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Tiny Holes Advance Quantum Computing
Nick writes "Worldwide, scientists are racing to develop computers that exploit the quantum mechanical properties of atoms - quantum computers. One strategy for making them involves packaging individual atoms on a chip so that laser beams can read quantum data. Scientists at Ohio State University have taken a step toward the development of quantum computers by making tiny holes that contain nothing at all. The holes - dark spots in an egg carton-shaped surface of laser light - could one day cradle atoms for quantum computing."
I think diamonds will replace silicon before we manage to figure out how to bridge the quantum computing gap.
Diamonds have the highest conductivity rate of any known metal, which makes them perfect candidates for traditional computing. You may think "oh, but they're so expensive," but this isn't necessarily true. Natural diamonds are expensive, but this isn't due to its scarcity.
There are stockpiles of diamonds, but De Beers who controls 70% of the diamond industry wouldn't tell you that. They have found ways to keep these things in their hands and distribute them miserly, thus creating artifical rarity which raises the demand and price in one shot and leads to more profits.
The most important development, however, is the newfound possibility of manufacturing artificial diamonds. Ones with NO defects whatsoever. It's already possible, and it's been done. It's rather cheap as well.