Global Warming’s QC Fix

Global warming and the future of the Third Rock from the Sun is big news as we enter the new decade. Solutions are ten for the penny. But quantum computing’s eureka moment may just be here

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

‘We are living on this planet as if we had another one to go to.’

— Terri Swearingen

Up In Smoke

With the current heatwave and forest fires in Australia as proof (some would say) the planet is undergoing an unprecedented time of temperature rises, freak weather occurrences, and record carbon emissions, the news that there could be a potential solution coming from the quantum world is pleasing to hear.

The arguments, however — as to whether our planet is heating up or if it’s just some leftist, green-tinged liberal conspiracy to make China and the United States go red with shame — is still up for debate.

All the arguments for the rise in temperatures do have credence: steady metrics and statistical data going back decades proves, at least scientifically speaking, the trend is a real one.

This, of course, will make the brattish Greta Thunberg and the acolytes of the Extinction Rebellion movement more than happy.

But there are others, people who take a different viewpoint on the whole situation:

‘The planet has been through a lot worse than us. Been through earthquakes, volcanoes, plate tectonics, continental drift, solar flares, sunspots, magnetic storms, the magnetic reversal of the poles… hundreds of thousands of years of bombardment by comets and asteroids and meteors, worldwide floods, tidal waves, worldwide fires, erosion, cosmic rays, recurring ice ages … And we think some plastic bags and some aluminum cans are going to make a difference? The planet isn’t going anywhere. We are!’

— George Carlin, comedian

So you see, different strokes for different folks.

Always been that way. Not gonna change now. But it’s still refreshing — and a relief — to know there are men and women of science who are trying to make the world a better place…