Quantum Technology’s Unsung Heroes

In a world where quantum technologies are on the rise in computing, cryptography, materials, sensors, telecom, biomed, and AI, it’s easy to forget that not so long ago the words “quantum” and “technology” rarely fit comfortably into a sentence together. A range of trailblazers imagined quantum physics turning into quantum engineering turning into quantum user tech—or, for those working before the quantum era, imagined far-off theoretical horizons coming into range of practical applications. However, not all of these early innovators are known to those developing present-day quantum technologies. Yet rediscovering the lost history of early quantum pioneers today yields at least three dividends—advancing the field by better understanding its past, inspiring new generations of future leaders, and finally giving credit where credit’s due.