Researchers from Italy, Austria, and the USA have achieved a significant breakthrough by creating “supersolid light,” a new state of matter that merges the crystal-like structure of a solid with the frictionless properties of a superfluid. Led by physicist Daniele Sanvitto at Italy’s National Research Council (CNR), this groundbreaking study, funded by the EU, utilizes hybrid particles called exciton-polaritons to manipulate light in innovative ways. Their findings could revolutionize fields like quantum computing and artificial intelligence by paving the way for more efficient optical neural networks. As Europe leads the charge in this field, there’s an urgent call for continued investment in science to maintain its competitive edge amidst global advancements, particularly from China.