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Summer 2019 THE NEWSLETTER OF THE SANTA FE INSTITUTE Wanted: Algorithms for quantum computing The first theoretical framework for a quantum computer was proposed in 1982 by Richard P. Feynman, and in less than 40 years science and tech have rushed to build quantum machines. Today’s quantum computers sustain tempera- tures approaching absolute zero and are designed to solve problems that would require millions of years for even the world’s best supercomputers. However, the rate of hardware development is seemingly outpacing the growth of algorithms that can leverage the phenomena of quantum mechanics. Or to put it another way: “Everyone is trying to build these [quantum] machines, but we don’t know how to use them in many application domains,” says Helmut Katzgraber, a Principal Research Manager at Microsoft and an External Professor at SFI. “The number of quantum algo- rithms we have is limited, and most of them don’t really have any practical value,” he adds. Quantum computers today excel at solving Cumulative number of courses translated over time, by language. Note—“Chinese” includes multiple dialects. (Image: Nicholas Rougeux) small toy problems for a select subset of disci- plines, such as chemistry and physics, but the lack of practical algorithms limits their wide- spread application. And without useful algo- Subtitle heroes speak complexity in many languages rithms, many fields will continue to rely on They speak Bulgarian, Italian, Arabic, Mandarin, “If you can’t donate, you can participate,” says is a second language. A good English transcrip- classical, silicon-based computers and poten- Greek, Farsi, and more. Together, they’ve put Linden Schneider, SFI’s Online Education Coor- tion can also speed up the process of subtitling tially miss out on the revolutionary potential of thousands of hours into making complexity dinator. “It’s a way for people to contribute to in other languages, since subtitlers have a tex- quantum machines. research accessible to people around the world. tual foundation from which to work. the platform. And they give us so much.” To address this shortage of algorithms, Katzgra- “Subtitle heroes,” as they’re known in the SFI Worldwide accessibility — facilitated by a In 2014, when the subtitling project was ber and his colleagues Maliheh Aramon (1QBit) education office, are a community of people global, cooperative network — also has added launched by then-Interim VP for Education, and Jon Machta (the University of Massachu- worldwide who have dedicated their time to resonance in today’s political climate. Melanie Mitchell, much of the organization of setts and SFI) are convening a working group making SFI’s online courses available in 63 subtitling was painstakingly in-house with a this summer at SFI, from July 30 to Aug. 2. languages to date. “In this moment, the international reach of small team of volunteers. Now, the Education Complexity Explorer feels more important to team works with the subtitling platform Amara, During the workshop, an interdisciplinary team Since its inception, SFI’s online education plat- us than ever,” says Dave Feldman, SFI’s interim a branch of the Participatory Culture Founda- of attendees will consider several themes posed form, Complexity Explorer, has been dedicated Vice President for Education. “That reach tion, to help recruit volunteers, coordinate as questions. The considered topics will touch to making complexity science accessible. While includes those living in countries whose gov- assignments, and monitor the accessibility of on which domains classical and quantum algo- this mission initially involved keeping all core ernments are at odds with ours.” individual courses. All subtitling is done on a rithms are likely to thrive, problems facing content free, it has expanded to offer language volunteer basis, though individuals who subti- quantum computing, and recent developments accessibility as well, with subtitles in multiple As of this year, the top non-English languages tle 120 minutes or more receive a free Complex- in hardware, to name a few. The group will also offered as subtitle options are Arabic, Spanish, languages, including English. What most viewers ity Explorer T-shirt as a gesture of thanks. discuss and develop algorithms for optimiza- don’t realize is that these subtitles are provided and Mandarin. However, offering captions in tion, sampling, and machine learning. by volunteers, many of whom are former stu- English is also a core piece of the project, as it “What [the pro-level Amara platform] allowed “The main reason for the meeting is to think about dents in the courses themselves who want to makes courses accessible to those who are us to do was to open it up completely to any- stay involved and give back to the community. non-hearing as well as those for whom English > MORE ON PAGE 4 > MORE ON PAGE 4 Looking for entrenchment in all the right places Over the last few years, molecular biologist Ash- history of a system determines