China teleports particle to space

In a ground-breaking experiment, Chinese scientists have successfully teleported a photon from the Earth into space, according to media reports.

Teleportation of this kind uses the bizarre effects of quantum entanglement, rather than physically hurling the object itself over distances. Instead it transfers the information about a photon to another point in space — creating a faithful replication of the object, the Independent reported.

The team established the first ground-to-satellite quantum network, which allowed them to transmit a photon from an entangled pair up to 1,400 km.

Entangled photons theoretically maintain their link across any distance but scientists have previously only managed to maintain the bond for about 100 km.

The satellite Micius was sent up from the Gobi desert last year. Micius can receive photons and is sensitive enough to catch and spot them; the team on the ground had kit that could send those photons up into space. Together, that kit could allow the scientists to test how the team on Earth were able to interact with photons floating way above our planet.

It marks the first ever time that effect has been tested over long distances. The success could bring with it a whole range of uses – including a quantum internet that connects different parts of the world at seemingly impossible speed.