Four decades ago, physicists were theorizing that the mind-bending mechanics of quantum physics could be harnessed to make a new kind of computer that’s exponentially more powerful than conventional machines.

A new federal initiative to build a quantum supercomputer could transform everything from encryption to drug discovery, creating the next wave of winners and losers.

This article is part of a package on the future of quantum computing. Read about the most promising applications of these machines here and see an illustrated field guide to qubits here. Inside a low-slung building in an office park near the southeastern edge of the San Francisco Bay,

The point at which quantum computers outperform classical ones will arrive. The question is who controls the infrastructure when it does.

Quantum Brilliance – QDK in rack. Image from Quantum Brilliance, with permission. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) announced its first installed and operational quantum computer in its data centre in Tennessee.

So, through an investment in Alphabet, investors may benefit from high-growth areas such as quantum computing and AI -- and the company's stability. It's also important to note that Alphabet's long track record of earnings growth offers it the resources necessary to develop its quantum computing technology.

On May 21, the U.S. Commerce Department announced it would give a total of $2 billion in grants to nine companies at the bleeding edge of quantum computing technology, including I