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Brain-Inspired Computer Made From Duroquinone

Posted by kdawson on from the controlling-nano-bots dept.

hasu notes that scientists at the National Institute for Materials Science at Tsukuba in Japan have created a device, consisting of 17 duroquinone molecules on a gold surface, that can in theory encode 4.3 billion outcomes. The "device" does not constitute a practical computer, since it requires both a scanning tunneling microscope and operation near absolute zero. A single duroquinone is surrounded by sixteen others, and weak chemical bonds allow a pulse to the central molecule to shift all seventeen molecules in a variety of ways. Each duroquinone has four different "settings," so a single pulse can have 4^16 possible outcomes. As a demonstration the researchers docked 8 other nano-devices to their 17-molecule computer. It is unclear how well they have characterized the inputs that result in 4.3 billion different outputs. They are working on a 3D design that would have 1,024 duroquinone molecules surrounding a central one.

12 of 77 comments (clear)

  1. But... by BrunoBigfoot · · Score: 4, Funny

    will it run Linux?

    1. Re:But... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      If you mean KDE with shinyness, heck no.
      Command line, maybe. I'd go with IceWM, considering the temperature requirements.
  2. So it can store an integer up to 4.3 billion? by CrazyJim1 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Doesn't sound like impressive computing. But hey, anyone doing research is at least doing something with their time.

    --
    God spoke to me.
  3. Re:Elaboration Please by stuporglue · · Score: 5, Funny

    It will only work when run in a super cold freezer or, possibly, in Canada.

    Really cold : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absolute_zero

    --
    https://www.facebook.com/digitizeicm -- Show your support for the digitization of the Iron County Miner newspaper archiv
  4. So, how's it not practical? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    The "device" does not constitute a practical computer, since it requires both a scanning tunneling microscope and operation near absolute zero. I'm failing to see how that's practical. Surely a mother-in-law's nagging works as the microscope, and the region of her body associated with a heart in most people would suffice for the temperature.
  5. State of the art??!?? by EmbeddedJanitor · · Score: 3, Funny

    I thought the state of the art way to make brains involved copulaton.

    --
    Engineering is the art of compromise.
  6. Re:So it can store an integer Expressive... by davidsyes · · Score: 3, Funny

    It's EXpressive: Mathematical AND artistic.

    But, if they use it in bugs, and they abandon their masters, it will give a new meaning to "buggin out". If they emerge from a wig-wearing woman, then we literally have "wiggin out".

    But, as for expressionism.... do you want IMpressionism?

    --
    Previously: "Linux... Toward the Sunrise..." Now: "Linux... Toward the-- No, now, part of Every Sunrise"
  7. Some kind of robot or battlesuit, right? by spun · · Score: 3, Funny

    I thought the state of the art way to make brains involved copulaton. Ah, Copulaton, my favorite Autobot. Or was it a Gundam?
    --
    - None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
  8. Re:Wow, 4.3 billion states? by eggfoolr · · Score: 2, Funny

    Imagine how long the primary elections would take with that many States!

    Hilary might just have a chance.

  9. Re:Nano by Ardeaem · · Score: 2, Funny

    Nanotechnology? That's so early 2000's, we're onto picotechnology now! Only lamers use picotechnology. I prefer emacstechnology myself.
  10. Make a great D&D Number Generator by Quiet_Desperation · · Score: 2, Funny

    I heard on the first test it rolled a 20.

  11. Re:But... What would it do for Brock's Spain in by JLF65 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Clearly, but every funny man needs a straight man. :D