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Real-world Sci-fi: Quantum Computing

By Jacob Silverman

What's It Going to Be: 0, 1 or Both?

A technology that has the potential to produce computers immensely more powerful than those we use today resists easy summary, but here's something to remember when it comes to quantum computing: Normal computers stick to the binary system. That means each bit can only be in one of two positions — on or off, 0 or 1. In a quantum computer, each bit (known as a quantum bit or qubit) can be 0, 1 or even both simultaneously — a concept known as "superposition." This flexibility allows quantum computers to consider many mathematical possibilities at once, making them far more sophisticated and faster than even the most impressive supercomputers.

In the 1990s, boosted in part by the promise (and fear) that quantum computers could make existing encryption standards obsolete, corporations and government agencies sank millions of dollars of research funds into the field. Ten years into the 21st century, we may still be a decade or more away from such machines, but scientists have created basic working quantum computers on coin-sized chips that typically measure only a couple qubits. As of now, these low-powered quantum processors can solve basic algorithms but not much else. All those top-secret encrypted docs should be safe — for now.