Quantum computers are expected to transform fields like drug discovery and encryption by solving problems that are far beyond the reach of conventional machines. However, progress has been limited by a major challenge known as decoherence. This occurs when quantum bits, or qubits, lose their information due to interactions with their surroundings. Even small amounts of electromagnetic noise can disrupt the fragile quantum states needed for computation.

“Quantum systems are extraordinarily powerful but also extremely fragile. The key to making them useful is learning how to control their interaction with the surrounding environment,” says Lei Du, postdoctoral researcher in applied quantum technology at Chalmers.

Lei Du is the lead author of a study that outlines this new type of quantum system. The design is built around giant superatoms, which combine several important features. These systems reduce decoherence, remain stable, and consist of multiple interconnected “atoms” that function together as a single unit.

What Are Giant Superatoms

Giant superatoms bring together two previously separate ideas in quantum physics: giant atoms and superatoms. While each has been studied on its own, this is the first time they have been merged into a single system. These structures behave like atoms but are not found in nature. Instead, they are engineered by scientists (see fact box below).

Giant Atoms and Their “Quantum Echo”

The idea of giant atoms was first introduced by researchers at Chalmers over a decade ago and is now widely used in the field. A giant atom is typically designed as a qubit (which is the smallest unit of quantum information). Unlike ordinary atoms, it connects to light or sound waves at multiple, physically separated points. This allows it to interact with its environment in several places at once, helping it preserve quantum information.

“Waves that leave one connection point can travel through the environment and return to affect the atom at another point — similar to hearing an echo of your own voice before you’ve finished speaking. This self-interaction leads to highly beneficial quantum effects, reduces decoherence and gives the system a form of memory of past interactions,” explains Anton Frisk Kockum, Associate Professor of Applied Quantum Physics at Chalmers and co-author of the study.

Extending Entanglement Across Distances

Although giant atoms have improved understanding of quantum behavior, they have had limitations when it comes to entanglement. Entanglement allows multiple qubits to share a single quantum state and act as one coordinated system, which is essential for powerful quantum computers.

To overcome this limitation, the research team combined giant atoms with the concept of superatoms. A superatom consists of several natural atoms that share the same quantum state and behave collectively as one larger atom.

This combination is expected to make it easier to create complex quantum states needed for quantum communication, networks, and highly sensitive measurement systems.

“A giant superatom may be envisaged as multiple giant atoms working together as a single entity, exhibiting a non-local interaction between light and matter. This enables quantum information from multiple qubits to be stored and controlled within one unit, without the need for increasingly complex surrounding circuitry,” explains Lei Du.

“Giant superatoms open the door to entirely new capabilities, giving us a powerful new toolbox. They allow us to control quantum information and create entanglement in ways that were previously extremely difficult, or even impossible,” says Janine Splettstoesser, Professor of Applied Quantum Physics at Chalmers and co-author of the study.

Toward Scalable and Practical Quantum Systems

This work creates new possibilities for building quantum systems that are both scalable and reliable. The researchers plan to move from theory toward actually constructing these systems. Their design could also be integrated with other quantum technologies, serving as a building block for connecting different types of quantum platforms.

“There is currently strong interest in hybrid approaches, in which different quantum systems work together, because each has its own strengths,” says Anton Frisk Kockum. “Our research shows that smart design can reduce the need for increasingly complex hardware and giant superatoms are bringing us one step closer to practically applicable quantum technology.”

Controlling Quantum Information Flow

More on: Methods for protecting, controlling and distributing quantum information

The study shows that the way giant superatoms interact with light depends on their internal quantum states. This discovery gives researchers greater control over how quantum information moves through a system. They describe two different ways of connecting these structures to achieve useful outcomes.

In one setup, several giant superatoms are closely linked in a specific arrangement. This allows them to pass quantum states between each other without decoherence, meaning no information is lost.

In another setup, the atoms are spaced farther apart but connected in a carefully tuned way so that waves remain synchronized. This makes it possible to direct quantum signals and distribute entanglement over long distances.

Understanding Giant Atoms and Superatoms

Superatoms and giant atoms are engineered systems that behave like atoms rather than naturally occurring ones.

A superatom is a quantum system made up of multiple natural atoms that share a single quantum state and respond to light as one entity.

A giant atom, on the other hand, connects to light or sound waves at several separate points in space. It is called “giant” because it is larger than the wavelength of the light it interacts with.

