https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/09/190918131437.htm > Engineers at Purdue University and Tohoku University in Japan have built the first hardware to demonstrate how the fundamental units of what would be a probabilistic computer -- called p-bits -- are capable of performing a calculation that quantum computers would usually be called upon to perform. > The study, published in Nature on Wednesday (Sept. 18), introduces a device that serves as a basis for building probabilistic computers to more efficiently solve problems in areas such as drug research, encryption and cybersecurity, financial services, data analysis and supply chain logistics.