Record For Furthest Distance Quantum Data Transmission Broken

Recently, there have been a lot of articles about technologies straight from science fiction. With lasers being mounted to airplanes by 2019 and Japan firing a laser equal to a thousand times the world’s electricity consumption. With everything from science fiction becoming a reality, it was only a matter of time before this topic appeared in our news again, Quantum Data. Quantum refers to anything that can be in two forms at the same time, for example, Quantum computers are looking at changing how your computer works from  “yes, no” to “yes, no, both”. Quantum Data transmission is a step further.

From Star Trek to Gundam teleportation has always been at the head of science fiction, the ability to go from one place to another by being transmitted like an email or text message. A team of scientists at the US’ National Institute of Standards and Technology have gone and transmitted a photon of information across 63 miles. Now calm down, lets put that into perspective. When transmitting data that far, 99% of photons wouldn’t make the full trip, and this latest record was only broken because of a set of new detectors.

With the ability to transmit data, in what could possibly be the most secure way, across miles from your home to your work and local shops, transmitting quantum data could make WiFi look like plastic cups and string. Would you look forward to being able to use your computer from 63 miles away aware that no one could intercept your messages because you were using the same computer that was 63 miles away, at the same time? Confusing isn’t it?

Thank you Engadget for the information.

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