We could be another step closer in the quest for the world's first universal quantum computer, as scientists discover a new material that could store quantum information for extended periods of time. In a new study, scientists from Boston College and Harvard University in the United States have discovered a new material called copper iridate — a compound of copper, iridium, and oxygen — that might have the atomic geometry to preserve the quantum state of individual atoms. The honeycomb arrangement of atoms in the material prevents the spins of electrons from freezing, and so they keep jiggling around without ever forming a magnet, a phenomenon called 'magnetic frustration'. This unusual phase is known as quantum spin liquid and allows for long-range entanglement, where the quantum state of one particle is paired with another non-adjacent particle. By using the same process, it could be possible to discover new quantum spin liquids, some of which might be even better suited for the task of storing quantum information. To find out more check out Quantum Computers' Secrets Lurk Within This Strange Form of Matter.