The top encryption method used everywhere is based on prime numbers. It is commonly known as RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman). [Adi Shamir is a Weizmann Institute professor, in Rehovot, Israel].

It is the most widely used encryption algorithm – and secures everyday internet activities. It is based on prime number theory, an obscure, abstract branch of mathematics that seemingly never had any practical use whatsoever.

Lesson? Turn curious scientists loose to follow their passion – even into seemingly obscure regions – and good things happen.

Quantum physics is a prime example. It began as a highly controversial idea – as a fundamental branch of physics that describes the behavior of matter and energy at the........

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