20 IDEAS FE ATURE- QUANTUM COMPUTERS ARE
THE NEW SUPERCOMPUTER
Complex data, like weather patterns
or climate changes, will be crunched
though in the fraction of the timeDreams of exploiting the bizarre realm of quantum
mechanics to create super-powerful computers have been
around since the 1980s. But in 2019 something happened
that made lots of people sit up and take quantum
computers seriously. Google’s quantum computer,
Sycamore, solved a problem that would take conventional
computers much,muchlonger. In doing so, Sycamore had
achieved ‘quantum supremacy’ for the first time – doing
something beyond conventional capabilities.
The task Sycamore completed, verifying that a set of
numbers were randomly distributed, took it 200 seconds.
Google claims it would have taken IBM’s Summit, the most
powerful conventional supercomputer, 10,000 years. IBM
begs to differ, saying it would only take Summit 2.5 days.
Regardless, this landmark event has given the quantum
computer research community a shot in the arm. A blog
post by Sycamore’s developers (bit.ly/quantum_
supremacy) gives a sense of this. “We see a path clearly
now, and we’re eager to move ahead.”
But don’t expect to be using a quantum computer at
home. It’s more likely to be running simulations in chemistry
and physics, performing complex tasks such as modelling
interactions between molecules and in doing so, speeding
up the development of new drugs, catalysts and materials.
In the longer term, quantum computers promise rapid
advances in everything from weather forecasting to AI.If all goes according to plan, in May 2022 the European Space Agency will
launch the first large-class mission of its Cosmic Vision Programme. The
JUpiter ICy moons Explorer (or JUICE) will slingshot around Earth, Venus
and Mars, picking up the speed it needs to propel it out to Jupiter.
JUICE is expected to arrive at the gas giant in 2029, where it will begin
possibly the most detailed study of the planet to date.
“There are two goals,” explains Dr Giuseppe Sarri, the JUICE project
manager. “One is to study Jupiter as a system. Jupiter is a gas giant with
over 70 moons, and for our understanding of the formation of the Solar
System, studying [what amounts to] a mini solar system is scientifically
useful. We’ll study the atmosphere, magnetosphere and satellite system.
The second goal is to explore the three icy moons, Callisto, Ganymede and
Europa. Because on those moons there could be conditions that can
sustain life, either in the past, present or maybe in the future.”
It’s important to note that JUICE won’t be searching for signs of life on
these moons, just the appropriate conditions to support it. In other words,
to confirm the presence of salty, liquid water below the surface ice. “It’s a
little bit like below Antarctica. In the water below the ice there are very
primitive forms of life so conditions could be similar to what we have
below our poles,” says Dr Sarri. “If there’s a chance to have life in our
Solar System, Europa and Ganymede are the places. Unfortunately JUICE
won’t be able to see the life but it’ll take the first step in looking for it.”
JUICE may also shed light on the mystery of rings. “It looks as if all the
giant planets have rings,” Dr Sarri explains. “In the past, astronomers
only saw Saturn’s rings but then rings were found at Uranus, Jupiter and
Neptune. Understanding the dynamic of rings will help us understand
the formation of these planets.”THE SEARCH FOR EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL LIFEThe European Space Agency’s mission to Jupiter
and its moons, JUICE, could be our best bet of
finding alien life in our Solar System19SAMSUNG, ALAMY, FOREST STEARNS/GOOGLE