Quantum computing (QC) has often felt like a theoretical concept due to the many hurdles researchers must clear. Chief among them is upping the number of qubits, or the units of information that these impressive pieces of hardware use to perform tasks. Whereas classical computer “bits” exist as 1s or 0s, qubits can be either — or both simultaneously. That’s key to massively greater processing speeds, which are necessary to simulate molecular-level quantum mechanics.
10 Quantum Computing Applications to Know
- Artificial intelligence
- Better batteries
- Cleaner fertilization
- Cybersecurity
- Drug development
- Electronic materials discovery
- Financial modeling
- Solar capture
- Traffic optimization
- Weather forecasting and climate change
But quantum computers are inching closer to reality, thanks to Microsoft focusing on another key issue. Microsoft and Quantinuum have figured out a way to check qubit errors without altering a quantum computer’s environment, signaling a new era in quantum computing.
Quantum computers have a reputation for being unreliable since even the most minute changes can create ‘noise’ that makes it difficult to get accurate results, if any. The discovery by Microsoft and Quantinuum addresses this problem and reignites the heated race between top tech companies like Microsoft, Google and IBM to conquer quantum computing.
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