Comments on: IBM scientists create smallest magnetic memory bit with 12 atoms http://blogs.reuters.com/mediafile/2012/01/12/ibm-scientists-create-smallest-magnetic-memory-bit-with-12-atoms/ Where media and technology meet Mon, 20 May 2013 23:34:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: ldw333 http://blogs.reuters.com/mediafile/2012/01/12/ibm-scientists-create-smallest-magnetic-memory-bit-with-12-atoms/comment-page-1/#comment-391251 ldw333 Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:54:03 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/mediafile/?p=33005#comment-391251 The difference between the number of atoms required for a bit and the packing density of the memory is that in order to read the individual bits, they need to be spaced out, and that space is more significant when there are fewer atoms used per bit. While atoms are in fact made of subatomic particles, the "most basic component" of manufacturing is the atom. For example, you can't build a house out of neutrons and discard the protons and electrons. The difference between the number of atoms required for a bit and the packing density of the memory is that in order to read the individual bits, they need to be spaced out, and that space is more significant when there are fewer atoms used per bit.

While atoms are in fact made of subatomic particles, the “most basic component” of manufacturing is the atom. For example, you can’t build a house out of neutrons and discard the protons and electrons.

]]> By: JanArthurVales http://blogs.reuters.com/mediafile/2012/01/12/ibm-scientists-create-smallest-magnetic-memory-bit-with-12-atoms/comment-page-1/#comment-391231 JanArthurVales Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:47:10 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/mediafile/?p=33005#comment-391231 I don't understand that: "That’s 12 versus 1 million and it means a hundred times more information can be stored in the same space." Looking naively at it, the factor seems to be rather 100000 than 100. "matter by its most basic component – the atom —". This is obviously not true from a physical perspective. Looking from the limited perspective of chemistry it may be considered true, even though I remember having learned about protons, electrons and neutrons in my few chemistry classes at highschool. In any case the claim that the atom is the most basic component of matter isn't valid from the overall perspective even just of today's mainstream natural sciences -- the most basic of it being physics. It seems to me at least. I don’t understand that: “That’s 12 versus 1 million and it means a hundred times more information can be stored in the same space.” Looking naively at it, the factor seems to be rather 100000 than 100.

“matter by its most basic component – the atom —”. This is obviously not true from a physical perspective. Looking from the limited perspective of chemistry it may be considered true, even though I remember having learned about protons, electrons and neutrons in my few chemistry classes at highschool. In any case the claim that the atom is the most basic component of matter isn’t valid from the overall perspective even just of today’s mainstream natural sciences — the most basic of it being physics. It seems to me at least.

]]> By: alanchristopher http://blogs.reuters.com/mediafile/2012/01/12/ibm-scientists-create-smallest-magnetic-memory-bit-with-12-atoms/comment-page-1/#comment-391230 alanchristopher Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:35:39 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/mediafile/?p=33005#comment-391230 This reveals the limits of western computer technology. With a temperature of 10 degrees K (-260 C), one can store 83,333 times as much data, but it may cost $83.333 billion per unit. Bill Gates and Warren Buffet combined could not afford it. This reveals the limits of western computer technology. With a temperature of 10 degrees K (-260 C), one can store 83,333 times as much data, but it may cost $83.333 billion per unit. Bill Gates and Warren Buffet combined could not afford it.

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