Microsoft’s recently revealed quantum computer was dealt another blow this week, as data presented by the firm at the world’s biggest annual gathering of physicists failed to convince researchers that the device works as advertised.

“Thanks for waking up early and coming out today. I appreciate you all in the back,” said Chetan Nayak at Microsoft, opening his presentation at the American Physical Society (APS) Global Summit in Anaheim, California, on 18 March. His 8am talk, trailed as providing key new data about Microsoft’s controversial Majorana 1 chip, was so well-attended…