Quantum Computing Works in Experiment

In theory, a quantum supercomputer would be insanely powerful. By manipulating atoms, quantum bits—qubits, for short—would never be definite 1s or 0s. Instead, they would be both at once, in theory allowing a device using them to solve nigh-impossible problems. That theory is getting closer to reality, Ars Technica reports. In recent as-yet-unpublished research, scientists report they've made a tiny two qubit computer.

Once rigged into a simple neural network, the two qubit setup was able to memorize all four potential two-digit binary sequences – 0-0, 0-1, etc – whereas a typical two-bit computer would only be able to store a single pattern. What's still not known is if the approach can be scaled upward. If it can, a new age of computing may be in the wings. (More quantum computing stories.)