Quantum Computing

Experts are starting to plan for the moment when a quantum computer large enough to crack the backbone of the math that keeps things secret will be turned on.

The company announces its latest huge chip—but will now focus on developing smaller chips with a fresh approach to “error correction”

Scientists are trying to master the basic computing element known as a qubit to make quantum computers more powerful than electronic machines

Quantum algorithms can find their way out of mazes exponentially faster than classical ones, at the cost of forgetting the paths they took

Researchers demonstrate for the first time that using more qubits can lower the error rate of quantum calculations

Individual atoms trapped by optical “tweezers” are emerging as a promising computational platform

A new algorithm is probably not efficient enough to crack current encryption keys—but that’s no reason for complacency, researchers say

The same physics that makes quantum computers powerful also makes them finicky. New techniques aim to correct errors faster than they can build up

A new magnetic material, just one atom thick, can manipulate electrons’ spin for next-generation data storage

The competition between the U.S. and China over development of quantum technology has implications for both the future of science and the two countries’ political relations

New research shows that there are problems even quantum computers might never be able to solve

One expert warns that the field is overpromising, while another says his firm is on the verge of building “useful” machines