Chinese scientists have created the world’s first light-based quantum (量子) computer, called Jiuzhang. The name comes from an ancient Chinese mathematical text. Jiuzhang can calculate (计算) 100,000 billion times faster than today’s best supercomputers. Specifically, it can perform an extremely challenging calculation, called Gaussian boson sampling (高斯玻色取样), in 200 seconds. The same task would take the world’s fastest supercomputer, Fugaku, around 600 million years.