10 Sci-Fi Tech That's So Close We Can Barely Contain Ourselves
5. Teleportation
Okay, before you get too excited, we're probably not all that close to full-on Star Trek style transporters but, on the plus side, teleportation is definitely a thing. Scientists have managed to build quantum supercomputers by taking advantage of a principle in quantum physics called superposition in which a particle can exist in multiple states at once, therefore, (extremely) simply put, data can exist in a quantum computer as both zero and one in the form of qbits. So far so confusing, but where does teleportation come in to it?
Well, in order to do this, scientists had to invent the snappily titled "broadband, zero-dispersion teleportation apparatus which is essentially a little teleport for quantum particles. Imagine being a fly on the wall in that meeting: We need to create a quantum computer that can do a lot of hard sums, but how? Well, why dont I just invent a teleport? Good thinking Jenkins, have it on my desk by Monday.
So, we can teleport quantum particles, but what about people? Well, unfortunately the quantum and classical worlds behave in very different ways, so its far more complicated than simply scaling it up, plus, some of the experiments have yielded imperfect results - meaning that, even if we could, you run the risk of leaving your kidneys behind. There is light at the end of the quantum tunnel though, as one Professor Ronald Hanson has been quoted as saying, "I would not rule it out because there's no fundamental law of physics preventing it. Fingers crossed then.