Quantum computing sounds too futuristic, right? But thanks to brilliant researchers at Yale University, quantum processors is now a reality. A team led by Yale University researchers has created the first rudimentary solid-state quantum processor. Though the recently built processor can perform only basic quantum tasks, this is the first time its possible in an all-electronic device that looks and feels much more like a regular microprocessor.

So how did they pulled it off?
"The team manufactured two artificial atoms, or qubits ("quantum bits"). While each qubit is actually made up of a billion aluminum atoms, it acts like a single atom that can occupy two different energy states. These states are akin to the "1" and "0" or "on" and "off" states of regular bits employed by conventional computers. Because of the counterintuitive laws of quantum mechanics, however, scientists can effectively place qubits in a "superposition" of multiple states at the same time, allowing for greater information storage and processing power."

[via ScienceDaily]