Nadella unveils Microsoft's quantum breakthrough: Majorana 1 explained

Microsoft's Majorana 1 represents a paradigm shift in quantum computing. This innovation could solve biggest challenges at a pace previously thought impossible

Microsoft has unveiled Majorana 1, a groundbreaking quantum processing unit (QPU) built on a new class of materials called topoconductors. This development marks a major leap toward practical quantum computing, according to CEO Satya Nadella.

 

He described this breakthrough as the creation of a "new state of matter", enabling quantum bits (qubits) that are smaller, faster, and more stable than ever before. The implications of this advance are vast, potentially reducing the timeline for useful quantum computing from decades to just a few years.  

 

What is Quantum computing?  

 

Unlike classical computers that process information using binary bits (0s and 1s), quantum computers use qubits, which exist in multiple states simultaneously through a principle known as superposition. This ability enables quantum computers to explore multiple solutions to a problem at once, vastly outpacing classical machines for specific types of computations.   

 

.@satyanadella on:  - why he doesn’t believe in AGI but does believe in 10% economic growth  - Microsoft’s new topological qubit breakthrough and gaming world models  - whether Office commoditizes LLMs or the other way around  Links below. Enjoy!  Timestamps  0:00:00 - Intro… pic.twitter.com/ywwCsPn1xd

— Dwarkesh Patel (@dwarkesh_sp) February 19, 2025

 

Another key quantum property is entanglement, where qubits become linked in such a way that changing the state of one instantly affects the other, regardless of distance. This enables quantum computers to perform calculations that traditional computers would require millions of years to complete.  

 

How powerful can quantum computing be?

 

A fully-functional quantum computer could revolutionise fields such as:  

 

- Cryptography: Breaking encryption in seconds while enabling ultra-secure quantum communications.  

- Drug Discovery & Materials Science: Simulating molecular interactions at an atomic level, leading to new medicines and materials.  

- Artificial Intelligence & Optimisation: Speeding up machine learning and solving optimisation problems that are beyond the reach of classical computers.  

- Climate & Energy: Optimising chemical processes for carbon capture, nuclear fusion, and more efficient energy grids.  

 

For example, Google’s quantum chip recently solved a problem in five minutes that would take a classical supercomputer "longer than the age of the universe" to complete.  

 

What is Majorana 1 and why is it important?

 

A new kind of qubit: Topological qubits: Microsoft’s "Majorana 1 chip" is the first QPU built using "topological qubits", a fundamentally new type of qubit that is:  

 

Smaller: Majorana qubits are 100 times smaller than previous qubits.  

More stable: They are naturally protected from environmental noise, reducing errors.  

Scalable: The chip could support up to one million qubits on a single chip, compared to today’s quantum chips, which max out at around 1,000 qubits.   

.@satyanadella shows me the first (and currently only) Majorana 1 quantum computing chip https://t.co/1gWiRbvzbe pic.twitter.com/jjJARVwSaj

— Dwarkesh Patel (@dwarkesh_sp) February 19, 2025

 

Majorana 1: How does it work?

 

Microsoft's breakthrough relies on Majorana Zero Modes (MZMs), a special type of quasiparticle that had existed only in theory until now. To create these particles, Microsoft engineered a new material — topoconductors — which combines indium arsenide (a semiconductor) with aluminum (a superconductor).  

 

When cooled to near absolute zero and exposed to precise magnetic fields, these materials create a state called topological superconductivity, which hosts Majorana particles. These Majorana Zero Modes form the basis of Microsoft's qubits, where an electron is shared between two MZMs, making it invisible to the environment. This design significantly reduces quantum errors.  

 

Majorana 1: Why is this a game-changer?

 

1. Reduces quantum errors: Traditional qubits require complex error correction because they are prone to flipping between 0 and 1. Majorana qubits are inherently stable, reducing the need for additional error correction.  

2. Measurement-based quantum computing: Instead of relying on complex analog signals, Microsoft’s approach uses digital pulses to control and measure qubits, making large-scale quantum computation much easier.  

3. Scalability: By fitting millions of qubits on a chip, this approach makes fault-tolerant quantum computing realistic within years, not decades.  

 

Microsoft’s quantum roadmap  

 

Microsoft has been pursuing quantum computing since 2004. The launch of Majorana 1 marks a major milestone, but the company’s roadmap includes:  

 

- Fault-tolerant prototype (FTP): A quantum computer that can correct its own errors, to be built within years, not decades.  

- Utility-scale quantum computer: A machine capable of solving real-world problems far beyond classical capabilities.  

- Collaboration with DARPA: Microsoft was selected by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for its US2QC program, aimed at building a practical quantum computer.   

Does @satyanadella believe in AGI? pic.twitter.com/qnV16XXxdT

— Dwarkesh Patel (@dwarkesh_sp) February 19, 2025

 

Microsoft’s Majorana 1: Implications for the future  

 

Microsoft’s Majorana 1 represents a paradigm shift in quantum computing. With the ability to scale up to a million qubits, this innovation brings us closer to solving some of humanity’s biggest challenges — from climate change to drug discovery — at a pace previously thought impossible.  

 

Quantum computing has long been plagued by fragile qubits and high error rates, but Microsoft’s topological qubit approach could finally unlock the full potential of quantum computation. If successful, this could be the beginning of a new computing era that reshapes industries, science, and society as we know it.