03 | Dead and Alive: Plucky country

You might not know it, but Australia is an unexpected frontrunner in the race to build a quantum computer. Despite our isolation, leading quantum experts have called Australia home for decades, chipping away at this massive challenge. What have we learnt, from our first digital computer CSIRAC, to now? And will it all culminate in the world's first million-qubit computer? Got feedback? Email us sciencefriction@abc.net.au Guests: Dr Peter Thorne Former weekend service operator for CSIRAC Professor Michelle Simmons CEO of Silicon Quantum Computing and director of the Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology, UNSW Professor Robert Clark Founding director of the Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computer Technology, UNSW Professor Geoff Pryde Chief Technical Director, PsiQuantum Australia Presenter: Jacinta Bowler Script producers: Fiona Pepper, James Bullen Senior Producer: Shelby Traynor Executive Producer: Petria Ladgrove Sound Engineer: Tim Jenkins Archives Research: Lisa Chidlow, Michael Osmond