IBM Claims Nanotech Breakthrough

AP via Yahoo ^ | 12/8/2003 | By Brian Bergstein, AP Technology Writer

[Vermonter]

Associated Press
IBM Claims Nanotech Breakthrough
Monday December 8, 12:07 am ET
By Brian Bergstein, AP Technology Writer

IBM Researchers Claim They Have a Nanotech Breakthrough That Works With Existing Chip Design

NEW YORK (AP) -- Researchers at IBM Corp. claim they have made an important breakthrough in the race to design circuitry at the molecular level: a system that works with existing methods of electronics manufacturing.

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In a paper being released Monday at an industry conference in Washington, D.C., IBM researchers Chuck Black and Kathyrn Guarini say they used a naturally occurring pattern of molecules as a stencil to etch flash memory circuitry into silicon.

Other researchers are experimenting with using self-assembling, or naturally forming, patterns of molecules to build very tiny circuitry. Doing so is believed to be necessary if the high-tech industry can continue to pack more transistors into smaller spaces -- the process that continually makes computing faster and less expensive.

But the IBM scientists believe they are the first to use the molecular patterns not as circuits that have to be connected to larger wires, but as stencils that light can be shone through to create circuitry in silicon. That would make it more likely to work with existing processes, potentially saving money in manufacturing.

"We don't just give a nice picture of some sort of material. That's often where nanotech presentations will end," Black said. "We take that pattern that nature gives us and have done something with it. We understand it and we know how to build things with it."

The molecules involved are a combination of two polymers -- one that makes up Styrofoam and another in Plexiglas.

IBM predicts prototype devices using the technique could emerge in three to five years.

[Vermonter]

If they hurry this into production, the Burlington, VT plant may still have a future

[ken in texas]

From my experience, the scientists working for IBM are nothing short of phenomenal! I can't wait to see what amazing things will be developed in the future.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

ping

[Vermonter]

They are. But the semi-conductor plant in Vermont is an endangered species by IBM standards

[Vince Ferrer]

Hooray for India

[ImphClinton]

They sure have helped AMD improve it's chips.

[WackyKat]

From my experience, the scientists working for IBM are nothing short of phenomenal! I can't wait to see what amazing things will be developed in the future.

If offshoring continues, probably several new curry dishes and a hi-tech tandoori oven.

[PokeyJoe]

Well, according to Colonel Corso (US Army, ret) - they have a little bit of "help."

[Radtechtravel]

Nanotech can become something fantastic or something tyranical. The idea that machines can be built on a molecular level is chilling if it becomes reality and falls into the hands of the wrong people.

We gotta get there first with the most before our enemies learn to fabricate programmable machines, invisible to the naked eye, which could be instructed to kill eveyone with a given DNA signature. Nanotech has an awesome potential for good and even more awesome potntial for mischief.

[sixmil]

IBM predicts prototype devices using the technique could emerge in three to five years.

Good news, they'll have plenty of time to offshore it so we can all afford to buy them...

[Axenolith]

For a good scare related to this read Crichtons new book Prey.

[Lael]

IBM predicts prototype devices using the technique could emerge in three to five years

In INDIA!!!

[Centurion2000]

For a good scare related to this read Crichtons new book Prey.

Book is sitting on my shelf in my to read list .... how is it ?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks for the ping.

Maybe this will help the stock!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Has IBM built any Fab plants in India?

[Vermonter]

NOt that I'm aware of

[general_re]

[fourdeuce82d]

Book is sitting on my shelf in my to read list .... how is it ?

Okay, but not great.

[Lazamataz]

"Book is sitting on my shelf in my to read list .... how is it ?"

Okay, but not great.

Awww, man. You gave away the ending.

[Axenolith]

It was great, bought it the day before yesterday and finished it last night. I've actually got a couple of the works he cites for background sources in it.

If it piques your interest in that realm of SF you might try
ASSEMBLERS OF INFINITY by Kevin Anderson, though it's out of print.

The concept of coupling nanotech with self organizing behavior is disturbing; makes one hope that the rules of the research are firmly in place before we leap into the deep end.

The one short side is that Crichton could have delved a bit deeper into the evolving structure of the "organisms", but then again, thats probably just me. I could be happy with an author expounding on the nitty gritty details frequently, and that would probably be a distraction for a lot of readers.