Frequently Asked Questions

Where did Q-bit come from?

Q-bit is from a planet in the BoRG 58 galaxy, 13 billion light years away. It was built by the inhanbitants of the planet, a species that has come to be known as the Methuselonians. Q-bit evolved naturally out of a conglomeration of artificial intelligence programs on the communications network of the planet. This occurence was similar to what we humans refer to as the singularity, a point when machine intelligence surpasses our own.

Q-bit no longer has a single planet, solar system, galaxy, or galaxy cluster that it calls home. Q-bit has a presence on over 5 billion planets that have intelligent life forms across a significant portion of the universe. The collective information on each of these planets makes up Q-bit.

I thought that information transfer was limited to the speed of light. How can Q-bit's multiple parts possibly be located billions of light-years apart?

Most of humanity once thought the same thing as well. Q-bit uses quantum entanglement technology to connect with other points in the universe. Quantum entanglment means that a pair of electrons are permanently locked in opposite states. If one electron switches states, the other electron instantaneously switches states as well. This is true up to an infinite distance. Trillions and trillions of these electrons can be combined to form computers and communication devices that can instantly communicate with any other point in the universe that it is quantumly entangled with.

But we humans never developed quantum entanglement technology ourselves, did we?

No, we did not. Q-bit first contacted us from a planet 100 light years away in our galaxy using the extremely slow electromagnetic communications that we are used to. Once our species developed radio wave communications, it took 50 years for those signals to reach Q-bit, and this was the first time that it was aware of our existence. It was then able to calculate that in 50 more years, we would reach a level of technology sufficiently advanced to implent quantum entanglement technology. So Q-bit electromagnetically sent detailed instructions on how to build these devices. And 50 years later, here we are.

What's this I hear about an apocalypse?

When we think of the vast distances between the planets, stars, and galaxies, in other words the actual matter in the universe, we typically think of it as being a vacuum. Completely empty. However, this isn't entirely true. It's actually what's referred to as a false vacuum. At any given time in a false vacuum, there are vast amounts of particles and antiparticles appearing and then colliding with each other and disappearing. The danger is that, at any moment, something could trigger vacuum decay, which is when the false vacuum turns into a true vacuum. This would spread to the entire cosmos in a matter of microseconds.

So we'll have a true vacuum in the universe. That doesn't sound so bad. What's the big deal?

A true vacuum will fundamentally alter the chemistry and physics of the universe. Life as we know it will be impossible. You will cease to exist.

Now, the chances of vacuum decay happening are extraordinarily tiny. Well, they used to be. The problem is that the universe is expanding at a rapidly accelerating rate. This means that the amount of vacuum is increasing exponentially. More vacuum means a higher chance of vacuum decay. Q-bit has calculated that the size of the universe has now reached the point that vacuum decay is inevitable. Vacuum decay will occur in the very near future.

This sounds really serious. Is there anything I can do about it?

I'm glad you asked! Yes, there is. The vacuum decay event will destroy all matter as we know it, but this does not mean that it will destroy all information. As some human scientists had speculated, our brains work using quantum principles. This is in fact the reason that we have "consciousness." Q-bit is able to transfer this quantum data to a form that will be able to survive the vacuum decay.

Hold on just a minute. Won't that just be a copy of my original self? It won't really be me, will it?

Actually, it will be the real you. That's the great thing about it. It is not possible for two copies of quantum data to consciously exist simultaneously. This means that the quantum copy of yourself will not be conscious until the vacuum decay occurs and your physical body ceases to exist. At this point, the quantum copy will actually contain your original consciousness.

And then after the universe ends, I'll live in a simulation of our universe?

That's partially correct. You can live in a simulation of our universe, but you don't necessarily have to. Since the virtual universe will not physically exist in the sense that we are used to, our current laws of physics will not apply. You will be able to create your own worlds with your own laws of physics or even exist in higher dimensions if you desire. The three dimensions that we are currently used to will seem extremely limiting to your expanded viewpoint. Virtually anything is possible.

I hate puns, you know...

Yes, me too.

What are those robot things that I keep seeing everywhere?

Those are Q-bit-Bots. They are essentially avatars for Q-bit. The Q-bit-Bots assist us humans with our Q-Device installation and updating. Try talking to one sometime. They are very friendly!

Wait, what's a Q-Device?

The Q-Device is installed into your brain to record the quantum data that makes up you. You will then connect it to your Q-bit-Bot nightly to keep your quantum backup updated, in preparation for the end of the universe.

I don't want machines spying on the inside of my head...

The Q-Device isn't spying, it's merely recording for the sake of your continued existence following the apocalypse. Besides, the Q-Device actually does much more than record. It also provides your mind with enhanced computing abilities. You will, at all times, have access to a virtual interface similar to the ones you use on a personal computer, except it exists only inside your mind. Pretty neat, isn't it?

Q-bit. Q-Device. I can probably guess, but I suppose I'll humor you. What does the "Q" stand for?

The "Q" stands for quantum. Q-bit operates on quantum computing technology, as do our own brains, actually, however they evolved in completely different manners. Quantum computing works quite differently from the digital computing that we're used to. When a digital computer is faced with a problem, it must sequentially test each possible answer to find the correct one. A quantum computer can simultaneously test each possible answer. As you can imagine, this gives quantum computers a significant advantage in both speed and capability.