University of Kwazulu-Natal

Quantum Computing Unlocking Qubits Science Tech Breakthroughs And

Bonisiwe Shabane
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quantum computing unlocking qubits science tech breakthroughs and

Comparison of zero-level distillation (right) and logical-level distillation (left). Credit: PRX Quantum (2025). DOI: 10.1103/thxx-njr6 For decades, the idea of quantum computing has sat tantalizingly on the horizon—promising a future where calculations that might take today’s supercomputers centuries could be solved in seconds. It’s a vision powered not by science fiction, but by the eerie principles of quantum mechanics: particles that can exist in multiple states at once, and become mysteriously linked across space. But there’s always been a catch.

Quantum computers are notoriously fragile. A whisper of heat, a stray photon, even cosmic background noise can throw them into chaos. Now, researchers at the University of Osaka may have solved one of the thorniest obstacles on the road to practical quantum machines—with a little bit of what they call “magic.” Published in PRX Quantum, the study introduces a new, radically efficient technique for preparing “magic states”—a foundational requirement for error-resistant quantum computation. Their approach could slash resource demands by dozens of times, removing a major bottleneck in building scalable, fault-tolerant quantum systems. It’s a quiet revolution, and it might just reshape the future of computation.

An official website of the United States government Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2025/04/quantum-breakthroughs-nist-sqms-lead-way While quantum computing might seem like technology for the distant future, the breakthroughs from the collaboration between Fermilab’s Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems (SQMS) Center, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and...

NIST is dedicated to pushing the frontiers of quantum computing and making that technology viable, scalable, and energy efficient. Microsoft Quantum and Purdue University researchers have made a major leap in quantum computing, publishing a paper in Nature detailing how they successfully measured a key property of topological qubits. Their work pushes semiconductor-superconductor hybrid technology to new heights and strengthens Purdue’s role in quantum research. Microsoft Quantum recently published an article in Nature, highlighting key advancements in measuring quantum devices — an essential step toward building a topological quantum computer. The research was conducted by Microsoft scientists and engineers, including those at Microsoft Quantum Lab West Lafayette, based at Purdue University. In their announcement, the team described the operation of a crucial device that serves as a foundational building block for topological quantum computing.

Their findings mark a significant milestone in the development of quantum computers, which have the potential to be far more powerful and resilient than current technologies. “Our hope for quantum computation is that it will aid chemists, materials scientists and engineers working on the design and manufacturing of new materials that are so important to our daily lives,” said Michael... “The promise of quantum computation is in accelerating scientific discovery and its translation into useful technology. For example, if quantum computers reduce the time and cost to produce new lifesaving therapeutic drugs, that is real societal impact.” The Microsoft Quantum Lab West Lafayette team advanced the complex layered materials that make up the quantum plane of the full device architecture used in the tests. Microsoft scientists working with Manfra are experts in advanced semiconductor growth techniques, including molecular beam epitaxy, that are used to build low-dimensional electron systems that form the basis for quantum bits, or qubits.

They built the semiconductor and superconductor layers with atomic layer precision, tailoring the material’s properties to those needed for the device architecture. What if the most complex problems plaguing industries today—curing diseases, optimizing global supply chains, or even securing digital communication—could be solved in a fraction of the time it takes now? Quantum computing, once the stuff of science fiction, is no longer a distant dream. With breakthroughs like Google’s 105-qubit “Willow” processor and Microsoft’s topological qubits, the race toward fault-tolerant quantum systems is heating up. These advancements are not just incremental; they’re fantastic, promising to redefine the limits of computation and disrupt industries across the globe. The question is no longer if quantum computing will change the world, but how soon—and how profoundly—it will happen.

ExplainingComputers explores the most pivotal developments in quantum computing as of 2025, from innovative hardware innovations to the emergence of post-quantum cryptography. You’ll discover how companies like IBM and SciQuantum are tackling challenges like quantum error correction and scalability, and why these breakthroughs matter for everything from drug discovery to financial modeling. But this isn’t just about technology—it’s about the societal shifts and opportunities that quantum computing will unlock. As we stand on the brink of a quantum revolution, the implications are as exciting as they are daunting. What will this new era of computation mean for you, your industry, and the world at large? Quantum computing operates on the principles of quantum mechanics, using qubits as its fundamental units of information.

Unlike classical bits, which exist in a binary state of 0 or 1, qubits can exist in multiple states simultaneously through the phenomena of superposition and entanglement. This unique capability allows quantum computers to process vast amounts of data in parallel, offering computational power far beyond that of classical systems. However, qubits are inherently fragile and susceptible to environmental interference, leading to errors during computation. To address this challenge, researchers employ quantum error correction codes, which combine multiple physical qubits to create a single logical qubit. Logical qubits are a critical step toward building fault-tolerant quantum systems, allowing reliable and scalable quantum computation. These advancements are paving the way for practical applications, making quantum computing a viable solution for complex problems.

The past two years have been pivotal for quantum computing, with leading technology companies achieving significant milestones. These developments are shaping the future of the field and bringing us closer to realizing the full potential of quantum systems: On July 8, 2025, physicists from Aalto University in Finland published a transmon qubit coherence dramatically surpassing previous scientifically published records. The millisecond coherence measurement marks a quantum leap in computational technology, with the previous maximum echo coherence measurements approaching 0.6 milliseconds. Longer qubit coherence allows for an extended window of time in which quantum computers can execute error-free operations, enabling more complex quantum computations and more quantum logic operations before errors occur. Not only does this allow for more calculations with noisy quantum computers, but it also decreases the resources needed for quantum error correction, which is a path to noiseless quantum computing.

"We have just measured an echo coherence time for a transmon qubit that landed at a millisecond at maximum with a median of half a millisecond," says Mikko Tuokkola, the PhD student who conducted... The median reading is particularly significant, as it also surpasses current recorded readings. The findings have been just published in the prestigious peer-reviewed journal Nature Communications. The researchers report their approach as thoroughly as possible, with the aim of making it reproducible for research groups around the world.

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Comparison Of Zero-level Distillation (right) And Logical-level Distillation (left). Credit:

Comparison of zero-level distillation (right) and logical-level distillation (left). Credit: PRX Quantum (2025). DOI: 10.1103/thxx-njr6 For decades, the idea of quantum computing has sat tantalizingly on the horizon—promising a future where calculations that might take today’s supercomputers centuries could be solved in seconds. It’s a vision powered not by science fiction, but by the eerie princi...

Quantum Computers Are Notoriously Fragile. A Whisper Of Heat, A

Quantum computers are notoriously fragile. A whisper of heat, a stray photon, even cosmic background noise can throw them into chaos. Now, researchers at the University of Osaka may have solved one of the thorniest obstacles on the road to practical quantum machines—with a little bit of what they call “magic.” Published in PRX Quantum, the study introduces a new, radically efficient technique for ...

An Official Website Of The United States Government Official Websites

An official website of the United States government Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2025/04/q...

NIST Is Dedicated To Pushing The Frontiers Of Quantum Computing

NIST is dedicated to pushing the frontiers of quantum computing and making that technology viable, scalable, and energy efficient. Microsoft Quantum and Purdue University researchers have made a major leap in quantum computing, publishing a paper in Nature detailing how they successfully measured a key property of topological qubits. Their work pushes semiconductor-superconductor hybrid technology...

Their Findings Mark A Significant Milestone In The Development Of

Their findings mark a significant milestone in the development of quantum computers, which have the potential to be far more powerful and resilient than current technologies. “Our hope for quantum computation is that it will aid chemists, materials scientists and engineers working on the design and manufacturing of new materials that are so important to our daily lives,” said Michael... “The promi...