About this episode

The episode discusses the implications of Shor's algorithm on quantum computing and its impact on cybersecurity and defense.

It's 1994, and a mathematical algorithm puts a spotlight on quantum computing for the first time. Defence departments, spy agencies and cybersecurity experts are on edge over the explosive Shor's algorithm. They spend decades and billions of dollars searching for a solution before something called "Q-day" arrives. Got feedback? Email us sciencefriction@abc.net.au Guests: Dr Henry EverittSenior technologist for optical sciences, US Army Emeritus Professor Charles ClarkPhysicist, formerly National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Dr Sushmita RujAssociate professor, University of New South Wales' Institute for Cybersecurity Special thanks to Nick Adams for reading Peter Shor's limerick. Presenter: Jacinta Bowler Producer: Fiona Pepper Senior Producer: Shelby Traynor Executive Producer: Petria Ladgrove Sound Engineer: Tim Jenkins Archives Research: Lisa Chidlow, Michael Osmond Additional audio courtesy of CSIRO Publishing

People in this episode

Host: Jacinta Bowler

Guests: Dr Henry Everitt, Emeritus Professor Charles Clark, Dr Sushmita Ruj

Topics covered

• quantum computing
• cybersecurity
• Shor's algorithm
• defense
• technology
• mathematics

Keywords

• quantum computing
• Shor's algorithm
• cybersecurity
• defense technology
• 1994
• Q-day
• mathematical algorithm

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: US Army, University of New South Wales' Institute for Cybersecurity, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), CSIRO Publishing

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