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“UK’s First Long-Distance Ultra-Secure Communication Network Demonstrated: A Quantum Leap in Cybersecurity”

Researchers have successfully demonstrated the UK’s first long-distance ultra-secure transfer of data over a quantum communications network, including the UK’s first long-distance quantum-secured video call.

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The UK has made a significant breakthrough in cybersecurity with the demonstration of its first long-distance ultra-secure communication network. Researchers at the Universities of Bristol and Cambridge have successfully established a quantum network that can transfer data securely over a distance of over 410 kilometers, using standard fiber-optic infrastructure but relying on quantum phenomena to enable ultra-secure data transfer.

The network employs two types of quantum key distribution (QKD) schemes: “unhackable” encryption keys hidden inside particles of light and distributed entanglement – a phenomenon that causes quantum particles to be intrinsically linked. This is the first time a long-distance network has been successfully demonstrated, encompassing different quantum-secure technologies such as entanglement distribution.

Quantum communications offer unparalleled security advantages compared to classical telecommunications solutions. These technologies are immune against future cyber-attacks, even with quantum computers that will have the potential to break through even the strongest cryptographic methods currently in use.

The researchers presented their results at the 2025 Optical Fiber Communications Conference (OFC) in San Francisco and demonstrated the capabilities of the network via a live, quantum-secure video conference link, the transfer of encrypted medical data, and secure remote access to a distributed data center. This is an extraordinary achievement that highlights the UK’s world-class strengths in quantum networking technology.

The current UK Quantum Network (UKQN) covers two metropolitan quantum networks around Bristol and Cambridge, which are connected via a ‘backbone’ of four long-distance optical fiber links spanning 410 kilometers with three intermediate nodes. The network uses single-mode fiber over the EPSRC National Dark Fibre Facility and low-loss optical switches allowing network reconfiguration of both classical and quantum signal traffic.

The team will pursue this work further through a newly funded EPSRC project, the Integrated Quantum Networks Hub, whose vision is to establish quantum networks at all distance scales, from local networking of quantum processors to national-scale entanglement networks for quantum-safe communication, distributed computing, and sensing, all the way to intercontinental networking via low-earth orbit satellites. This marks a crucial step toward building a quantum-secured future for our communities and society.

Communications

Tailoring Social Media to Fit Your Needs: A New Approach to Making Online Time More Fulfilling

Redesigning social media to suit different needs of users could make their time online more focused, according to new research.

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The study, conducted by University of Bristol academics, has shed light on the importance of tailoring social media to suit individual needs. By categorizing users into distinct groups based on their motivations and behaviors, researchers have found that finding the right level of personal investment is key to a positive experience online.

The research revealed three main user types:

1. Those who browse without strong intentionality, often mindlessly scrolling through feeds.
2. Those deeply invested in their online lives, potentially leading to compulsive use and negative consequences for well-being.
3. Those who see value in using social media but retain personal distance, arguably having the best outcomes overall.

The findings suggest that social media platforms could be redesigned to support more intentional use by introducing customized features tailored to different user needs. This approach has the potential to help users regain control over their time online and make it more purposeful and valued.

By adapting interfaces to align with individual well-being, social media platforms can promote sustainable engagement connected to things that matter to the user, rather than just maximizing screen time. The implications of this work extend beyond social media design into technology use more broadly, offering a data-driven approach to promoting digital self-regulation and overall well-being.

The next phase of this research will explore how social media platforms can identify different user groups and adapt interfaces to support intentional online engagement that prioritizes personal well-being.

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Artificial Intelligence

Wearable Heart Attack Detection Tech: A Game-Changer in Real-Time Diagnosis

Every second counts when it comes to detecting and treating heart attacks. A new technology may be able to identify heart attacks faster and more accurately than traditional methods.

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The article highlights a groundbreaking technology developed by engineers at the University of Mississippi that can detect heart attacks faster and more accurately than traditional methods. Electrical and computer engineering assistant professor Kasem Khalil led the research, which was published in Intelligent Systems, Blockchain and Communication Technologies.

The technology uses artificial intelligence and advanced mathematics to design a chip that analyzes electrocardiograms (ECGs) – graphs of the heart’s electrical signals – and detects a heart attack in real-time. This chip is lightweight and energy efficient enough to be embedded in wearable devices while still being 92.4% accurate, higher than many current methods.

In the United States, someone dies from a heart attack every 40 seconds. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the country. Khalil’s technology aims to improve heart attack detection methods without sacrificing accuracy. The researchers believe that their wearable device can cut down on diagnosis time, allowing patients to receive faster treatment and reducing the likelihood of permanent damage.

The team used a chip design approach that focuses on all aspects of the technology they hope to create, from software development to hardware implementation. This holistic approach allowed them to optimize the system and make it more efficient.

Current methods of heart attack detection often require a patient to go through an electrocardiogram or blood tests in a medical facility, which can take time that a patient might not have. The researchers see their technology as a potential game-changer in real-time diagnosis, allowing patients to receive faster treatment and reducing the risk of permanent damage.

While Khalil’s team continues developing the technology, they envision other health care applications for these devices, such as predicting or identifying seizures, dementia, and other conditions. The detection of diseases depends on the disease itself, but the researchers are working to find faster, more efficient ways of doing that.

This wearable heart attack detection tech has the potential to save lives by enabling real-time diagnosis and reducing the time-sensitive element of heart attacks. Its impact could be significant in improving patient outcomes and reducing mortality rates associated with heart disease.

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Communications

The Personal Touch: How Student Essays Outshine AI-Generated Ones

Researchers have been putting ChatGPT essays to the test against real students. A new study reveals that the AI generated essays don’t yet live up to the efforts of real students. While the AI essays were found to be impressively coherent and grammatically sound, they fell short in one crucial area — they lacked a personal touch. It is hoped that the findings could help educators spot cheating in schools, colleges and universities worldwide by recognizing machine-generated essays.

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The University of East Anglia has conducted a study that reveals a crucial difference between essays written by students and those generated by AI tools like ChatGPT. While AI-generated essays are impressive in their coherence and grammatical soundness, they fall short when it comes to injecting a personal touch into their content. The researchers analyzed 145 essays written by real university students and another 145 generated by ChatGPT, comparing the two in terms of engagement markers – techniques that enhance clarity, connection, and persuade readers.

The study found that student-written essays consistently featured a rich array of engagement strategies, making them more interactive and persuasive. These included rhetorical questions, personal asides, and direct appeals to the reader. In contrast, ChatGPT-generated essays tended to be impersonal, mimicking academic writing conventions but lacking the conversational nuance and personal touch that human writers bring to their work.

The researchers attribute this difference to the nature of AI training data and statistical learning methods, which prioritize coherence over conversational nuance. This reflects a broader concern that relying too heavily on AI tools could lead to a decline in critical literacy and thinking skills among students.

Despite these findings, the study does not dismiss the potential role of AI in education. Instead, it suggests that tools like ChatGPT should be used as teaching aids rather than shortcuts. By harnessing the power of AI while preserving human engagement and creativity, educators can create a more balanced learning environment that benefits both students and teachers.

This research has significant implications for educators worldwide, particularly in spotting cheating and promoting critical literacy and ethical awareness in the digital age. The study’s findings highlight the importance of fostering personal touch and critical thinking skills in students, rather than relying solely on AI-generated content.

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