VIDEO: Internet Freaking Out Over Justin Trudeau's Quantum Computing Explanation
WATERLOO, Ontario (CBSNewYork/AP)-- A video of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau showing off his geek side by nailing a reporter's question about quantum computing is going viral.
A journalist calls Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's bluff and asks him to explain quantum computing. To everyone's surprise, he does so with ease. Read more: www.cbc.ca/1.3537098
Posted by CBC Politics on Friday, April 15, 2016
Making a funding announcement Friday at the Perimeter Institute in Waterloo, Ontario, Trudeau dared reporters to ask him about how quantum computing works.
One reporter took the bait and Trudeau responded with a mini-lesson. The former teacher explained that a regular computer is a binary system, with a bit being "either a one or a zero, on or off,'' whereas a quantum state can be much more complex. He continued, "things can be both particle and waves'' and the uncertainty around quantum states allows more information to be encoded into a much smaller computer.
And that, he added to laughter and applause, is "what's exciting about quantum computing.''
The video has been viewed over 6 million times on Facebook and has more than 70,000 likes.
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