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https://news.microsoft.com/source/features/ai/microsofts-majorana-1-chip-carves-new-path-for-quantum-computing/ Microsoft today introduced Majorana 1, the world’s first quantum chip powered by a new Topological Core architecture that it expects will realize quantum computers capable of solving meaningful, industrial-scale problems in years, not decades. It leverages the world’s first topoconductor, a breakthrough type of material which can observe and control Majorana particles to produce more reliable and scalable qubits, which are the building blocks for quantum computers. In the same way that the invention of semiconductors made today’s smartphones, computers and electronics possible, topoconductors and the new type of chip they enable offer a path to developing quantum systems that can scale to a million qubits and are capable of tackling the most complex industrial and societal problems, Microsoft said. “We took a step back and said ‘OK, let’s invent the transistor for the quantum age. What properties does it need to have?’” said Chetan Nayak, Microsoft technical fellow. “And that’s really how we got here – it’s the particular combination, the quality and the important details in our new materials stack that have enabled a new kind of qubit and ultimately our entire architecture.” This new architecture used to develop the Majorana 1 processor offers a clear path to fit a million qubits on a single chip that can fit in the palm of one’s hand, Microsoft said. This is a needed threshold for quantum computers to deliver transformative, real-world solutions – such as breaking down microplastics into harmless byproducts or inventing self-healing materials for construction, manufacturing or healthcare. All the world’s current computers operating together can’t do what a one-million-qubit quantum computer will be able to do. “Whatever you’re doing in the quantum space needs to have a path to a million qubits. If it doesn’t, you’re going to hit a wall before you get to the scale at which you can solve the really important problems that motivate us,” Nayak said. “We have actually worked out a path to a million.” The topoconductor, or topological superconductor, is a special category of material that can create an entirely new state of matter – not a solid, liquid or gas but a topological state. This is harnessed to produce a more stable qubit that is fast, small and can be digitally controlled, without the tradeoffs required by current alternatives. A new paper published Wednesday in Nature outlines how Microsoft researchers were able to create the topological qubit’s exotic quantum properties and also accurately measure them, an essential step for practical computing. This breakthrough required developing an entirely new materials stack made of indium arsenide and aluminum, much of which Microsoft designed and fabricated atom by atom. The goal was to coax new quantum particles called Majoranas into existence and take advantage of their unique properties to reach the next horizon of quantum computing, Microsoft said. The world’s first Topological Core powering the Majorana 1 is reliable by design, incorporating error resistance at the hardware level making it more stable. Commercially important applications will also require trillions of operations on a million qubits, which would be prohibitive with current approaches that rely on fine-tuned analog control of each qubit. The Microsoft team’s new measurement approach enables qubits to be controlled digitally, redefining and vastly simplifying how quantum computing works. This progress validates Microsoft’s choice years ago to pursue a topological qubit design – a high risk, high reward scientific and engineering challenge that is now paying off. Today, the company has placed eight topological qubits on a chip designed to scale to one million. “From the start we wanted to make a quantum computer for commercial impact, not just thought leadership,” said Matthias Troyer, Microsoft technical fellow. “We knew we needed a new qubit. We knew we had to scale.” That approach led the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), a federal agency that invests in breakthrough technologies that are important to national security, to include Microsoft in a rigorous program to evaluate whether innovative quantum computing technologies could build commercially relevant quantum systems faster than conventionally believed possible. Microsoft is now one of two companies to be invited to move to the final phase of DARPA’s Underexplored Systems for Utility-Scale Quantum Computing (US2QC) program – one of the programs that makes up DARPA’s larger Quantum Benchmarking Initiative – which aims to deliver the industry’s first utility-scale fault-tolerant quantum computer, or one whose computational value exceeds its costs. ‘It just gives you the answer’ In addition to making its own quantum hardware, Microsoft has partnered with Quantinuum and Atom Computing to reach scientific and engineering breakthroughs with today’s qubits, including the announcement last year of the industry’s first reliable quantum computer. These types of machines offer important opportunities to develop quantum skills, build hybrid applications and drive new discovery, particularly as AI is combined with new quantum systems that will be powered by larger numbers of reliable qubits. Today, Azure Quantum offers a suite of integrated solutions allowing customers to leverage these leading AI, high performance computing and quantum platforms in Azure to advance scientific discovery. But reaching the next horizon of quantum computing will require a quantum architecture that can provide a million qubits or more and reach trillions of fast and reliable operations. Today’s announcement puts that horizon within years, not decades, Microsoft said. Because they can use quantum mechanics to mathematically map how nature behaves with incredible precision – from chemical reactions to molecular interactions and enzyme energies – million-qubit machines should be able to solve certain types of problems in chemistry, materials science and other industries that are impossible for today’s classical computers to accurately calculate. For instance, they could help solve the difficult chemistry question of why materials suffer corrosion or cracks. This could lead to self-healing materials that repair cracks in bridges or airplane parts, shattered phone screens or scratched car doors. Because there are so many types of plastics, it isn’t currently possible to find a one-size-fits-all catalyst that can break them down – especially important for cleaning up