Four decades ago, physicists were theorizing that the mind-bending mechanics of quantum physics could be harnessed to make a new kind of computer that’s exponentially more powerful than conventional machines.

In November, IBM unveiled Heron, its most powerful quantum computer to date. The company plans to have error-corrected systems ready by 2029, and it's exploring the idea of integrating quantum computers with traditional central processing units (CPUs) and graphics processing units (GPUs) to solve real-world problems.

Looking for a smart, sensible way to gain exposure to the tantalizing upside of quantum computing without getting burned? You may be surprised

Quantum computing stocks have been flying high lately amid growing mainstream acceptance of the technology, delivering multiplicative returns in just one month. Read more here.