The Quantum Computer

An interactive visual essay on the quantum computer, its past, present, problems and possibilities. 

As we approach the physical limits of what can fit onto a silicon chip, we leave the world of classical physics and enter the quantum realm. Particles may suddenly appear on the other side of barriers or be in two places at once. Conventional computers break down in the quantum world. To answer some of the greatest mysteries of science, we need to create an entirely new and fundamentally different kind of computer enabling us to find new medicines, create better materials, and unravel the mysteries of black holes.