In the typical computer, bits of information are stored as a string of 1s and 0s. In a quantum system, "qubits" of information can be stored in a "superposition state" in which they can be 1s and 0s at the same time. What does this mean? It means that said qubits of information could perform multiple calculations all at once, speeding up everything tremendously. The main problem scientists have run into with quantum memory is that it does not hold its memory for very long at room temperature. Previously, the "world-record" had been about 25 seconds at room temperature and 3 minutes under cryogenic conditions. A new experiment however was able to keep it going for 39 minutes at room temperature, crushing the old record. There are many obstacles still to overcome in reaching the goal of being able to harness quantum memory storage, but this is definitely a great start.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24934786
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