Loophole found that makes quantum cloning possible
New Scientist
February 24, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
A groundbreaking discovery has challenged the long-standing no-cloning theorem in quantum mechanics, which previously deemed it impossible to duplicate quantum information. Researchers led by Achim Kempf at the University of Waterloo have found a clever workaround: by encrypting quantum states and using one-time decryption keys, they can create multiple encrypted copies of qubits without violating the fundamental law. This breakthrough could revolutionize quantum computing and communication by enabling redundancy in data storage and transmission.
The no-cloning theorem, established in the 1980s, ensures that quantum information cannot be copied due to the delicate nature of quantum states. However, Kempf’s team demonstrated that while only one readable, unencrypted copy exists at any given time, multiple encrypted clones can be made. This method involves introducing controlled noise as an encryption mechanism, which garbles the original message but allows for decryption with a unique key. Tested on IBM's Heron 156-qubit processor, the researchers successfully created hundreds of encrypted clones, limited only by the hardware’s capacity.
This innovation could have profound implications for quantum technologies. For instance, it opens the door to secure cloud storage solutions where data is stored across multiple locations, similar to how classical systems like Dropbox operate. In cases where one location fails or is compromised, others can recover the information. This redundancy was previously impossible due to the no-cloning theorem but is now achievable through this encryption-based approach.
While not true cloning, Kempf describes it as "encrypted cloning," which spreads a quantum state across many parties in such a way that any single party could retrieve the original information with the decryption key. Experts like Aleks Kissinger at the University of Oxford view this as a clever cryptographic protocol rather than a direct violation of the no-cloning theorem.
This development is significant for anyone interested in the future of quantum computing and communication, offering new possibilities for data security and reliability. By leveraging encryption and controlled noise, researchers have found a way to
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Originally published on New Scientist on 2/24/2026