Can quantum computers solve the age-old debate on how to brew the perfect cuppa?
It’s National Tea Day and our head of comms, Gemma Church, is taking a moment to ponder how quantum computing could help us “brew more, do more”.
The UK’s love of tea is so deep that collectively we consume more than 60 billion cups a year, upwards of 165 million cups a day.
We’re even celebrating our love for tea today, April 21st, as National Tea Day with the slogan “Brew More. Do more.”. But ever since we have consumed this delicious beverage, there has been one all-consuming question: how to brew the perfect cuppa?
This question has haunted Brits for centuries and has not been answered with certainty — for now.
Solving the perfect cuppa conundrum with quantum computing
Quantum computers promise tremendous power and the ability to tackle problems that traditional computers cannot. From tackling climate change to drug discovery and new materials development, British quantum computing company Universal Quantum is focused on tackling problems to change the world for the better. But today’s physicists and researchers still cannot answer the question of how to brew the perfect cuppa — and this is where quantum computers could step in.
Where quantum computers may one day be used to develop more sustainable jet fuels, they could also be used to solve fluid dynamics problems such as determining the perfect relation between two liquids of differing temperatures coming together in a cuppa.
Using complex algorithms, they could accurately simulate everything from milk streams during stirring to loose-leaf versus bagged tea and the ultimate question in brewing — do you add the milk before or after the hot water?
And how long should the tea bag be left in to make the tea the perfect strength?
Dr Luuk Earl, a quantum engineer at Universal Quantum, said: “We are only just starting to understand the real potential of quantum computing and the breadth of ways these machines could transform the world. While brewing the perfect cup of tea may seem like a trivial problem, quantum computers could have a significant impact in the many areas associated with the brewing process — and this leads to many exciting cross-overs across multiple industries. Simulating fluid dynamics, for example, as well as other scenarios such as weather models to improve tea crops and providing insights into soil quality and crop rotation requires computing power beyond any traditional computer.”
To unlock these applications and do anything useful for society, quantum computers need to scale significantly. Universal Quantum researchers estimate that we will be able to build a quantum computer capable of solving some of the issues surrounding the perfect cuppa conundrum within this decade.
Until then, tea drinkers across the country and world must rely on their gut feeling when brewing their next cuppa.
About Universal Quantum
Universal Quantum is building the world’s first million qubit quantum computer. Why? Because to unlock the full potential of quantum computing and change the world for the better, we need to reach the million-qubit scale.
Universal Quantum has focused on creating a million-qubit quantum computer from day one. Its unique, electronic quantum computing modules are based on silicon technology where individual modules are connected using ultrafast electric field links to form an architecture that scales. From medicine to material science and much more, our work will transform the world.
Based near Brighton in the UK, Universal Quantum is backed by top VCs, has 15+ years of quantum computing experience and is a proud member of the Tech Talent Charter.
Visit www.universalquantum.com
