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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.

10 of 77 comments (clear)

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

    will it run Linux?

  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

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    https://www.facebook.com/digitizeicm -- Show your support for the digitization of the Iron County Miner newspaper archiv
  4. 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.
  5. 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"
  6. 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
  7. 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.

  8. 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.
  9. Make a great D&D Number Generator by Quiet_Desperation · · Score: 2, Funny

    I heard on the first test it rolled a 20.

  10. 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