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3D Microfluid Computers Used To Solve NP Problems

Posted by Hemos on from the interesting-approach dept.

Sergio Lucero writes "The Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS) just published an article on the use of 3D microfluid networks as computers for the solution of very hard (NP) mathematical problems. So far it looks like they've solved a specific case of the maximum clique problem, but of course this also means they can do other stuff."

1 of 125 comments (clear)

  1. Nothing new... by SpinyNorman · · Score: 5

    NP complete problems are only hard if you insist on using a digital computer to solve them.

    Want to find the shortest set of roads to build to interconnect a bunch of cities? You need a couple of pieces of glass, some round plastic rod and some soapy water...

    Cut the rod into 1" lengths, so that you have one per city, then glue them as separators between the two pieces of glass so that the positions of the rods represent the locations of the cities. Dip the completed "computer" into soapy water, and let surace tension and energy minimization do it's job - the soap bubbles that form between the rods will have edges that join where you should build your roads.