microplastics or tackling carbon pollution. Quantum computing could calculate the properties of such catalysts to break down pollutants into valuable byproducts or develop non-toxic alternatives in the first place. Enzymes, a kind of biological catalyst, could be harnessed more effectively in healthcare and agriculture, thanks to accurate calculations about their behavior that only quantum computing can provide. This could lead to breakthroughs helping to eradicate global hunger: boosting soil fertility to increase yields or promoting sustainable growth of foods in harsh climates. Most of all, quantum computing could allow engineers, scientists, companies and others to simply design things right the first time – which would be transformative for everything from healthcare to product development. The power of quantum computing, combined with AI tools, would allow someone to describe what kind of new material or molecule they want to create in plain language and get an answer that works straightaway – no guesswork or years of trial and error. “Any company that makes anything could just design it perfectly the first time out. It would just give you the answer,” Troyer said. “The quantum computer teaches the AI the language of nature so the AI can just tell you the recipe for what you want to make.” Rethinking quantum computing at scale The quantum world operates according to the laws of quantum mechanics, which are not the same laws of physics that govern the world we see. The particles are called qubits, or quantum bits, analogous to the bits, or ones and zeros, that computers now use. Qubits are finicky and highly susceptible to perturbations and errors that come from their environment, which cause them to fall apart and information to be lost. Their state can also be affected by measurement – a problem because measuring is essential for computing. An inherent challenge is developing a qubit that can be measured and controlled, while offering protection from environmental noise that corrupts them. Qubits can be created in different ways, each with advantages and disadvantages. Nearly 20 years ago, Microsoft decided to pursue a unique approach: developing topological qubits, which it believed would offer more stable qubits requiring less error correction, thereby unlocking speed, size and controllability advantages. The approach posed a steep learning curve, requiring uncharted scientific and engineering breakthroughs, but also the most promising path to creating scalable and controllable qubits capable of doing commercially valuable work. The disadvantage is – or was – that until recently the exotic particles Microsoft sought to use, called Majoranas, had never been seen or made. They don’t exist in nature and can only be coaxed into existence with magnetic fields and superconductors. The difficulty of developing the right materials to create the exotic particles and their associated topological state of matter is why most quantum efforts have focused on other kinds of qubits. The Nature paper marks peer-reviewed confirmation that Microsoft has not only been able to create Majorana particles, which help protect quantum information from random disturbance, but can also reliably measure that information from them using microwaves. Majoranas hide quantum information, making it more robust, but also harder to measure. The Microsoft team’s new measurement approach is so precise it can detect the difference between one billion and one billion and one electrons in a superconducting wire – which tells the computer what state the qubit is in and forms the basis for quantum computation. The measurements can be turned on and off with voltage pulses, like flicking a light switch, rather than finetuning dials for each individual qubit. This simpler measurement approach that enables digital control simplifies the quantum computing process and the physical requirements to build a scalable machine. Microsoft’s topological qubit also has an advantage over other qubits because of its size. Even for something that tiny, there’s a “Goldilocks” zone, where a too-small qubit is hard to run control lines to, but a too-big qubit requires a huge machine, Troyer said. Adding the individualized control technology for those types of qubits would require building an impractical computer the size of an airplane hangar or football field. Majorana 1, Microsoft’s quantum chip that contains both qubits as well as surrounding control electronics, can be held in the palm of one’s hand and fits neatly into a quantum computer that can be easily deployed inside Azure datacenters. “It’s one thing to discover a new state of matter,” Nayak said. “It’s another to take advantage of it to rethink quantum computing at scale.” Designing quantum materials atom by atom Microsoft’s topological qubit architecture has aluminum nanowires joined together to form an H. Each H has four controllable Majoranas and makes one qubit. These Hs can be connected, too, and laid out across the chip like so many tiles. “It’s complex in that we had to show a new state of matter to get there, but after that, it’s fairly simple. It tiles out. You have this much simpler architecture that promises a much faster path to scale,” said Krysta Svore, Microsoft technical fellow. The quantum chip doesn’t work alone. It exists in an ecosystem with control logic, a dilution refrigerator that keeps qubits at temperatures much colder than outer space and a software stack that can integrate with AI and classical computers. All those pieces exist, built or modified entirely in-house, she said. To be clear, continuing to refine those processes and getting all the elements to work together at accelerated scale will require more years of engineering work. But many difficult scientific and engineering challenges have now been met, Microsoft said. Getting the materials stack right to produce a topological state of matter was one of the hardest parts, Svore added. Instead of silicon, Microsoft’s topoconductor is made of indium arsenide, a material currently used in such applications as infrared detectors and which has special properties. The semiconductor is married with superconductivity, thanks to extreme cold, to make a hybrid. “We are literally spraying atom by atom. Those materials have to line up perfectly. If there are too many defects in the material stack, it just kills your qubit,” Svore said. “Ironically, it’s also why we need a quantum computer – because understanding these materials is incredibly hard. With a scaled quantum computer, we will be able to predict materials with even better properties for building the next generation of quantum computers beyond scale,” she said.

