Building a human-sized wormhole, for example, would require harnessing vast amounts of peculiar quantum field energy and deploying gravitational stabilizing technology that would need the resources of a cosmic super-civilization.

CNN: Time travel: Can it really be done?

They are called quantum because it takes a packet of energy of a very specific size - a quantum - to create the states.

BBC: Neutrons could test Newton's gravity and string theory

The idea is that an electron on one part of a protein may move, and arrive at another part lacking a quantum of vibrational energy.

BBC: Quantum physics explanation for smell gains traction

Also, with its mission to provide "power for all by 2012, " India's federal government has introduced legislation making it compulsory for electricity distributors to get a specified quantum from renewable energy sources.

FORBES: Wind Man

The quantum demon could thereby extract energy from the heat of the liquid.

ECONOMIST: The cost of forgetting

In 1900, Max Planck first published his Quantum Theory, that radiant energy comes in small indivisible packets and was not continuous as previously thought.

CNN: Monday,

Example: The principles of standard quantum mechanics suggested that OLED screens could never be super energy-efficient.

FORBES: Seeing the Light

Mr McGeoch, said that in order for Scotland to achieve its renewable energy targets by 2020, "there will have to be a quantum shift" in the local planning process as it stood.

BBC: Green firm calls for change to wind turbine planning rules

From news that Germany met half the country's energy needs with solar power to an Egyptian teenager who built a new quantum space propulsion system, 2012 was a big year for clean tech.

ENGADGET: Inhabitat's Week in Green: biological concrete, flexible solar cells and the top wearable tech of 2012