Sound vibrations can encode and process data like quantum computers do

Some properties of quantum computers can be imitated with sound trapped in a simple mechanical device. This has the advantage of being less fragile than quantum computers, while still replicating some of their properties.

Quantum computers could eventually solve problems that are impossible for best conventional supercomputers, but they are tricky to work with. Many lose their quantumness, which is key for their advantages over ordinary computers, and stop working very quickly because of disturbances from their environments – and some must …