Building on the success of last year’s inaugural Workshop on Broadly Accessible Quantum Computing presented at PEARC24, this year, NCSA’s Santiago Núñez-Corrales, a co-organizer, and other original presenters were back, continuing the discussion with PEARC25 attendees. This year’s edition explored the latest advancements in quantum computing (QC) and its integration with high-performance computing and related applications.

rocery prices are having a moment in 2025. On social media, food costs have become a full-blown cultural conversation, from outrage over a $19 strawberry (yes, one strawberry) at the upscale Los Angeles grocery store Erewhon to the rising price of staples like eggs. These moments fuel frustration, memes and more than a few stressed-out grocery haul videos.

But behind the jokes and viral receipts is something real: food isn’t optional. For many, these price spikes aren’t just inconvenient—they’re overwhelming. And while the financial burden is a driving force, the constant conversation around the cost of food—whether we’re talking overpriced indulgences or everyday essentials—may also reflect deeper concerns about stability, control and trust in the economy.

To unpack the psychology behind these reactions, we turned to neuroeconomist Uma Karmarkar, an associate professor with a joint appointment at UC San Diego’s Rady School of Management and School of Global Policy and Strategy. Karmarkar holds a Ph.D. in neuroscience from UCLA and a second Ph.D. in consumer behavior from Stanford, and her research draws from psychology, marketing and neuroscience to understand what drives economic behavior. 

Ancient bacteria that have evolved to become integral to our cells – converting nutrients from food into energy – may also contribute to neurologic disorders, such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and autism, according to research in the lab of Yongchao Ma, PhD, from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.

Interview with Professor Graeme Swindles, School of Natural and Built Environment, Queen’s University Belfast, U.K.

Author of PLOS One paper: Swindles GT, Mullan DJ, Brannigan NT, Fewster RE, Sim TG, Gallego-Sala A, et al. (2025) Climate and water-table levels regulate peat accumulation rates across Europe. PLoS One 20(7): e0327422. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0327422 

AND Interview with John T. Van Stan II, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Natural Philosophy at Cleveland State University, U.S.

Associate Editor of PLOS One paper: Swindles GT, Mullan DJ, Brannigan NT, Fewster RE, Sim TG, Gallego-Sala A, et al. (2025) Climate and water-table levels regulate peat accumulation rates across Europe. PLoS One 20(7): e0327422. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0327422

As AI takes on bigger roles in our lives, it's more important than ever to understand how it makes decisions with limited information.

Shaping the Future of the Moon: International Frameworks for Safe and Sustainable Lunar Activity and Science as the Key enabler of a Sustainable Lunar Future

The Centre for Doctoral Training in Future Open SecuRe NeTworks (CDT-FORT) is proud to announce a new strategic partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA), and through ESA’s Space for 5G/6G & Sustainable Connectivity programme within the Directorate of Connectivity and Secure Communications, a collaboration that reinforces the UK’s digital sovereignty in telecommunications and strengthen its role as a leading player in the global communications ecosystem.

To invest tax dollars where they will have the greatest impact, government agencies need to gather data that covers the actual return on investment, according to Dennis Scanlon, distinguished professor of health policy and administration at Penn State.