 computer at the University of Cambridge. It is said that he went to the university laboratory in person and pleaded with the researchers to spare him some old parts. A scientist who was willing to support the younger generation gave him a chassis with 48 vacuum tubes. The analog computer he made was later taken to school by him to solve differential equations.

Science was not the only shining point in Clarke's youth. He was an excellent athlete and served as the captain of the high - school track and field team for three years. As a good sprinter and hurdler, he set personal best records in the 100 - yard and 440 - yard events and also dabbled in the triple jump. The discipline and competitiveness forged through sports competitions perfectly complemented his academic pursuits.

In 1976, Clarke conducted a quantum entanglement experiment at the Berkeley Laboratory | University of California Graphic Arts / Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory

Colleagues often joke that John Clarke's laboratory is spotless, so clean that "you can dine on the floor". His workspace is always in perfect order: the wires are neatly coiled, the instruments and equipment are clearly labeled, and there is no clutter or noise interference. This almost meditative pursuit of precision is the epitome of his scientific research style. Students privately gave him the nickname: "The Zen Master of the Superconductivity World".

Michel H. Devoret:

An Explorer Blending Imagination and Reality

Michel H. Devoret

At the age of 72, Devoret injects a unique European charm into this scientific trio. This French - American physicist teaching at Yale University is known for his unique style of skillfully combining bold theories with quantum devices.

In the early 1980s, right after obtaining his doctorate in France, he traveled far to California, USA, and joined Clarke's Berkeley Laboratory as a post - doctoral researcher. There, his "theoretical boldness full of European flavor" had a wonderful chemical reaction with Clarke's "rigor based on experience". Devoret is the "idea man" who always asks "What if we try this?" It is this spirit of exploration that inspires the team to move forward bravely after repeated failures.

After completing two years of post - doctoral research, Devoret returned to France to continue his academic career. Twenty years later, the quantum laboratory at Yale University was established and wanted to recruit Devoret. Originally, they thought it would be difficult to poach him (after all, he had achieved success in his home country), but unexpectedly, he readily agreed. This may be attributed to Devoret's father. In 1966, little Michel lived in New Haven, the city where Yale is located, with his father for a year. He really liked the "exoticism" of American life.

In addition to (formerly) having teaching positions at Yale University and the University of California, Santa Barbara, Devoret is also the chief scientist of Google's Quantum AI Laboratory. (If I were Google, I would immediately issue a public relations statement: "Our employees have won the Nobel Prize for two consecutive years. Join our company, and you could be the next Nobel laureate!")

John M. Martinis:

A Doer Who Combines Knowledge and Action

John M. Martinis

At the age of 67, Martinis is the "California pragmatist" in the trio. His most distinctive trait is his tireless and hands - on style. Therefore, he is often hailed as "an engineer among physicists".

Martinis says he is a "definite optimist". He always focuses highly on a single goal during his research. He believes that his achievements in physics research stem from this personality trait. He quotes a sentence from the book Zero to One to express himself: "A definite optimist decides on the best thing and then does it." (He really likes this book and has mentioned it in different interviews and speeches.)

Zero to One by Peter Thiel is Martinis' favorite book | roblilwall.com

While others are still arguing about theoretical issues, Martinis might be staying up all night to figure out the wiring of a new chip. He insists on adjusting the cables and soldering the components by himself and never leaves it to the technicians. This "craftsman spirit" has accompanied him throughout his career. A colleague once said that you are more likely to see him tightening a screw beside a dilution refrigerator than having a high - flying discussion in the meeting room.

Martinis may be best known as a "Google scientist". In 2014, the tech giant Google spent millions of dollars to recruit Martinis and his entire laboratory from the University of California, Santa Barbara, to form a quantum hardware team. This rare alliance between academia and industry finally bore rich fruits.

In October 2019, Martinis' team announced that they had successfully achieved "quantum supremacy" on a 53 - qubit processor named "Sycamore". This calculation would take thousands of years for the most powerful classical supercomputers at that time to complete. This achievement quickly made headlines in global media and was hailed as the "Wright brothers moment" in the field of quantum technology.

However, shortly after that, in 2020, when his career seemed to be at its peak, Martinis chose to leave Google. According to himself, it was a "peaceful breakup": he fully recognized the capabilities of Google's research team, but "differences in personality and research style" led to some problems.

(Former) "Google scientist" may be the identity that Martinis is best known for | thequantuminsider.com

PS: Apart from the quantum part that ordinary people can't understand, the questions that Martinis is most frequently asked in interviews are probably "Why did you join Google?" and "Why did you leave Google?"

Guokr

This combination of three scientists is like a well - coordinated laboratory band: one pursues ultimate precision, one is full of creative ideas, and one is a brave doer.

Looking back to the 1980s, in that small laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley, they built a circuit using superconducting materials that could achieve quantum "tunneling". This was the first time in human history to eloquently prove that the mysterious laws of quantum mechanics do not only exist in the microscopic atomic world but can also be staged in the macroscopic circuits within our reach.

Decades later, this pioneering path finally led to today's quantum computers and the Nobel Prize hall in Stockholm.

This article is from the WeChat official account "Guokr" (ID: Guokr42), written by Chuangqiaoyu, Luna, and Shen Zhihan, and published by 36Kr with authorization.