http://weffriddles.com ultra fun and addictive...good to spend time in office..

Yes I was there... Yes I'm proud to be there... No I wasn't happy going there. Those phrase means a lot to me. Why? Cause... 1)I was just there this evening to look see look see how the workshop looks like. 2)I'm proud to be there cause I saw these words which says something like... "We specialize.... Volkwagen, Audi, Skoda..." One of the VERY few workshop that does Skoda cars. 3)I got lost trying to reach there... Took wrong exit from CTE (AMK)... Ended up in AMK Ave 8... Make 1 BIG round just to reach back AMK St 22 to reach Sin Ming Ave... Like the topic says... Once I've reached the workshop, it's jam packed with lots and lots of VW and 2 Skoda Octy.

Found out latest craze last night during MU with my retired colleagues. It seem that there is a latest hot items in the market "Super Virgin Coconut Oil' as health suppliment. Many of my colleagues who when to JB would buy a few bottles (1 liter bottle) and bring back to SG. Here the health benifits from Web Page: http://coconutoil.com/coconut-oil-weight-loss/ and http://www.care2.com/greenliving/the-amazing-health-benefits-of-virgin-coconut-oil.html Any members here tried ? Think of buying and try. Maybe your commence appreciated.

https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/no-need-to-tell-the-public-super-fungus-that-kills-nearly-half-of-its-victims-in

Am sure many watch MCM. But their latest full-length feature is on a totally different level and really needs to be shared. Truly epic and I think rivals the top automotive shows currently available imo. Amazing work for hobbyist. These guys need to be on The Grand Tour. Part 1: Part 2:

Lamborghini Huracan Taxi In a UK first, Wolverhampton council has granted a private hire car license to a supercar. The Lamborghini Huracan, worth at least £180,000 ($260,000, €230,000), will be the first taxi of its kind in the UK. The green Lambo is more than likely the only taxi you'll ever get with a five-litre engine and a top speeds of over 200mph. Admittedly, the streets of Wolverhampton aren't be the best place to put your foot down. If you think black cabs are expensive, Wolverhampton's Lamborghini might be out of your price range. The minimum charge for a journey is £349 for 90 minutes.

