Hoi Sio Hong, Form 4, Chan Sui Ki Perpetual Help College
In retrospect, it is astonishing to think that computers, which once occupied entire rooms, can now fit into the palm of one’s hand. These devices have evolved at a pace no one could have anticipated. Today, researchers are pioneering cutting-edge computing technologies to tackle challenges that conventional computers cannot resolve, even within the lifetime of the universe. This article explores recent breakthroughs in quantum and biological computing and their implications.
USTC’s new quantum processor: Zuchongzhi-3
This image downloaded from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) website last night shows USTC’s Zuchongzhi-3.
On March 3, researchers from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) unveiled Zuchongzhi-3, a superconducting quantum processor boasting 105 qubits (quantum bits) and 182 couplers. Qubits, the quantum equivalent of classical bits, leverage quantum superposition and entanglement to perform calculations exponentially faster than traditional computers. Couplers, meanwhile, enable precise interactions between qubits – a critical feature for maintaining coherence in quantum systems.
The USTC team claims Zuchongzhi-3 operates 1,015 times faster than today’s most powerful supercomputers and outperforms Google’s latest quantum achievements by a factor of one million. While these claims await independent verification, the prototype marks a significant stride towards practical quantum advantage in fields like cryptography, drug discovery, and climate modelling.
Microsoft’s quantum chip: Majorana 1
This undated photo downloaded from the Microsoft website last night shows Microsoft’s Majorana 1.
On February 19, Microsoft announced Majorana 1, its first topological quantum processor featuring eight topological qubits. Unlike conventional qubits, which are highly sensitive to environmental noise, topological qubits rely on Majorana fermions – elusive particles that act as their own antiparticles. These particles, when stabilised in specialised materials, could theoretically create error-resistant qubits, a holy grail for scalable quantum computing.
However, the announcement drew scepticism. Topological qubits remain largely theoretical, and Microsoft’s prior research on Majorana fermions faced scrutiny after two high-profile retractions in Nature scientific journal in 2023. Critics argue the company must transparently validate its results to restore credibility. Despite these challenges, Majorana 1 underscores the industry’s push to overcome quantum computing’s Achilles’ heel: error rates.
World’s first “biological computer”: Cortical’s CL1
This undated photo downloaded from British online newspaper The Independent last night shows Cortical’s CL1.
On March 2, Australian startup Cortical Labs launched CL1, the world’s first deployable biological computer. CL1 uses human neurons grown in vitro to power neural networks, merging biology with silicon-based infrastructure. Unlike static silicon chips, this hybrid system evolves dynamically, enabling continuous learning akin to organic brains. Remarkably, it consumes far less energy than conventional AI hardware, offering a sustainable alternative for machine learning.
In 2022, Cortical demonstrated the potential of biological computing by teaching 800,000 lab-grown neurons to play the video game Pong. Beyond gaming, this technology could revolutionise neuroscience by modelling brain disorders like epilepsy and dementia. Yet, ethical concerns loom – such as defining the moral status of synthetic biological systems and ensuring consent for human-cell sourcing.
Conclusion
The rise of quantum processors like Zuchongzhi-3 and Majorana 1 highlights the race to unlock unimaginable computational power, while Cortical’s biological computer redefines efficiency through adaptive neural networks. Yet challenges – quantum instability, unproven theories, and ethical dilemmas – demand rigorous collaboration and transparency. The future lies not in one technology, but in merging quantum, biological, and classical systems to transcend today’s limits.