its current behav- share?” asks evolutionary ecologist Luis Zaman, ley Teufel has begun to notice an emerging trend iors. That idea is similar to hysteresis, a phenome- a Collegiate Fellow at the University of Michigan. in high-profile papers on protein evolution. In non in which a change in one part of the system To find out, Teufel and Zaman have organized a particular, researchers are reporting on entrench- can change its behavior later in time (often working group titled “The Point of No Return,” ment, a phenomenon in which a single event can observed in magnetic systems). Entrenchment is to be held at SFI in October. Invitees include have a widespread effect on an entire system. For also similar to the concept of evolutionary contin- researchers from disparate fields, including ecol- a protein, a genetic mutation that occurs at one gency, which suggests that random accidents ogy, network theory, atmospheric science, and point in time may help determine the way the shape the future course of a living system. The even sociology. Their goal is to identify the under- molecule evolves later. first plant seeds to land on a new volcanic island, lying properties driving entrenchment, and find ways to infer, predict, or even control it. Teufel, an SFI Complexity Postdoctoral Fellow, for example, may determine its future vegetation. The diversity of interests in the working group realized that entrenched systems occur elsewhere. Evidence for entrenchment can be found in will fuel new insights and collaborations about “This can’t just be a weird thing that happens to biology, ecology, computer science, and elsewhere. how entrenchment works, says Teufel. “One proteins,” she says. “There must be an overarching, People’s ideas and feelings can even become of the strengths is having so many people from larger concept.” entrenched over time. different fields collaborate on this to build some Ohia seedlings sprout in lava cracks. (Photo: Alvis Upitis / Alamy) Entrenchment speaks broadly to the idea that the “What are the requirements that all these systems larger framework,” she says. INSIDE . Mendelian moment . Women’s political power . Murray Gell-Mann . MORE BEYOND SFI IN THE NEWS BORDERS Nobel prize-winning physicist and featured in The Economist (April 4), On March 25, The New York Times External Professor Melanie Mitch- SFI co-founder Murray Gell-Mann following a March 19 op-ed in reviewed Matthew Jackson’s ell’s essay “How do you teach a car MURRAY GELL-MANN : passed away on May 24, 2019 at the Boston Review by External Pro- book, The Human Network: How that a snowman won’t walk across THE METAPHYSICAL DETECTIVE age 89. Best known for his contri- fessors and affiliated researchers Your Social Position Determines the road?” ran in Aeon on May 31. butions to particle physics, Gell- Your Power, Beliefs, and Behaviors. Eric Beinhocker, Brian Arthur, Rob- In an issue devoted to play, Nautilus How to describe someone for whom a narrow list of Mann also wanted to understand ert Axtell, Jenna Bednar, Doyne Nature reviewed External Professor magazine published an excerpt from his passions would include the life of birds, the col- the “chain of relationships” that lapse of ancient societies, the common roots of Farmer, Ricardo Hausmann, Alan Stuart Kauffman’s book,A World External Professor Andreas Wagner’s connected the universal laws of world languages, pre-Columbian pottery, the sym- Kirman, Scott Page, and others. Beyond Physics: The Emergence physics to complex systems like new book: Life Finds a Way. metries of space and time, and New Yorker cartoons? and Evolution of Life (May 1). economies and human cultures. Professor Mirta Galesic helped The 2019 InterPlanetary Festival In a profile of the editor of theNew Yorker cartoon He life was celebrated in more the BBC’s Why Factor understand External Professor Tim Kohler received pre-event coverage in section, Emma Allen, Andrew Goldstein wrote, “It’s than two dozen publications fol- how humans might be hardwired talked with the Christian Science an article of faith in literary circles that the proper local media including the Santa Fe to understand stories (April 8). Monitor about what we can learn way to read the New Yorker is to start with the car- lowing his death, including The New Mexican, Albuquerque Jour- toons and then place the magazine atop a neat pile New York Times, Nature, the BBC, External Professor Steve Strogatz from connecting climatic shifts nal, Richard Eeds Show, and Living of older issues and wait for nuclear winter to free Scientific American, The Guardian, was quoted along with other sci- with civilizations changes, and the on the Edge, and was featured in up time to read the rest.” and The Washington Post. ence-of-synch pioneers in an April challenges to making those con- international podcasts including It struck me that this is exactly the kind of satirical Roughly 30 years after its founding 4 Quanta feature about new pat- nections for a March 28 story.

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