On February 19, 2025, Microsoft introduced its first quantum chip “Majorana 1” to the world. This chip is claiming to bring a big change in the world of quantum computing. The company says that this technology can solve problems in the future, which are impossible for today’s computers. This news is important not only for technology enthusiasts but also for common people because it can make our lives easier.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has called it a “breakthrough”. He said that after nearly 20 years of hard work, the company has created a new material called “topoconductor”. This material controls Majorana particles, which can make quantum computers faster and more reliable. In this article, we will understand in simple language what Majorana 1 is, how it works, and why it matters to us. So let’s start this interesting journey!
What is Majorana 1?
Majorana 1 is Microsoft’s first quantum chip. Now you must be wondering what a quantum chip is? Ordinary computers work on digital bits of 0 and 1, while quantum computers work on something called “qubits”. These qubits can do many tasks at the same time, which increases the speed of the computer a lot.
Majorana 1 has 8 qubits, and its size is as big as a small sticky note. Microsoft claims that in the future it can be expanded to 1 million qubits. With so much power, this chip can solve big mathematical problems in a jiffy.
This chip is made of a special type of material called “topoconductor”. It is not a common material like solid, liquid, or gas, but a new type of material that Microsoft has created itself. With its help, Majorana particles can be seen and controlled. The specialty of these particles is that they make very few mistakes, which makes this chip more reliable than other quantum technologies.
How long did it take to make it?
It took Microsoft more than 17 years to make this chip. Did you know that Majorana particles were first discussed in 1937? A scientist named Ettore Majorana had talked about them, but it took several decades to actually see and understand them.
Microsoft started working on it in 2004. In 2018, the company thought that they had achieved success, but later their discovery was proved wrong. Then after many years of hard work, now they have succeeded in creating Majorana 1.
To make this chip, Microsoft used things like indium arsenide and aluminum. Topoconductors were prepared by keeping them in extremely cold temperatures and special magnetic fields. This entire process is considered so difficult that it is being called the “transistor of the quantum era”. Let us tell you, transistors were the thing that made today’s modern computers possible.
How does Majorana 1 work?
To understand the workings of Majorana 1, it is important to first understand qubits. In a normal computer, data is stored in the form of 0 and 1. But the qubits of a quantum computer can be both 0 and 1 simultaneously, which allows them to perform multiple tasks simultaneously. But the problem is that qubits are very fragile and there is a high probability of errors in them.
This new quantum chip solves this problem. This chip uses “Majorana particles”, which are formed in topoconductors. The specialty of these particles is that they reduce errors and make quantum computers more stable. Microsoft claims that its error rate is only 1%, which is extremely low. It can be controlled digitally, like turning a light switch on or off. This makes it easy to operate and proves it different from other technologies.
What does this mean for us?
Now the question is, what changes will Majorana 1 bring in our lives? Microsoft says that this chip can make such computers in the coming years, which will be more powerful than today’s supercomputers.
It can help create new medicines, accurately predict the weather, and solve complex calculations. There are some mathematical problems that today’s computers can take millions of years to solve, but Majorana 1 can solve them in minutes!
Currently, this technology is in its initial stage. This chip will not be available on Microsoft’s Azure cloud right now, but in the future larger models can be made using it. Microsoft’s goal is to use it in data centers so that scientists and companies can take advantage of it.
How is it different from other companies?
Microsoft is not the only company working on quantum computing. Google and IBM are also in this race. Recently Google launched its “Willow” chip, which can solve a calculation in 5 minutes. But Microsoft’s technology is slightly different from theirs.
While other companies are working on analog control systems, Majorana 1 uses digital control. This makes it more stable and suitable for large-scale use.
Microsoft claims that their chip has fewer errors, which allows more work to be done with fewer qubits. Other companies currently need hundreds of qubits, but Microsoft’s quantum chip can go up to millions of qubits in the future. This is what makes it special.
Challenges and the future
Although Majorana 1 is a great success, many challenges remain. Scientists say that more testing will be needed to use it on a large scale. Some experts are also raising questions on this because Microsoft has already made a false claim once before.
The company has promised that it will publish a research paper based on this technology in the “Nature” journal, which will confirm its claims.
In the future, Microsoft wants to take this technology to a million qubits. If this happens, it can revolutionize cryptography, drug manufacturing, and solving environmental problems. Satya Nadella said, “This is not just to create hype, but to serve the world.”