Slashdot Mirror
Researchers Re-Examine Second Law of Thermodynamics
Many readers have written to tell us that researchers are examining the possibility of using Brownian ratchets to help combat the problem of heat dissipation in miniaturized electronics. "Currently, devices are engineered to operate near thermal equilibrium, in accordance with the Second Law of Thermodynamics which states that heat tends to transfer from a hotter unit to a cooler one. However, using the concept of Brownian ratchets, which are systems that convert non-equilibrium energy to do useful work, the researchers hope to allow computers to operate at low power levels, and harness power dissipated by other functions. 'The main quest we have is to see if by departing from near-equilibrium operation, we can perform computation more efficiently,' Ghosh told iTnews. 'We aren't breaking the Second Law — that's not what we are claiming,' he said. 'We are simply re-examining its implications, as much of the established understanding of power dissipation is based on near-equilibrium operation.'"
"Young lady, in this house we obey the laws of thermodynamics!"
Monstar L
Tag: weobeythelawsofthermodynamics
They only work with english-sized particles. You have to use an expensive adapter for metric particles.
My prediction: On *nix systems, a brownian ratchet power saving mechanism will be referred to as "Maxwells's Daemon". On NT based systems, it will be referred to as "Maxwell's Service".
1) An object at rest is ALWAYS in the wrong place.
2) An object in motion is ALWAYS headed in the wrong direction.
3) The energy required to alter either state is NEVER enough to make it impossible but is ALWAYS more than you'd care to expend.
I am my own gestalt.
Now, if they'd said they were going to incorporate a Peltier device on the chip die to let 'em run heavily overclocked and ice-cold, I might've fallen for it . . .
emerge maxwelld
/etc/init.d/maxwelld start
Done.
Stupid Flanders.
Since I can't tell them apart, I treat all ACs as the same person.
I plugged a Brownian ratchet into my laptop USB port, and all it did was hump it.
Why, without your clothes, you're naked, Miss Dudley!
I think you broke my brain.