Quantum computation plays a starring role in some of my favorite recent sci-fi novels (Hannu Rajaniemi's Quantum Thief, for example), but like the William Gibson's Neuromancer world (powered by Eastern Seaboard Fusion Reactors), it's just interesting and speculative sci-fi.
Happily, there are many fields beside computing where quantum technology comes into play - better and cheap chip fabrication, semiconductor lasers and diodes, all kinds of materials science research, and of course, solar energy conversion systems modeled on the photosynthetic apparatus:
Romero, et al. (2017). Quantum design of photosynthesis for bio-inspired solar-energy conversion. Nature
As far as what today's working scientists will pursue, the silly popular notion that researchers are free to explore whatever they find exciting and interesting is mostly nonsense; successful researchers in the modern science system are as keen as hounds on the scent for new funding disbursements from the major federal agencies (and some private sponsors). If the money dries up, they turn their attention to other things, except perhaps for a few back-burner projects handed off to some hopelessly naive yet charmingly enthusiastic grad student.
Happily, there are many fields beside computing where quantum technology comes into play - better and cheap chip fabrication, semiconductor lasers and diodes, all kinds of materials science research, and of course, solar energy conversion systems modeled on the photosynthetic apparatus:
https://sci-hub.se/10.1038/nature22012
Romero, et al. (2017). Quantum design of photosynthesis for bio-inspired solar-energy conversion. Nature
As far as what today's working scientists will pursue, the silly popular notion that researchers are free to explore whatever they find exciting and interesting is mostly nonsense; successful researchers in the modern science system are as keen as hounds on the scent for new funding disbursements from the major federal agencies (and some private sponsors). If the money dries up, they turn their attention to other things, except perhaps for a few back-burner projects handed off to some hopelessly naive yet charmingly enthusiastic grad student.