🧃Can Supercomputers Save the Planet?

Welcome to The Strawman, the daily climate newsletter that’s trying to persuade NASA to spare some bandwidth (trust me bro Google Sheets needs the internet more than your supercomputer).

Quantum Leaps or Quantum Hype?

Quantum computing has long been the nerdy dream that’s always "just a few decades away." But now, tech heavyweights like Microsoft, Google, and startups like PsiQuantum are betting big that these machines could be useful not in decades, but in years. PsiQuantum’s plan? Build the world’s first “utility-scale” quantum computer by 2027, with a cool million qubits—units of quantum information that could process data at speeds today’s supercomputers can’t even imagine.

And while the tech isn’t quite there yet, the stakes are sky-high. Backers like BlackRock and the Australian government are throwing hundreds of millions into the project, hoping to unlock solutions for everything from climate change to global health crises.

How Quantum Computers Could Fight Climate Change

So, why the buzz? Well, quantum computers could model complex molecules with mind-blowing precision. This could mean new drugs with fewer side effects, better carbon capture materials, or super-efficient fertilisers that don’t wreck ecosystems. PsiQuantum’s CEO suggests that these machines could help identify materials that pull carbon from the atmosphere far more efficiently than today’s tech.

The possibilities are huge—but they hinge on these quantum systems actually working. PsiQuantum claims its photon-based qubits are more stable than competitors’ electron-based ones. Still, this is like saying your spaceship is slightly less likely to explode during takeoff. The challenge is colossal.

The Race to Build the Impossible Machine

While PsiQuantum is dreaming big, rivals aren’t sitting still. Google, Microsoft, and Amazon are also investing heavily, each claiming recent breakthroughs. And last week, a smaller player, D-Wave, claimed its quantum machine solved a problem beyond any regular supercomputer’s reach—sending its stock soaring.

But there are doubters. Nvidia’s CEO has said we’re still 15-30 years away from meaningful quantum computing. Others argue that AI on traditional systems might crack problems once thought "quantum-only." Oh, and there’s the minor issue that quantum computers could break modern internet encryption, ushering in a new era of cyber chaos. No big deal.

The takeaway

Quantum computing is inching closer to reality, and with it, the hope of tackling climate change and other global challenges. But whether it becomes humanity’s problem-solver—or just an expensive science experiment—remains an open question.