magine a world where encrypted, secret files are suddenly cracked open – something known as “the quantum apocalypse”.

Put very simply, quantum computers work completely differently from the computers developed over the past century. In theory, they could eventually become many, many times faster than today’s machines.

That means that faced with an incredibly complex and time-consuming problem – like trying to decrypt data – where there are multiple permutations running into the billions, a normal computer would take many years to break those encryptions, if ever.

But a future quantum computer, in theory, could do this in just seconds.

Such computers could be able to solve all sorts of problems for humanity. The UK government is investing in the National Quantum Computing Centre in Harwell, Oxfordshire, hoping to revolutionise research in the field.

But there is also a dark side.

Source: BBC Future

Date: January 25th, 2022

Link: https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-60144498

Discussion

1. ” “Quantum computers will render useless most existing methods of encryption.” Make sure students understand that this is because the current encryption can be cracked.
2. How do you prepare for “the quantum apocalypse”?