Some time ago I tried to explain some bits of stuff related to complexity theory to someone with virtually no knowledge of computer science. Back then I said something like "It requires more energy than available in the whole universe to solve this problem", which seemed like the best non-geeky explanation.
Today I stumbled over a similar piece by Jeff Bonwick of Sun fame in which he explains the limits of storage capactity:
[T]herefore the minimum mass required to hold the bits would be (2140 bits) / (1031 bits/kg) = 136 billion kg. That's a lot of gear.
[...]
Thus, fully populating a 128-bit storage pool would, literally, require more energy than boiling the oceans.
Quantum mechanics made easy.
Written on 13 Oct 04 07:37 PM.