Giant atoms have defined energy levels and follow the rules of quantum mechanics, yet they can reach sizes of up to millimeters, making them visible to the naked eye. Through electromagnetic or acoustic waves, they can interact with their surroundings at multiple locations at the same time. One way to picture this is as a single atom linked to a wave at several distant points. This unusual setup allows the atom to be influenced by the waves it produces.

For the first time, scientists were able to build a biological profile of the individuals whose bones were found at the site. Their findings suggest these people did not belong to the local Neanderthal group living in the area. Instead, they likely came from elsewhere and were brought to the cave.

Evidence of Butchering and Consumption

The condition of the bones provides key clues about what happened. Many show marks consistent with cutting, breaking, and processing, similar to the way animals were hunted and prepared for food. In particular, the lower limbs appear to have been selected, and the bones were deliberately broken open to extract nutrient-rich marrow.

This pattern strongly suggests the bodies were not treated in a ceremonial or ritual way. Instead, the evidence points to cannibalism for food. The same techniques used on animal prey were applied to these human victims, indicating they were processed as a source of nutrition.

The research, published in Scientific Reports, was carried out by an international team that included scientists from the CNRS (Culture, Environment and Anthropology unit), l’Université de Bordeaux, and l’Université d’Aix-Marseille, along with researchers from the Environmental Geosciences Research and Teaching Centre (Aix-Marseille Univ/CNRS/INRAE/IRD).

A Violent Time in the Late Middle Paleolithic

These findings come from a period known as the late Middle Paleolithic (a prehistoric era spanning roughly from 300,000 to 40,000 years ago, most commonly associated in Europe with Neanderthals). During this time, Neanderthal groups in Northern Europe displayed a wide range of cultural behaviors, and early Homo sapiens were beginning to appear in nearby regions.

In this context, the targeted nature of the cannibalism is especially striking. The fact that the victims appear to have been outsiders suggests that different groups may have come into conflict. Researchers propose that this behavior could reflect territorial tensions between Neanderthal communities, possibly linked to competition for resources or space.

Advanced Techniques Reveal New Details

The conclusions are the result of more than a decade of research. Scientists revisited the Goyet collection (which is housed at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (Brussels, Belgium)) using modern analytical tools.

These included DNA analysis to study genetic relationships, radiocarbon dating to determine the age of the remains, and isotopic measurements to identify where the individuals likely lived before death. Researchers also used digital reconstruction techniques to piece together fragmented bones and better understand their shape and structure.

Together, these methods allowed scientists to go beyond simply identifying the remains. They were able to reconstruct aspects of the victims’ origins and the events that led to their deaths, offering a clearer and more detailed picture of Neanderthal behavior during a critical period in human history.

A Glimpse Into Neanderthal Survival Strategies

While cannibalism among Neanderthals has been documented before, this study highlights something more specific. It suggests that certain individuals, particularly outsiders, may have been deliberately targeted. Whether driven by survival needs, conflict, or both, this behavior reveals a complex and sometimes brutal side of Neanderthal life.

As researchers continue to study sites like Goyet, they are uncovering new evidence that challenges older assumptions about Neanderthals. Rather than simple or uniform, their behavior appears to have been shaped by social dynamics, environmental pressures, and interactions with other groups, including early modern humans.

Located in central Israel, Tinshemet Cave has produced an exceptional collection of archaeological and human remains. Among the most important discoveries are several human burials, the first mid-Middle Palaeolithic (MP) burials uncovered in more than fifty years. These finds are offering rare insight into how early human groups lived and treated their dead.

The study, published in Nature Human Behaviour, is the first to present results from the site. It provides strong evidence that Neanderthals and Homo sapiens not only shared the region but also influenced each other’s daily activities, technologies, and rituals. This challenges earlier ideas that viewed these groups as largely separate and instead suggests a much closer and more complex relationship.

Scientists Investigate Neanderthal and Human Relationships

Excavations at Tinshemet Cave began in 2017 and are led by Prof. Yossi Zaidner of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Prof. Israel Hershkovitz of Tel Aviv University, and Dr. Marion Prévost of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. One of the central questions guiding the research is how Neanderthals and Homo sapiens interacted during the mid-Middle Palaeolithic in this region. Researchers are exploring whether these groups competed, coexisted peacefully, or worked together in meaningful ways.

To answer this, the team examined evidence across four main areas: stone tool production, hunting strategies, symbolic behavior, and social complexity. Their analysis suggests that multiple human groups, including Neanderthals, pre-Neanderthals, and Homo sapiens, maintained ongoing contact. These interactions allowed ideas and skills to spread, gradually making different groups more culturally similar over time.

