Quantum weirdness survives space travel

Photons sent to satellite and back maintain cryptography ability

telescope

QUANTUM MESSAGES  Scientists used a telescope (shown) to direct photons to satellites and then measure the photons’ quantum properties on their return. The green laser visible in the image is used to track the location of the satellite. The scheme shows that quantum communication in space may be technologically feasible.

Marco Tomasin

In a feat that demonstrates the feasibility of using satellites to transmit uncrackable quantum messages, scientists have measured the quantum properties of photons sent to space and back again.