Scientist most feared have arrived, The Super Typhoon of wind speed of more than 300km/hr .... Hitting Philippines today with deadly forces of nature ... from Yahoo: One of most intense typhoons ever recorded hits Philippines One of the most intense typhoons ever recorded tore into the Philippines on Friday, triggering flash floods and ripping down buildings as millions of people huddled indoors. Super Typhoon Haiyan smashed into fishing communities on the central island of Samar, about 600 kilometres southeast of Manila, before dawn on Friday with maximum sustained winds of 315 kilometres (195 miles) an hour. The strength of the wind made it one of the four most powerful typhoons ever recorded in the world, and the most powerful to have made landfall, according to Jeff Masters, the director of meteorology at US-based Weather Underground. Masters said he expected the damage in Guiuan, the fishing town of about 40,000 people that was the first to be hit after Haiyan swept in from the Pacific Ocean, to be "catastrophic". "Perhaps the greatest wind damage any city on Earth has endured from a tropical cyclone in the past century," Masters wrote on his blog for the weather monitoring website at www.wunderground.com. Communication with Guiuan was cut off immediately after Haiyan hit, and the civil defence office said it was too early to give an assessment of the damage there. But in Tacloban, a nearby city of more than 200,000 people, streets were flooded and some buildings were torn down, according to footage broadcast on ABS CBN television. Haiyan had maximum sustained winds on Friday morning of 315 kilometres an hour, and gusts of 379 kilometres an hour, according to the US Navy's Joint Typhoon Warning Centre. more stories, link : http://sg.news.yahoo.com/super-typhoon-haiyan-hits-philippines-230815112.html The storms are getting bigger and stronger...

mxtradings not selling more, I'm a big fan of it leh, anywhere else in Singapore selling? :) Or any similar DOT 4 alternatives?

With latest statistics in Europe showing that sales of SUV is beginning to overtake hatchback, it is do not come as a surprise that many auto manufacturer are making their new model to ride higher, label them as Crossover, and there after markup the selling price, taking full advantage of the latest trend in the motoring world. Actually the "pioneer" in mini SUV is not any conti car maker, but Japanese. How many here still remember there was once a a 659cc 20V turbo charged sample, with max. horsepower of 64ps, max torque of 97Nm, and a top speed rated at 130Km/h (in stock condition)? Yes, I am referring to Mitsubishi Pajero Mini. A fun car, but not necessary a fuel efficient one as one might have expected from a Kei car.

Tonight, Lion XI vs Kelantan opening match at Jalan Besar Stadium for Malaysia Super League season 2012. My predicton Lion XI 0 : 2 Kelantan

Anyone knows? Yesterday bought a towel that sucks ... it only moves the water from 1 end of my car bonnet to the other .. never suck it up at all ... Anyone know where to get a good towel ?

Watch http://youtu.be/1jcwNyMpT2A

if your salary is $2,601/mth ... you are upper income liao then $5K is what? $10K is what? $20k is what? wait for it ... $100K/mth is what????? but based on MCF standard $5k is the new poor wor ... MediShield Life: Govt accepts proposals, will provide almost S$4b in subsidies

wah this Atletico Madrid is really a good place for strikers either they produce very good strikers or strikers have high level of success playing there and they also reap in huge profits from the sale of their strikers (apart from Forlan) in recent years.... Torres (2001-2007) played 214, scored 82 (1 goal in 2.6 games) homegrown, sold to Liverpool at 20m pounds Forlan (2007-2011) played 134, scored 74 (1 goal in 1.8 games) bought at 21m euros, sold to Inter for unknown Aguero (2006-2011) played 175, scored 74 (1 goal in 2.4 games) bought at 23m euros, sold to Man City at 45m euros Falcao (2011-2013) played 68, scored 52 (1 goal in 1.3 games) bought at 40m euros, sold to Monaco at 60m euros Diego Costa (2007-2009, 2010-2014) played 94, scored 43 (1 goal in 2.2 games) bought at less than 5m, rumoured to be sold to Chelsea for 32m pounds and not forgetting, last time they also had Vieri (1997-1998) played 24, scored 24 (1 goal in 1 game) bought at 10m euros, sold to Lazio at 25m euros Hasselbaink (1999-2000) played 34, scored 24 (1 goal in 1.4 games) bought at 12m pounds, sold to Chelsea for 15m pounds

