Quantum Supremacy: How Quantum Computers will Unlock the Mysteries of Science – and Address Humanity’s Biggest Challenges

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Thanks to all of these inventions and discoveries, we understand the pieces and processes needed to produce the energy that sustains life. But there are still many obstacles to overcome. Just like Haber’s crude process for nitrogen-fixing, many of our attempts at coming up with clean energy are actually sourced through unsustainable means, and our efforts at discovery are still done largely by trial and error.

Expertly describes and rectifies common misconceptions about quantum computing—a technology regarded by experts as one that is likely to have profound societal implications. . . . Kaku deftly navigates the relevant scientific landscape. . . . Lucid. . . . Kaku excels at developing understandable metaphors for the complexities of quantum mechanics and computing. . . . Well written and accessible, offering readers a comprehensive overview of quantum computing, its underlying principles, and its potential.” — Science Quantum computers have the potential to be able to solve problems like nitrogen-fixing and harnessing the power of sunlight. Hopefully, it won’t be long before quantum computing can deliver a second green revolution. When cancer loses If you’re one of those people, get ready to change your mind. Not only is it possible and easy to understand the practical implications of quantum physics in our world, but it’s also important. The quantum realm isn’t just a subject for comic books. In fact, it’s being explored right now.

One more name needs to be added to this esteemed list, that of Hugh Everett. For a long time, scientists argued about the wave theory and the idea that a wave collapsed into a single reality when measured. This was a huge problem to overcome until Everett proposed that maybe the wave doesn’t actually collapse; maybe all versions of the reality experienced by the wave exist simultaneously. How do we find new drugs today? Trial and error,” Kaku says. “We have thousands of Petri dishes with chemicals in them. We tediously see whether or not they have any antibiotic properties. Why not do that in the memory of a quantum computer?”

So what is it that makes quantum computers so powerful? Well, two key factors contribute to this power. What a frustrating thing,” he says. “So I said to myself, wait a minute. String theory is a quantum theory, like the atom. Why not use quantum computers to solve a quantum problem?”

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Kaku seems to think the solution to every problem is to give scientists another tool, while leaving the mass of humanity just as stupid as it has always been. So we end up like the juggling act of spinning multiple plates on rods, where the juggler has to run from one rod to the next to keep its plate spinning so it doesn't fall off and shatter. The problem with that approach is that most of humanity's problems have a large behavioral component. For example, you can't stop people from burning fossil fuels just by giving them some green energy. (See the book: The Burning Question: We Can't Burn Half the World's Oil, Coal, and Gas. So How Do We Quit?.) History shows that people almost never stop using an older source of energy when they get a new source. They just add the new source on top of the old sources, because more total energy means more total wealth. Man's first energy source was wood and it still is a major source today. The pattern repeated for hydro, coal, oil, gas, and nuclear. We added new sources to the mix and kept using the old sources. The problem with energy is simple to grasp: the amount of energy we currently consume determines the rate at which we can grow our energy consumption. We can carve out a few percent from current consumption and use it to build more energy infrastructure. So this is not a problem you can solve by increasing the supply of energy. Every increase in supply just increases the rate at which we can increase our demand. The only way to get ahead of this problem is to fundamentally change human psychology. People must come to put a strong value on not contributing personally to climate destruction. People must want to consume less energy than they can. People must stop saying "More" and start saying "Enough." Kaku is known for his ability to distill complex scientific concepts into layman's terms. In this book he takes on the enormous task of explaining quantum computing - a topic that even some of the brightest minds find intimidating. And for the most part, he does a good job. His analogies are creative as he fleshes out the real-world implications of this bleeding edge science.

Today, that crude and resource-eating process of nitrogen-fixing first invented by Haber is being challenged by quantum scientists. Kaku’s] lucid prose and thought process make abundant sense of this technological turning point.”— The New York Times Book Review Science, Technology and the Future, History, Society, Culture, Nonfiction, Physics, Business, Computers, Engineering, Computer Science, Quantum Physics, Theories of Science, Quantum Theory, Social Aspects of Technology, Artificial Intelligence and Semantics Table of ContentsThe book is an introduction to the field of quantum computing, which uses the principles of quantum mechanics to perform calculations that are impossible or impractical for classical computers. The author, Dr. Michio Kaku, is a renowned theoretical physicist and a popularizer of science. He explains the basic concepts and history of quantum computing, as well as the current state and future prospects of the technology.

Quantum computing could change our perspective on the cosmos. (Illustration: Harmonia Macrocosmica, 1660 / Microsoft, 2022 / Alan Boyle) Any discipline that requires the use of molecules and atoms can be helped by the quantum revolution, including cancer research, aging. Why do we die? Think about it for a moment: There are zero laws of physics that say that we have to die,” Kaku says. Another thing that drove me nuts was how America-centric it is. He often talks about all the benefits for "the country" and how the citizens of "this entire country" will have such and such. Earth is warming up as a result of human behavior. This warming is creating a variety of problems. One of those is the release of the greenhouse gas methane due to the melting of polar ice caps. As it’s released, it contributes to yet more global warming.

The second factor is known as entanglement. This is when two atoms establish interaction with each other, sharing information, and keep that connection even when they’re separated at a great distance. Technological advancements have improved our quality and length of life. From sanitation to antibiotics and vaccines to better nutrition, we’ve taken the human race from lifespans of approximately 30 years to 70 years and improved the overall quality of those lifespans, too. But we’ve done all of this largely by trial and error. When it comes to things like cancer and Alzheimer’s where there are so many factors at play we may never be able to find answers on our own, quantum computers may save us. Our planet and beyond