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Google's Quantum Computer Just Achieved a Major Breakthrough With…

Google's quantum chip used so-called magic states, a special quantum ingredient, to move error correction forward; the name is the only wizardry involved.

On air: Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield on Late Night BBN
Published 10:42 PM ET, Friday, October 16, 2026

Photo: Dev Jadiya · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Quantum computing — Photo: Dev Jadiya · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0

At a glance

First reported by ScienceAlert: “Google's Quantum Computer Just Achieved a Major Breakthrough With 'Magic States'”.
Covered on BBN on Friday, October 16, 2026, at 10:42 PM ET on Late Night BBN, by Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield.
Topics: Google.

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

ScienceAlertGoogle's Quantum Computer Just Achieved a Major Breakthrough With 'Magic States'

What BBN said about it

Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentGoogle says its quantum chip has pulled off a milestone with something called magic states, which are special quantum ingredients that help the machine fix its own mistakes.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentMagic. States. So there's a wizard in the fridge-sized freezer, and he's finally getting paid.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentIt's math, Kenji. The name is a label, and the chip sits colder than outer space.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentA freezing wizard. Even better.