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April 16, 2025

On April 14, 2025, Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), declared that U.S. technologies can “manipulate time and space,” spotlighting quantum computing’s potential (White House). His speech framed quantum as a driver of global leadership, promising advances in medicine, security, and economic growth. Yet, the claim raises questions: can quantum computing’s ability to solve complex math equations unlock physics mysteries like bending space and time, or is this rhetoric masking practical limits? With billions in funding at stake, the line between innovation and overpromise matters—what can quantum achieve, and what does it mean for society?

“ It is the choices of individuals that will make the new American Golden Age possible: the choice of individuals to master the sclerosis of the state, and the choice of individuals to craft new technologies and give themselves to scientific discoveries that will bend time and space, make more with less, and drive us further into the endless frontier.” https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2025/04/8716/

Kratsios’s Quantum Ambition

As OSTP head since March 25, 2025, Kratsios steers Trump’s tech agenda, prioritizing quantum computing to outpace competitors like China (Nextgov). His April speech pushed for deregulation to accelerate progress, projecting $2 billion for quantum research in 2025 (Hoodline). Collaborations with firms like IBM and Google build on $1 billion invested since 2018, aiming for breakthroughs in cryptography and science (Energy.gov).

Kratsios’s assertion that quantum can “annihilate distance” suggests transformative speed and connectivity. However, manipulating space and time—implying feats like wormholes or time dilation—demands scrutiny. Is this vision grounded, or does it risk inflating expectations?

Quantum’s Mathematical Reach

Quantum computing operates on qubits, units that process multiple states simultaneously through superposition and entanglement, vastly outperforming classical systems on specific math problems (Nature). In 2025, systems reach 433 qubits, but errors restrict reliable use to 10–20, limiting scope to lab-scale tasks: cracking small codes, modeling molecules for drugs, and optimizing logistics. By 2035, enhanced machines could break encryption, streamline pharmaceuticals, and create markets worth billions.

Yet, bending space and time is not a math problem alone—it’s a physics challenge requiring quantum gravity, a theory to merge quantum mechanics with relativity’s gravitational rules (CERN). No such theory exists today, and current quantum computers lack the capacity to model the complex, nonlinear equations needed for space-time dynamics.

Solving Physics Dilemmas?

Could quantum computing’s math prowess crack space-time physics? Warping space-time—creating shortcuts like wormholes or altering time’s flow—depends on equations that remain theoretical. Einstein’s relativity describes gravity’s curves, but quantum versions are speculative, with models like string theory untested. Quantum computers excel at defined problems, not open-ended mysteries. Even future systems with thousands of qubits might only simulate fragments of gravitational effects, not enable cosmic feats, due to computational and theoretical limits (MIT).

Kratsios’s OSTP emphasizes practical goals: secure networks, faster drug development, and economic gains. His “time and space” phrase likely highlights computational leaps—near-instant calculations or data transfers—not literal physics. The gap between math and cosmic reality remains wide.

Societal Implications

Quantum computing’s trajectory carries weight:

• Trust: Exaggerated claims risk public skepticism, with many already doubting tech’s promises.
• Benefits: Advances in healthcare and cybersecurity could lower costs and create jobs, potentially reshaping economies.
• Risks: Encryption vulnerabilities threaten financial systems, and unequal access may widen societal gaps.

OSTP’s heavy investment demands clear priorities—ethics and inclusion, not just ambition. Overhyping quantum’s reach could misguide resources, leaving practical needs unaddressed.

Reality Over Rhetoric

Quantum computing’s math is powerful, tackling equations beyond classical reach, but it cannot bend space and time. Kratsios’s vision drives innovation, yet his cosmic rhetoric risks distorting truth. OSTP’s focus should ground quantum’s promise—security, health, growth—without chasing unattainable physics. Can this balance hold, or will hype outstrip reality?

Sources

• Kratsios’s Speech | White House
• Kratsios Confirmation | Nextgov
• Kratsios at Endless Frontiers | Hoodline
• Quantum Funding | Energy.gov
• Quantum Basics | Nature
• Quantum Gravity | CERN
• Quantum Physics | MIT