HELLO FUTURE: Can We Explore Black Holes with Quantum Computers?

Kevin Cirilli sits down with science writer Matt Swayne to ask one wild question: can quantum computers help us understand black holes? From simulating gravity’s strangest effects to decoding the physics of space-time, Kevin and Matt explore how the most advanced computers on Earth might reveal what happens beyond the event horizon. A mind-bending conversation about cosmic mysteries, quantum logic, and why the future of discovery might start in a lab — not a telescope.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:08):
How my quantum computing actually help us navigate our universe?
What are the implications of quantum computing as it relates
to exploring space. Hello Future, it's me Kevin. This is
a dispatch from the Digital Frontier. The year is twenty
twenty five, the planet is Earth. My name is Kevin Sirelli,
and I'm thrilled to welcome back to the program the

(00:29):
co founder of the Quantuminsider dot com, Matt Swain. Matt,
thanks for coming back on the show. I really appreciate it.
In our first conversation, we talked a little bit about
what quantum computing really is. Put very simply, it can
solve problems that traditional computers that would take them septillions
of years, it can solve it in a day. And

(00:51):
one of the things we touched on was exploring space
and how quantum computing allows us to use different simulations.
How will quantum computing be a game changer for space exploration.

Speaker 2 (01:05):
So I think there are a few ways that they're
going to use quantum computers for space exploration. One of
the things that I think they're talking about now, and
I've done some studies on this where really I've done
some articles about studies on this is as far as
like materials that you can use in space. Quantum computers
can be used in material science. That's one of its

(01:26):
kind of go to use cases. And so it can
find again, when you're searching for just the right type
of material that a classical computer would probably churn through
over decades, a quantum computer can find just the right
type of material for space travel that can be used

(01:48):
in space. So I think that's one very practical way
that quantum computers are going to be used. But I
think they can also be used for these physical properties
that they are just two immense for classical computers. I'm
thinking about like black hole exploration and trying to understand
black holes as well as other you know, astronomical phenomena.

Speaker 1 (02:11):
So I had like a million follow up questions and
this legit reminds me of the show Quantum Leap. It
took place in twenty twenty two, but it was from
a while ago and it was all about quantum computing. Okay,
so you're saying it can help find materials and whatnot
to travel space. So are you saying that it can
help create materials to build space shuttles that can survive

(02:34):
going very far distances, like in the movie Interstellar, And
then you're is that what you mean? Or do you
also mean it could help us explore asteroids and which
asteroids to mind, It could help us find planets where there,
you know, has a better chance of life that we
understand as life or living conditions in the habitable zone.

(02:55):
And then you talk talking about black holes and I
was like, I don't even know what the follow up
question is on that, So I guess drilled down for
me what you actually mean for people like me who
are trying to understand you. And I think it's cool,
but are the light bulb is still flickering above my head?
It hasn't gone off yet.

Speaker 2 (03:12):
Sorry, Yeah, I mean, I think one using quantum computers
to create materials for space shuttles that can withstand, you know,
the rigors of space travel, but also you know, maybe
be faster or more protective. I think you could use

(03:33):
quantum computers for that as far as I could possibly
see them. Looking through the you know, the problem space
of all the asteroids out there and finding the ideal one,
or maybe looking at the chemical signatures of them to
find the one that's going to be the best for mining.
I could see things like that for sure. I don't

(03:54):
know how close we are to those use cases coming true,
but I think they're all pretty much possible with a
quantum computer.

Speaker 1 (04:02):
The Quantum Insider has an article about how the US
government is looking at quantum computing, and from a national
security standpoint, I obviously want America to be well positioned
with quantum computing against people like, you know, the Communist
Party of China, and you know Russia, and you know
North Korea, Iran. How do we stand in the race

(04:25):
for quantum computing.

