In late February, Microsoft announced what it calls a breakthrough in quantum computing – a chip named Majorana 1 that could potentially lead to practical applications for this almost mythical technology. After 17 years of work, one hopes this new gizmo can do what it says on the tin, but, as with all things to do with quantum computing, the answer is both complicated and unclear.

To truly understand the technical differences between digital and quantum computing, you need the kind of deep understanding of particle physics that few of us, including me, have either the time or aptitude to acquire. All that we mere mortals need to grasp is that quantum computers are, or at least will be, extremely good at doing things digital computers find very difficult.