Harvard scientists have proven the existence of an entirely new state of matter, which could ultimately transform scientific research, and lead to cures for diseases like Alzheimer's.

The team from the Massachusetts university were able to prove that the substance, called quantum spin liquid, exists. Their discovery came around 50 years after scientists first predicted that the state of matter could exist.

Quantum spin liquid's particles are spaced apart widely, but remain connected because of its atoms' magnetic properties.

While the concept of the substance, and experiments used to prove it are very complicated, it could ultimately have extremely useful real-world applications.

That is because quantum spin liquid could dramatically speed up the development of new quantum computers.

Those machines, whose development is still in its infancy, could be used to solve problems far more quickly than computers can now. Scientists predict they'll transform medicine, and could ultimately produce cures for diseases which are currently impossible to treat effectively, including Alzheimer's