this post was submitted on 25 Jun 2026
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59
Boffin Claims Microsoft's 'Quantum Leap' Is Invalid Due To 'Basic Python Errors' (developers.slashdot.org)
submitted 1 day ago by technocrit@lemmy.dbzer0.com to c/technology@lemmy.world
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A peer-reviewed Nature critique argues that Microsoft's 2025 Majorana quantum-computing breakthrough -- and its claim that it could enable "a truly meaningful quantum computer not in decades, as some have predicted, but in years" -- is fundamentally flawed. According to Dr Henry Legg, a lecturer at the University of St Andrews, the claims were undermined by omitted data, selective plotting, and basic Python errors that concealed alternative results. Microsoft, for its part, says the bugs were minor and stands by its findings and roadmap.

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[โ€“] Eric@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

I just assumed that was someone's name. I had never heard that term before.

[โ€“] ryper@lemmy.ca 5 points 21 hours ago

No, it's a British term The Register uses a lot. From Wikipedia:

Boffin is a British slang term for a scientist, engineer, or other person engaged in technical or scientific research and development. A "boffin" was viewed by some in the regular military or government services as odd, quirky or peculiar, though quite bright and essential to helping in the war effort through having and developing the key ideas leading to transformative military capabilities.