UC Berkeley quantum processor to be buried for US 250th

- A quantum computing chip developed at UC Berkeley will be sealed in a time capsule to mark the U.S. semiquincentennial (250th anniversary) in 2026, to be opened in 100 years. - Quantum computers differ fundamentally from classical computers: they use "qubits" that can exist in multiple states simultaneously (superposition), potentially solving certain problems — like drug discovery, cryptography, and materials science — far beyond the reach of today's most powerful supercomputers. - The field is still nascent; current quantum processors are small, error-prone, and require extreme cooling. Major players include Google, IBM, and many startups, but no one has yet built a fully fault-tolerant quantum computer. - By burying a state-of-the-art chip for a century, the project creates a benchmark: future generations can compare their quantum hardware with 2026 technology, offering a tangible measure of progress.