01 · A life in computing
The person behind the work
Charles Bennett helped establish quantum information science by treating physical laws as resources and constraints for information processing. At IBM, his research explored reversible computation, quantum communication, and the relationship between information and thermodynamics. With Gilles Brassard he developed the BB84 quantum key-distribution protocol. His broader collaborations also helped establish quantum teleportation and entanglement-based communication, making him a central figure in the foundations of quantum computing.
The contribution, explained
Charles Bennett and Gilles Brassard helped establish quantum information science. Their BB84 protocol showed how quantum states could support key distribution, with eavesdropping detectable through statistical checks under the protocol’s assumptions. Their wider work helped turn entanglement and other quantum phenomena into information-processing resources. The 2025 award was announced in March 2026.
Why it matters
Quantum information changed the questions researchers could ask about secrecy, communication and the physical basis of computation.