Shared Rituals and Early Symbolism

The research also points to important behavioral developments driven by these connections. Around 110,000 years ago, formal burial practices began to appear in Israel for the first time anywhere in the world. This shift may reflect stronger social ties and shared traditions among groups.

One striking feature of the cave is the widespread use of mineral pigments, especially ochre. Researchers believe it may have been used to decorate bodies, possibly serving as a way to express identity or distinguish between groups. This kind of symbolic behavior suggests a deeper level of social meaning than previously recognized.

Was Tinshemet Cave an Ancient Cemetery

The arrangement of burials at the site raises the possibility that Tinshemet Cave served as a dedicated burial area or even an early cemetery. If that is the case, it would point to organized rituals and strong community bonds. Objects placed alongside the dead, including stone tools, animal bones, and pieces of ochre, may also hint at early beliefs about an afterlife.

A Crossroads of Human Evolution

Prof. Zaidner describes the region as a “melting pot” where different human populations came together and influenced one another. “Our data show that human connections and population interactions have been fundamental in driving cultural and technological innovations throughout history,” he explains.

Dr. Prévost emphasizes the importance of geography in shaping these interactions. “During the mid-MP, climatic improvements increased the region’s carrying capacity, leading to demographic expansion and intensified contact between different Homo taxa.”

Prof. Hershkovitz highlights how closely linked these groups may have been. “These findings paint a picture of dynamic interactions shaped by both cooperation and competition.”

New Insights Into Early Human Society

The discoveries at Tinshemet Cave provide a detailed look at the social lives, behaviors, and environments of early humans. They reveal a time of major population growth and cultural change, driven by contact between different human groups. As research at the site continues, scientists expect even more discoveries that could deepen our understanding of how human society first began to take shape.

The findings are based on data from more than 7,000 adults between the ages of 40-65 who are part of the GCAT | Genomes for Life cohort, led by the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP). In 2018, participants provided details about their height, weight, meal timing, lifestyle habits, and socioeconomic background through questionnaires.

Five years later, in 2023, more than 3,000 of these individuals returned for follow-up assessments. Researchers recorded updated measurements and collected new survey data, allowing them to track changes and identify patterns over time.

Early Eating and Longer Fasting Linked to Lower BMI

“Our results, in line with other recent studies, suggest that extending the overnight fast could help maintain a healthy weight if accompanied by an early dinner and an early breakfast. We think this may be because eating earlier in the day is more in line with circadian rhythms and allows for better calorie burning and appetite regulation, which can help maintain a healthy weight. However, it is too soon to draw definitive conclusions, so recommendations will have to wait for more robust evidence,” explains Luciana Pons-Muzzo, researcher at ISGlobal at the time of the study and currently at IESE Business School.

Gender Differences and Lifestyle Patterns

When researchers compared results by gender, they found notable differences. Women generally had lower BMI, followed the Mediterranean diet more closely, and were less likely to drink alcohol. At the same time, they reported poorer mental health and were more often responsible for household or family supervision.

Using a method called ‘cluster analysis’, the team grouped participants with similar characteristics. One small group of men stood out. These individuals typically ate their first meal after 14:00 and fasted for about 17 hours. Compared to others, they were more likely to smoke and drink alcohol, less physically active, and less likely to follow the Mediterranean diet. They also tended to have lower levels of education and higher rates of unemployment. Researchers did not observe a similar pattern among women.

Intermittent Fasting and Breakfast Skipping

“There are different ways of practising what is known as ‘intermittent fasting’ and our study relates to one of them, which is overnight fasting. What we observed in a subgroup of men who do intermittent fasting by skipping breakfast is that this practice has no effect on body weight. Other intervention studies in participants with obesity have shown that this tactic is no more effective than reducing calorie intake in reducing body weight in the long term,” says Camille Lassale, ISGlobal researcher and senior co-author of the study.

Chrononutrition and the Body’s Internal Clock

“Our research is part of an emerging field of research known as ‘chrononutrition’, which focuses not only on analysing what we eat, but also the times of day and the number of times we eat,” says Anna Palomar-Cros, researcher at ISGlobal at the time of the study and currently at IDIAP Jordi Gol. “At the basis of this research is the knowledge that unusual food intake patterns can conflict with the circadian system, the set of internal clocks that regulate the cycles of night and day and the physiological processes that must accompany them,” she adds.

Earlier Meals Linked to Broader Health Benefits

This study builds on earlier ISGlobal research in chrononutrition. Previous findings have shown that eating dinner and breakfast earlier in the day is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, reinforcing the idea that meal timing plays a meaningful role in long-term health.