In 1982, Richard Feynman proposed to use a computer founded on the laws of quantum physics to simulate physical systems and achieve exponential computational speed-ups over conventional, digital computers.
In the more than thirty years since, quantum computers have shown promise to solve problems in number theory, chemistry, and materials science that would otherwise take longer than the lifetime of the universe to solve on an exascale classical machine.
Such solutions, for example, will break RSA and thereby invalidate our current encryption techniques, combat global warming, improve artificial fertilizer production, and help design room-temperature superconductors.
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