Quantum Teleportation Breakthrough: Over 16km Achieved in China

Scientists in China have teleported information much further than ever before, using quantum teleportation to send information over 16km away. This is much further than the previous record of a few hundred metres, and brings us that much closer to being able to transmit information over long distances without the need for a traditional signal.

Quantum teleportation bears little resemblance to the image we all see when we hear the word "teleport". In quantum teleportation, two particles are "entangled", which means that any change in the state of one particle is replicated in the other - regardless, as far as scientists are able to tell, of distance... and it happens instantly. In practical terms, that means if I took one of a pair of entangled particles a million miles away and changed its quantum state, the particle back on Earth would also instantly change - in theory, at least.

Quantum teleportation has the potential to completely blow away the previous limits imposed on our communications by the light speed barrier, and this latest success confirms the feasibility of ground-to-space-based quantum teleportation, with ground stations supported by satellites, as the 16km distance of the teleportation is greater than the effective atmospheric thickness of 5-10km.

More information on the science behind the breakthrough is available here.