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The high-stakes race to make quantum computers work - Chiara Decaroli

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Quantum computers could eventually outstrip the computational limits of classical computers. They rely on the behavior of atomic and subatomic particles, whose quantum states are incredibly fragile and easily destroyed— which is why this technology remains largely theoretical. How would quantum computers work, and are they really possible? Chiara Decaroli investigates.


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About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Chiara Decaroli
  • Director Igor Coric
  • Narrator Christina Greer
  • Animator Nemanja Petrovic
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Associate Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Associate Editorial Producer Elizabeth Cox
  • Script Editor Eleanor Nelsen
  • Fact-Checker Eden Girma
Additional Resources for you to Explore
Learn more about the educator, Chiara Decaroli at ETH Zurich, on her website.

Watch this video to see IBM's Dr. Talia Gershon (Senior Manager, Quantum Research) explains quantum computing to 5 different people; a child, teen, a college student, a grad student and a professional.

In this video, TED Fellow Shohini Ghose explains quantum computing in 10 minutes.

Here is a good explainer video about quantum computers. Watch this video to hear Professor Jonathan Home from ETH Zurich explain how to build a quantum computer.

For further reading, try this article which is an MIT technology review about the state of the art quantum computers, what they are and when will they be more powerful than classical computers, and this one which is a scientific state of the art review of the progress and challenges in building a trapped ion quantum computer.

Here are some websites that go into even more detail:

A university group focusing on trapped ions
A University group focusing on superconducting qubits
A University group focusing on trapped ions
A US company which is building trapped-ion quantum computers
A large European project supporting quantum technologies
The IBM superconducting quantum computer

Customize this lesson

Create and share a new lesson based on this one.

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Chiara Decaroli
  • Director Igor Coric
  • Narrator Christina Greer
  • Animator Nemanja Petrovic
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Associate Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Associate Editorial Producer Elizabeth Cox
  • Script Editor Eleanor Nelsen
  • Fact-Checker Eden Girma

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