Technology
Machine learning helped show how harnessing the weird effects of Einstein’s special relativity could enable a new kind of quantum computer – and it could also lead to new insights into the quantum realm
The odd effects of special relativity can be harnessed to build quantum computers
Yuichiro Chino/Getty Images
Special relativity could be harnessed to build a novel quantum computer, and creating it this way could let us use machine learning to deepen our understanding of the quantum realm.
Albert Einstein’s theory of special relativity describes how moving at close to the speed of light would affect travellers’ experience of space and time. These insights don’t merely give us thought experiments; they are crucial for technologies such as satellite communication and GPS.
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features