Microsoft unveils its first quantum chip: The science behind Majorana 1

Microsoft introduced its first quantum computing chip on Wednesday, suggesting that quantum computing could be realised in “years, not decades”. This aligns with similar projections from Google and IBM, indicating that a transformative shift in computing technology may be closer than previously expected.

The company’s Majorana 1 chip integrates eight qubits — the essential units of quantum computing — onto a compact, sticky-note-sized piece of hardware. Microsoft envisions this chip as a stepping stone toward systems capable of supporting a million qubits.