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Research Team Makes Quantum Computing Progress

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the zero-one-two dept.

Timogen writes to tell us Wired is reporting that a research team is reporting that they have found a way to "controllably couple qubits" bringing us one step closer to quantum computing. "In classical computer science, bits -- or binary digits -- hold data encoded as ones and zeros. In quantum computing, data is measured in qubits, or quantum bits. As such, a qubit can have three possible states -- one, zero or a "superposition" of one and zero. This unique property theoretically makes quantum computing able to solve large-scale calculations that would dwarf today's supercomputers. But qubits in isolation are not very useful. It's only when they can be connected to one another that large-scale processing becomes possible."

21 of 125 comments (clear)

  1. I wonder by mandark1967 · · Score: 0, Funny

    If they turned into an Asian woman in California during the 1940s...

    --
    Sig Follows: "Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself." -- Mark Twain
    1. Re:I wonder by $RANDOMLUSER · · Score: 3, Funny

      If they turned into an Asian woman in California during the 1940s...
      "Oh boy."
      --
      No folly is more costly than the folly of intolerant idealism. - Winston Churchill
  2. You know what else was measured in qubits? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    The Ark. That's right: Noah's Ark.

    1. Re:You know what else was measured in qubits? by holden+caufield · · Score: 1, Funny

      Riiiiight. What's an ark?

      --
      I'll create an amusing sig when I have something meaningful to post.
    2. Re:You know what else was measured in qubits? by MindKata · · Score: 2, Funny

      "The Ark. That's right: Noah's Ark."

      What so the quantum state animals were both inside and outside the ark, until he counted them?

      I guess he must have also had some Schrödinger Cats onboard as well then.

      --
      There are 10 kinds of people in the world... those who understand binary and those who don't.
    3. Re:You know what else was measured in qubits? by Afecks · · Score: 2, Funny

      I'm not sure if you realize it but none of that stuff actually happened.

      Sorry to be the one to break it to you...

    4. Re:You know what else was measured in qubits? by Alsee · · Score: 2, Funny

      Damn atheists.

      I bet you don't even believe in talking snakes either.

      -

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  3. Re:Was this a quantum leap? by EmbeddedJanitor · · Score: 4, Funny

    It was a bit of a leap.

    --
    Engineering is the art of compromise.
  4. Right what we needed by Opportunist · · Score: 4, Funny

    The tri-state computer: Yes, no and "maybe".

    Then again, every time I use Windows, I already have the hunch that this "maybe" has already been implemented. If only in software so far.

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    1. Re:Right what we needed by drinkypoo · · Score: 3, Funny

      I think it's more like Yes, No, Neither

      I think it's more like Cancel, Allow

      Sorry about the horse...

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  5. Made Progress? by MarkLewis · · Score: 5, Funny

    There are two possible end states: the researchers made progress or not.

    But until you actually make an observation by clicking on the link and reading the article, the outcome will still be indeterminate.

    1. Re:Made Progress? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      The link must be broken. All I saw was a photo of a dead cat.

    2. Re:Made Progress? by morgan_greywolf · · Score: 4, Funny

      The link must be broken. All I saw was a photo of a dead cat.


      Hmmm..that's funny. The cat looked alive to me.
      --
      My blog
    3. Re:Made Progress? by ookabooka · · Score: 3, Funny

      The link must be broken. All I saw was a photo of a dead cat.

      Well thanks a lot. Due to the nature in which you observed the link now everyone is going to see a dead cat. If only you clicked that link or looked at your monitor slightly differently that cat would be alive. You killed that cat. Next time think before you observe.

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  6. Listen up everybody! by Doctor+Memory · · Score: 5, Funny

    Slashdot's got an article that says "Timogen writes to tell us Wired is reporting that a research team is reporting that"...

    --
    Just junk food for thought...
    1. Re:Listen up everybody! by CaptainPatent · · Score: 2, Funny

      Well thank god you reported that to us!

      --
      Well, back to rejecting software patent applications.
    2. Re:Listen up everybody! by neersign · · Score: 2, Funny

      From the IKnowAGuy-WhoKnowsAGuy-WhoKnowsAGuy department.

  7. Re:Checklist needed by jddj · · Score: 3, Funny
    Why don't we have a checklist available so that we can cross something out on the checklist every time progress is made.
    • Features Quantum Entanglement - Yes and No.
    • Scalable? - Yes and No.
    • Low Power? - Yes and No.
    • Will it run Linux? - Yes and No.
    • Beowulf Cluster? - Yes and No.
    • DRM-Free? - Yes and No.

    ...I could go on all day...

  8. Re:Was this a quantum leap? by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 2, Funny

    It's a Q-Bert leap.

  9. Re:Made Progress? Cat? by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 3, Funny

    The link must be broken. All I saw was a photo of a dead cat.

    Hmmm..that's funny. The cat looked alive to me.
    Parent and GP must realize the truth: there is no cat.
    --
    It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
  10. But What Direction? by Flwyd · · Score: 2, Funny

    The more progress we know the researchers made the less we can know about how close they are to a solution.

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