Quantum computing is almost certainly the next big thing, with the potential to change computers forever. But the science is not super easy for the layperson to understand, which is why The Verge created this two-minute explainer.
Present day computers are limited by their hardware. They use electrical circuits that are switched on or off, in a 0 or 1 position. Quantum computing would change that by using particles called qubits, which are suspended in a super-cold environment where the temperature nears absolute zero. The network formed by these particles allows for processing power to grow exponentially, as the qubits can be simultaneously at a 0 and a 1. (The video doesn’t cover exactly how that works, but you can read the super-smart Michael Byrne on quantum computing here and here.)
To read more and view the video, click here.