Quantum networking

Quantum computing has received a lot of press over the years, for obvious reasons: the idea of using quantum effects to create a more powerful computer is just plain cool. Now, researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics (MPQ) in Garching, Germany, have announced a breakthrough in a related concept: quantum networking.

Networking through quantum effects doesn't get nearly as much press, but that doesn't mean that a fully functioning quantum network wouldn't be pretty neat stuff. According to MPQ's announcement:

Besides giving insights into fundamental questions in physics, they could also have applications in secure communication and the simulation of complex many-body systems, or they could be used for distributed quantum computing.

The MPQ team has apparently created the world's first elementary quantum network; to read more about it, check out their announcement here. Or, for the physics  in all its glorious details, check out their recent article in Nature.