The winners of the International Quantum Year science-journalism competition have been announced, creating a buzz in the scientific community. This exciting announcement is part of the broader coverage dedicated to the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ), celebrating advancements in this fascinating field.
In a remarkable achievement, two talented journalists from Africa, Paul Adepoju and Mkhululi Chimoio, have emerged victorious in the prestigious Quantum Pitch Competition, which took place during the 2025 World Conference of Science Journalists held in South Africa. This competition was organized by Physics World and Physics Magazine to highlight innovative storytelling surrounding quantum science and technology.
The competition officially kicked off at the conference in Pretoria, where participants attending a specialized science-writing workshop were invited to submit their creative concepts related to any facet of quantum science. This initiative aims to inspire fresh perspectives and narratives in the realm of science journalism.
Chimoio's award-winning submission features the groundbreaking work of Lindiwe Khumalo, a physicist from South Africa who conducts her experiments on quantum sensors located deep within an abandoned gold mine, approximately three kilometers underground.
Khumalo harnesses the natural protection offered by the extensive rock layers to explore muon-based sensors and perform ultra-low-noise interferometric measurements. Her efforts contribute significantly to the fields of dark-matter detection, neutrino studies, and precision measurements, broadening our understanding of the universe. Chimoio describes his article as "a compelling human story about an African physicist working in an extreme environment that one typically associates with heavy industry rather than with the cutting-edge world of quantum physics." Readers can anticipate seeing this fascinating piece soon published in Physics World.
Born in Zimbabwe, Chimoio currently works as an investigative journalist in South Africa. His expertise lies in geopolitics, technology, security, and socio-economic issues, with his writings featured in notable outlets such as Nature Africa and Africa Uncensored.
On the other hand, Adepoju's winning entry, which has just been published in Physics Magazine, dives into the discovery of large-scale movements within galaxies, made possible through the observation of emissions generated by tiny quantum "spin-flips" occurring in hydrogen atoms.
Adepoju, a freelance journalist and podcaster based in Ibadan, Nigeria, has contributed to esteemed publications including Nature, New Scientist, and Scientific American. His pitch-winning article details the surprising rotation detected in a galaxy-filled filament that spans over 50 million light-years—a phenomenon that had never been directly measured before. This groundbreaking discovery utilized hydrogen-emission data collected from the MeerKAT radio telescope in South Africa, potentially opening new avenues for investigating dark matter.
As the IYQ 2025 draws to a close, an official closing ceremony will take place on February 10 and 11 in Accra, Ghana. For those interested, the complete program details can be found online.
Both Physics World and Physics Magazine extend their heartfelt gratitude to all the writers who submitted their pitches for the contest. They hope this initiative sparks a wave of quantum-inspired stories from science journalists worldwide, encouraging continued engagement and exploration in this pivotal field.
