NASA has been collaborating with Google for several years.
The new platform is able to solve problems 100 million times faster than a conventional desktop PC.
Unlike regular computers which encode data in to bits that can hold a state of either ‘1’ or ‘0’, quantum computers use quantum bits which can exist in both a ‘1’ and ‘0’ state simultaneously.
By using special techniques to manipulate these units of information it becomes possible for an electronic machine to perform a whole series of mathematical calculations all at the same time.
The search giant’s new ‘D-Wave X2’ quantum supercomputer takes advantage of these methods to carry out problem solving at speeds of up to 100 million times faster than a standard computer.
Even NASA has been collaborating with Google on the project with exploration director Rupak Biswas describing it as ‘a truly disruptive technology that could change how we do everything.’
