Quantum computing: Quantum computers are poised to change the world!
A previous ASI article cited that Microsoft created in Feb 2025 a new chip, called “Majorana 1,” which is powered by a new state of matter called a topological state. This phase of matter is defined by its topological properties. A breakthrough that could lead to the most powerful quantum computers of all time.
In November last year, IBM unveiled its latest quantum computer, Osprey, a new 433 qubit processor that is three times more powerful than its predecessor built only in 2021. Quantum is a field of science that studies the physical properties of nature at the scale of atoms and subatomic particles.
Proponents of quantum technology say these machines could usher in rapid advances in fields like drug discovery and materials science — a prospect that dangles the tantalizing possibility of creating, for example, lighter, more efficient, electric vehicle batteries or materials that could facilitate effective CO2 capture.
With the climate crisis looming, and technology with a hope of solving complex issues like these are bound to draw keen interest. Little wonder then, that some of the largest tech companies in the world — Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and, of course, IBM to name a few — are investing heavily in it and angling to stake their place in a quantum future.
How do quantum computers work?
These machines function in an entirely different way. In the place of bits in a classical computer, the basic unit of information in quantum computing is what’s known as a quantum bit, or qubit. These are typically subatomic particles like photons or electrons. The key to a quantum machine’s advanced computational power lies in its ability to manipulate these qubits.
Superposition in qubits means that unlike a binary system with its two possible values, 0 or 1, a qubit in superposition can be 0 or 1 or 0 and 1 at the same time. This ability to be in multiple states at the same time means that you have an exponentially larger amount of states in which to encode data, making quantum computers powerful than traditional, binary code computers.
Another property crucial to how quantum computing works is entanglement. When two qubits are generated in an entangled state there is a direct measurable correlation between what happens to one qubit in an entangled pair and what happens to the other, no matter how far apart they are. Entanglement brings stronger connectivity between the different units and qubits.
Reference: What is quantum computing and how will quantum computers change the world? | Euronews
