**Quantum Computing Heats Up: West Responds to China's Breakthrough**
Scientists in China have reportedly created the world's first room temperature time crystals, sparking a wave of quantum computing initiatives in the US, UK, and EU.
**Key Points:**
- **Breakthrough:** Chinese researchers from Tsinghua University, with Danish and Austrian collaborators, published findings on room temperature time crystals.
- **What Are Time Crystals?** A unique state of matter where molecules flicker between configurations, unlike traditional crystals.
- **Western Response:**
- **US:** DARPA and Illinois commit $140 million each for a new quantum computing center in Chicago.
- **UK:** Government pledges $127 million for five research hubs led by Oxford University.
- **MIT Partnership:** Teams up with the University of Copenhagen for joint quantum research.
This surge in funding and collaboration aims to harness this breakthrough for practical quantum computing applications.