When contemplating a number between 1 and 10, you may wonder if it was 7. If so, don’t feel bad; human brains often struggle with true randomness and probability. Excitingly, scientists have seemingly cracked a genuinely random number generator.

A peer-reviewed research published in Nature suggests achieving certifiable randomness using “a 56-qubit Quantinuum H2-1 trapped-ion quantum computer” (via Popular Mechanics).

Typically, computers can only approximate randomness, yielding results that satisfy human interpretations. However, quantum computers offer an advanced capability, potentially enhancing data security moving forward.

Even the illusion of randomness is crucial for data encryption. Conventional methods rely on multiplying large prime numbers, leading to a seemingly random number. A would-be decryptor only needs one of the primes as a key. But, as many mathematicians will point out, that’s more probable than one might think.

Given that prime numbers exhibit predictability, encryption protocols need continual updates, despite being static to some degree. The over 30 authors of the Nature paper (four of whom have patents tied to this work) aimed to eliminate that key.

Through their quantum computer, the team generated random strings of 70,000 bits, uncorrelated with any other information. Producing such lengthy numbers also occurs within a reasonable timeframe. While we remain far from desktop quantum computers, the researchers assert their findings can be applied in practical scenarios, remarking, “[W]e demonstrate a useful beyond-classical application of gate-based digital quantum computers.”

Applications for quantum computing of this nature surpass attempts to make legacy games like Doom functional on them. With data breaches escalating, it’s crucial to embrace quantum advancements for bolstering data integrity and user privacy.