To answer that question, we have to know what quantum computing is and the resources it requires. At the time of writing, there isn’t a single practical application that has been discovered for quantum computing. The hope, is that quantum computing can infiltrate communication networks around the world and render conventional cybersecurity infrastructure obsolete. Hypothetically, quantum computing could advance modern chemistry: making more efficient pharmaceuticals and powerful photovoltaic cells in solar panels. Feature photo: The entrance to the old U.S. Steel South Works on the South Side of Chicago.