Speaker 2 (04:27):
Yeah, I think that's a great question. I would say
the United States is leading is a leader. China is
a little hard to figure out because they're not as transparent,
and so most of the information we get is been
at least okayed or approved by the government there, so

(04:48):
they're probably going to tell you what you what they
want you to hear, rather than what is actually happening.
But just by pure on my side, as a science
writer and a science communit cater, pure research that they're
putting out is really good research, and it's a lot.
I think the US is leading, but I think China
is there. I think there are other you know, national

(05:10):
ecosystems around the world for sure, the UK, Germany, Scandinavia
all have pretty significant robust quantum initiatives.

Speaker 1 (05:21):
So what is the difference between quantum computing and artificial intelligence?

Speaker 2 (05:26):
Oh well, quantum computing, those two are completely different.

Speaker 1 (05:29):
So the public doesn't think I didn't I know that,
And this is why I'm really glad I ask this
is I didn't realize that until I started reading your website,
the Quantum Insider dot com, because and I think most
people hear quantum is the next thing after AI, and
you know, from a year's standpoint, chronologically, yes, but that's it.
So it's almost like it's not even apples and oranges,

(05:52):
it's like asteroids and apples. So what is So what
is the difference between the two.

Speaker 2 (05:57):
Well, I mean like AI is a essentially an algorithmic software,
where quantum computing is a hardware and a software I
think to tap into the quantum world. So those are
two different things. Now I would say both of those
are enabling technologies. For instance, you can use quantum computing

(06:18):
to improve AI, like AI is almost a program that
you would run on a quantum computer. So in other words,
the classical AI would use quantum computing for certain parts
of that artificial intelligence process. For example, one thing good
quantum computers can do is come up with simulated data. Again,

(06:42):
simulation is one of its one of its core use cases,
so when it comes up with it can come up
with simulated data to train the AI, which would be
a big, huge help because finding enough data to feed
these new A systems is really incredible.

Speaker 1 (07:01):
So I just got that. The light bulb just went
off because it's honestly like I can watch Netflix or
YouTube on my cell phone, my computer, or my television now,
but they're all three different technologies. So that really kind
of helped it. That analogy really resonated with me. Which
is the app is AI and the hardware is the quantum,

(07:25):
But Quantum can also make Just like Apple makes hardware
and apps and different platforms, Quantum can also make different
applications as well. That's that's really really interesting. You keep
talking about simulations, and I think I get what you're saying,
but I want to drill down a little bit. Why
should I care about simulations, especially just from a very

(07:46):
basic level. Why I don't know, Like I was sitting
in traffic on the way to the studio today, and
I can't stand all of the traffic jams that I
sit in. Why would a simulation, a quantum simulation, be
able to clear up the traffic jams.

Speaker 2 (08:02):
So, yeah, the simulation is a great example of how
we use how they'll use quantum computers and logistics. Because
if you think about the traveling salesman problem that's always
been talked about about, how can you get the exact
route for a salesman to visit all his customers when
every time you put a stop it adds more complexity.

(08:26):
So when you think about a city with all these
different complex routes and roots and intersections and traffic signals
and all of that, you get each time you add
one of those more one more of those problems, you
increase the complexity of it. And a quantum computer is
able to you know, once we get to like this

(08:48):
tolerant level, it can sort of test all of those
possibilities essentially at once and find the optimal solution.

Speaker 1 (08:56):
I mean, it'd be really good to pick the lottery
with a quantum computer.

Speaker 2 (08:59):
Yeah, I don't know whether it's gonna work for you
that way.

Speaker 1 (09:03):
All right, Well, come back on the show. Thank you
so much, Matt Swain. I really really appreciate it. He's
the co founder of the Quantum Insider dot com and
he's the best at what he does. He's really you know,
it's a growing field, but this is the big field.
And I gotta tell you everyone talks about artificial intelligence.
I got my eye on quantum computing and I have
since that great sci fi show that Belizario Donald Belizario

(09:23):
executive produced. He was the guy behind NCIS called The
Quantum Leap, and it was set in twenty twenty two.
It's already twenty twenty five. Quantum computing three years late. Anyway,
I have a great tomorrow today