Scientists from King's College London have become the first UK academic team to access Google's Willow quantum chip, as part of a collaboration with the UK's National Quantum Computing Centre. The team, led by Dr Eleanor Crane, will use the chip to develop techniques for modelling natural systems such as photosynthesis, with potential applications in solar energy, power efficiency, and drug discovery. While significant technical challenges remain before quantum computers can deliver wide-scale practical use, Crane believes they could begin solving meaningful real-world problems as early as 2028–2030.
