Harvard researchers hail quantum computing breakthrough with machine that can run for two hours — atomic loss quashed by experimental design, systems that can run forever just 3 years away

Physicists from Harvard and MIT have achieved a significant breakthrough in quantum computing by creating a machine that ran continuously for over two hours, a vast improvement from current quantum computers that typically run for milliseconds. The team developed innovative systems like the "optical lattice conveyor belt" and "optical tweezers" to address qubit loss, allowing for continuous operation. This breakthrough paves the way for future quantum computers to run indefinitely, potentially revolutionizing fields like cryptography, finance, and medicine. Researchers believe that within three years, quantum computers capable of running forever could become a reality, advancing the possibilities of computing.