Computers were once considered high-end technology, only accessible to scientists and trained professionals. Today, almost everyone has one. Will quantum computing follow the same path?
Thomas Stace, The University of Queensland and Clemens Müller, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich
Physicists have designed an electrical component that breaks time-reversal symmetry. Not quite the time machine from Hollywood but it should help with communication technology and quantum computing.
After this episode, you’ll be able to explain how quantum mechanics affects everything from the way your jeans are cut to the headphones you use.
Cindy Zhi/The Conversation NY-BD-CC
Sunanda Creagh, The Conversation; Michael Lund, The Conversation; Wes Mountain, The Conversation, and Julie Carli, The Conversation
The explainer episode
The Conversation, CC BY67.5 MB(download)
Today on Trust me, I'm An Expert, we're explaining the tricky topics: what is quantum mechanics? What does the research say about lone actor terrorism? And why do people like pimple popping videos?
Maths and science featured strongly in the 2018 Australian of the Year Awards. Along with physicist Michelle Simmons, maths teacher Eddie Woo and biologist Graham Farquhar were recognised.
How fast can quantum computing get? Research shows there’s a limit.
Vladvm/Shutterstock.com
A future that continues to have increasingly fast computing depends on quantum physics – but research is showing that there are limits to how fast quantum computers can go.
A laser beam (yellow) causes a path of red fluorescence in a rare earth crystal.
Stuart Hay, ANU
Rare earth elements aren’t actually that rare - but they certainly are useful. Erbium is used right now in the internet’s optical fibre network, and could one day be applied in quantum networks.
Detecting the errors in data is one thing, but correction them is still possible at the quantum computing level.
Shutterstock/andriano cz
One of the challenges for quantum computing is knowing how to detect and correct errors that may occur in the data. And we can do that without even knowing what the data says.
From the man who gave away his genome under open consent, to the 'Mathematikado', this episode of the podcast features highlights from the British Science Festival in Brighton.
As companies make quantum computers available through their cloud services, take a look at what it means for computing to move beyond classical mechanics and into quantum physics.
An ion-trap used for quantum computing research in the Quantum Control Laboratory at the University of Sydney.
Michael Biercuk
Many scientists thought it was impossible, but one team has finally done it. They say operating their quantum computer is just like playing a game of Pacman.