Taken from http://www.hotelsandphotos.com/its-beginning-to-look-a-lot-like-xmas ( I don't own these photos)

Dear bros, does it irritate you when a driver behind you has super white and bright headlights shining at you when u drive at night? it certainly does to me.... paisei, no offence to drivers whose cars do have such headlights.

I had a conversation with my GF last night. When I meant GF, I refer to the real human female with nice C-cup tits and pussy, and not referring to my vehicle. My GF has a collick who is a CHC convert. So this collick said that her cell group leaders said New Creation Church is on a "slippery road to the infernos of hell" because its member designed and built the infiniti pool on top of Marina Bay Sands, hence New Creation Church is supporting the vice of gambling! The collick also said Christians should band together to pray for New Creation Church. I am like WTF. What's the link? So I asked my GF how's the likability of this collick. She said she and others would try to avoid that collick if possible unless bo bian because that collick carries the holy Bible around. LOL This is scary stuff. I assume the CHC members will rise-up against the country if their pastor tell them to do so! Where's secularism?

Anyone know which rich guy bought this? Article says Singapore-based, so may or may not be local. But regardless, ridiculous amount of money for a boat. http://megayachtnews.com/2013/07/ocean-par.../#axzz2ZTaOJfAh http://www.superyachttimes.com/editorial/3/article/id/10858

Need one of these machines now! https://www.facebook.com/8ersofficial/videos/874445295924060/

Dear Nissan owners! I will be dekitting/export the very rare Primera 2.0 Luxury Sedan soon on 10 days time! This car is super rare... if if you are a Primera Owner and yr car interior is worn out. This is the final chance if you wish to change any parts... My car internal is superbly well maintained! Everything works perfectly! My rims are the "5 nuts 16inch Original rare primera sports rims... Its also in well maintained condition. looks clean and not abused! I believe you can change it to yr Cefiro/teana or any Nissan with 5nuts socket. Lastly I also have the Armron Hilife battery less than 2yrs and last week check, power still 100% best! The battery I believe is compared to many other cars such as Toyotas as my Mark X are using the same. Its pity to dekit with such superb condition. Honestly, I do not have a price in mind, anything you want just quote me, find a place to change/swap. Mostly importantly my car parts are put to good use rather than throwing off to the export/scrap... What a WASTE! So anyone! This is a rare chance, I am a easy going, generous chap, as long as you need it, just give me a reasonable quote you deem and we get it fixed. Final day of this deal will be 18th April... After that... its will be gone.!

This player is good! With his walking speed, I would had died at world 1-1...

https://sg.sports.yahoo.com/video/talent-fou-basketball-darcade-185731989.html insane beyond belief. he picks up the basketballs with wat kind of finger strength?!?

I am deciding if I should opt for the above brand of car mats. Any feedback and comments ?

Super Star Virgo had been around for the past 15 over years and this is the first time going on board with my whole family next week. (a bit suah koo..... ). Might not want to board again after this trip. Just want to get the experience on board a cruise ship. Will be on board for 3 days 2 nights cruise to KL and I had planned to stay on the ship throughout. The stopover at Malacca & KL doesn't attract me as been to both places countless times. I would like to make full use of the journey to explore the ship as much as possible and would like to seek fellow members (who had been to the ship) suggestions where the best places to enjoy during the journey. Will limit myself at the casino for 2 hours only (throughout the journey) and the rest is exploring, exploring, exploring......... Your suggestion(s) and recommendation is very much appreciated. Regards.