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IBM Claims Nanotech Breakthrough
AP via Yahoo ^ | 12/8/2003 | By Brian Bergstein, AP Technology Writer

Posted on 12/08/2003 6:20:30 PM PST by 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.




TOPICS: Business/Economy; Miscellaneous; Technical
KEYWORDS: chips; computers; ibm; nanotech; tech
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If they hurry this into production, the Burlington, VT plant may still have a future
1 posted on 12/08/2003 6:20:31 PM PST by Vermonter
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To: Vermonter
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.
2 posted on 12/08/2003 6:28:28 PM PST by ken in texas (Tag line space for rent...)
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To: sourcery; Ernest_at_the_Beach
ping
3 posted on 12/08/2003 6:36:33 PM PST by Libertarianize the GOP (Ideas have consequences)
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To: ken in texas; JimVT
They are. But the semi-conductor plant in Vermont is an endangered species by IBM standards
4 posted on 12/08/2003 6:37:20 PM PST by Vermonter (No sweatshop labor was used in the production of this tag line)
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To: Vermonter
Hooray for India
5 posted on 12/08/2003 7:01:36 PM PST by Vince Ferrer
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To: ken in texas
They sure have helped AMD improve it's chips.
6 posted on 12/08/2003 7:16:15 PM PST by ImphClinton
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To: 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.

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

7 posted on 12/08/2003 7:45:29 PM PST by WackyKat
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To: ken in texas
Well, according to Colonel Corso (US Army, ret) - they have a little bit of "help."
8 posted on 12/08/2003 8:16:40 PM PST by PokeyJoe (All I want for Christmas is a Bellanca Decatholon 250)
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To: Libertarianize the GOP
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.
9 posted on 12/08/2003 8:21:22 PM PST by Radtechtravel (Proud member of vast right wing conspiracy since '92)
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To: Vermonter
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...

10 posted on 12/08/2003 11:17:45 PM PST by sixmil (Where have all the conservatives gone?)
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To: Vermonter
For a good scare related to this read Crichtons new book Prey.
11 posted on 12/08/2003 11:37:44 PM PST by Axenolith (Favorite symbols...Au, Ag...)
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To: Vermonter; All
IBM predicts prototype devices using the technique could emerge in three to five years

In INDIA!!!

12 posted on 12/08/2003 11:38:30 PM PST by Lael (Bush to Middle Class: Send your kids to DIE in Iraq while I send your LIVELIHOODS to INDIA!)
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To: Axenolith
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 ?

13 posted on 12/08/2003 11:42:45 PM PST by Centurion2000 (Resolve to perform what you ought, perform without fail what you resolve.)
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To: Libertarianize the GOP; Vermonter
Thanks for the ping.

Maybe this will help the stock!

14 posted on 12/08/2003 11:57:26 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach (Davis is now out of Arnoold's Office , Bout Time!!!!)
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To: Vermonter
Has IBM built any Fab plants in India?
15 posted on 12/09/2003 12:00:04 AM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach (Davis is now out of Arnoold's Office , Bout Time!!!!)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
NOt that I'm aware of
16 posted on 12/09/2003 5:02:31 AM PST by Vermonter (No sweatshop labor was used in the production of this tag line)
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To: Vermonter

17 posted on 12/09/2003 5:17:45 AM PST by general_re (Knife goes in, guts come out! That's what Osaka Food Concern is all about!)
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To: Centurion2000
Book is sitting on my shelf in my to read list .... how is it ?

Okay, but not great.

18 posted on 12/09/2003 6:35:15 AM PST by fourdeuce82d
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To: fourdeuce82d
"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.

19 posted on 12/09/2003 6:38:53 AM PST by Lazamataz (Hillary Clinton is a CLINQUANT without the LINQA.)
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To: Centurion2000
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.
20 posted on 12/09/2003 7:02:41 AM PST by Axenolith (<tag>)
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