Nanotechnology - SlashGear

Posts Tagged ‘nanotechnology’

Graphene may be used for 1,000GHz chips

By Brenda Stokes on Thursday, Mar 26th 2009 No Comments

graphenemit Graphene might be the next material of choice for making processor chips, according to an MIT report. In fact, Graphene, a substance discovered in 2004 that consists of pure carbon, could allow for faster speeds than ever thought possible.

The current research shows that a frequency multiplier could be created, which works to double a signal and likewise doubles a processor’s clocking speed. Color me impressed! This idea is not new, but it is certainly new when applied to Graphene, which possesses only an atom’s thickness.

So, what’s so exciting about this? Well, Graphene chips could make for processors that run between 500GHz and 1,000GHz. That’s quite a leap from the current 5GHz chips, wouldn’t you say? We should see a commercial version of this technology within two years, according to MIT.

[via PC Pro]

Samsung unveiled 40nm class DRAM chips

By Daniel Lim on Thursday, Feb 5th 2009 No Comments

It seems like yesterday we read about Samsung achievement in high density and power efficient 50 nanometer memory chip; today, the company have announced another milestone with improved 40 nanometer DRAM memory technology, and promised to deliver 60 percent more productivity and less energy waste than the 50nm class device.

samsung 40nm dram

Continued »

Samsung’s 50 nanomater pushes unprecedented DDR3 8GB laptop memory

By Daniel Lim on Thursday, Jan 29th 2009 No Comments

Samsung Electronics have put 50 nanometer’s memory technology and manufacturing processes in good uses. Developed from the new technology, higher density and more power efficient chipsets were achieved to fabricate a single stick 4GB DDR3 SDRAM chip.

low res 50nmclass 4gb ddr3 2 480x318

Continued »

Nanotechnology-infused material is completely water resistant

By Brenda Stokes on Monday, Nov 24th 2008 No Comments

dn16126 2 300 Now this is pretty interesting. If nanotechnology news gives you the warm fuzzies then you’ll be pleased to learn that some chemists at the University of Zurich have created a new fabric that can’t ever get wet. Ever. I mean, it was in water for two months and it’s still not wet!

This material is made from polyester which were covered with 40nm-wide silicone nanofilaments. Since these filaments are so tiny and so spiky, they make it so water actually sits above the material in a sort of pocket. This is a permanent state. The material won’t ever be made wet.

So what are the potential applications of this technology? Well, it reduces drag in water by up to 20%, for one. It can also serve as a self-cleaning cloth. Regardless of how it ends up being used, this is still pretty cool and presents numerous opportunities.

Nano Silver could cause environmental pollution

By Brenda Stokes on Friday, Nov 14th 2008 1 Comment

A report released by the UK Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution indicates that we might not know enough about nano-engineered materials for them to be widely used. In fact, the commission chair will not wear clothing that has nano silver in it until more study is completed.

silversocks 480x342

Continued »

iPosture keeps you standing tall

By Brenda Stokes on Friday, Aug 22nd 2008 2 Comments

posturegirl Sitting at the computer all day not only strains your eyes–it hurts your back. That’s why Moacir Schnapp and his wife, Dr. Elma Schnapp, developed the iPosture, which is meant to remind you to sit up straight.

The device is rather small and can be worn on the skin with an adhesive patch, or clipped to a bra strap or shirt. It works by means of nanosensor technology. the microchip within the iPosture can actually monitor the angle of your upper chest and will vibrate when it detects a three degree change from your “ideal stance.”

The iPosture will cost about $99.95, but it could be well worth it. The researchers say you may only need to wear the device four hours a day for two to four weeks, initially at least, to train your body into its new upright position.

[via Crave at CNET]

Rat neuron-infused robot learns, avoids obstacles

By Brenda Stokes on Thursday, Aug 14th 2008 No Comments

A group of scientists at Reading University in the UK have developed a robot that is controlled by rat neurons. In case you’re wondering why anyone would take rat brain cells and stuff them in a robot, the answer is simple: to learn more about the human brain, how it works and potentially make progress in the battle against degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

robot brain 309x400

Continued »

Invisible material could make objects ‘disappear’

By Brenda Stokes on Tuesday, Aug 12th 2008 No Comments

44911923 4ba0bae7 3fdf 4c74 82db d4eae5787aef

The purported “invisibility cloak” has been in the news before. However, University of California at Berkley researchers are on the cusp of something big. They’ve developed a material “that can bend light around 3D objects” in effect, causing them to disappear.

Now, of course this material currently only exists on a nano scale. But these recent developments could potentially one day be scaled up to create great expanses of the material that could conceal objects and even people.

Continued »

Nanoantenna Skin to provide next-gen PC cooling

By Brenda Stokes on Tuesday, Aug 12th 2008 No Comments

If you’re looking for the next generation of PC cooling technology or consumer electronic recharging, you may only have to look so far as a group of researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory who have developed a flexible solar cell. This cell could be applied to all sorts of electronics to make recharging a snap and cooling devices a breeze.

8911 large nanoantenna1

Continued »

Flexible Material Makes For Stretchy Electronics

By Brenda Stokes on Monday, Aug 11th 2008 No Comments

It looks like the dream of flexible and stretchy electronics will come true sometime in the semi-near future. A group of scientists at the University of Tokyo have recently developed a material that both conducts electricity and is made of a rubbery material that can be stretched to more than twice its size.

4a 480x368