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Researchers Build "Squishy" Memory Device

Posted by samzenpus on from the memory-stuck-between-my-fingers dept.

ShipLives writes "Researchers have developed a memory device that is soft and functions well in wet environments, which could lead to new biocompatible electronic devices. 'We’ve created a memory device with the physical properties of Jell-O,' says Dr. Michael Dickey, an assistant professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at NC State and co-author of a paper describing the research."

84 comments

  1. Finally by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    A viable zombie diversion.

    1. Re:Finally by arnoldo.j.nunez · · Score: 1, Troll

      A viable zombie diversion.

      My frustration with Slashdot (and no I'm not new here, I'm not really old either, just observing without instantly being pidgeonholed by unfunny nerdy douchebags) is that for actual serious technical matter such as this memristive system, we have idiots making really lame jokes using rehashed memes. You would think people who pride themselves on learning new, esoteric things would also have new, esoteric material.

      Bitching aside, this appears to be a GaIn alloy that functions like a fluidic memristor. What is interesting to me is that for the past few years people have been researching flexible substrates so that electronics could fit on the human body (e.g. integrated on a wet suit to control "electropositive shark repellent" when in suspected regions full of sharks [and turned off when not in dangerous territory to maximize battery life]), but I had not heard of actually changing the otherwise solid-state, nanometer-thick, memristive, metal oxide into an amorphous state, organic device to get flexibility as well. The only honest, non-jealous-that-they-thought-of-that-but-i-did-not thought that came to me was: I wonder how durable the devices are...

    2. Re:Finally by jojoba_oil · · Score: 2

      I wonder how durable the devices are...

      Probably about as durable as Jell-O

    3. Re:Finally by Dishevel · · Score: 0

      Here on /. we actually get both.
      If you do not want any trolls, flamebait, memes, or fun with your facts you are in the wrong place.

      --
      Why is it so hard to only have politicians for a few years, then have them go away?
    4. Re:Finally by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Would the sharks in question perhaps have frickin laser beams attached to their heads?

    5. Re:Finally by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Here on /. we actually get both.
      If you do not want any trolls, flamebait, memes, or fun with your facts you are in the wrong place.

      Here on /. we actually get both.
      If you do not want any trolls, flamebait, memes, or fun instead of your facts you are in the wrong place.

      Fixed that for you :)

    6. Re:Finally by LifesABeach · · Score: 1

      "If It Was There, You'd Eat It" - Jello 1970

  2. There's approximately 24 meg in... by Dexter+Herbivore · · Score: 4, Funny

    There's approximately 24 megabytes of data in a single ejaculation, that sounds related to a memory device that is soft and functions well in wet environments... sorry... oh my gods I'm sorry. I just HAD to go there. Also re-reading that, I think I need a prescription for Viagra.

    1. Re:There's approximately 24 meg in... by Dexter+Herbivore · · Score: 2

      Dr. Michael *DICK*ey, functions well in wet environments. Did anyone actually expect me to be able ignore that?

    2. Re:There's approximately 24 meg in... by RivenAleem · · Score: 4, Funny

      That explains why peer-to-peer file sharing is so satisfying.

    3. Re:There's approximately 24 meg in... by couchslug · · Score: 1

      Finally, we can build an Intelligent Fleshlight!

      Divorce is looking better and better.

      --
      "This post is an artistic work of fiction and falsehood. Only a fool would take anything posted here as fact."
    4. Re:There's approximately 24 meg in... by DemonGenius · · Score: 1

      An alternate form of his name would be Mickey Dickey. Kinda sounds like a cartoon character.

    5. Re:There's approximately 24 meg in... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Finally, we can build an Intelligent Fleshlight!

      Why? You want your toys giving you the cold shoulder too?

    6. Re:There's approximately 24 meg in... by Dishevel · · Score: 0

      Intelligent.
      Not bitchy.

      --
      Why is it so hard to only have politicians for a few years, then have them go away?
    7. Re:There's approximately 24 meg in... by Lord+Lode · · Score: 1

      Are you sure it's only 24MB? There's a LOT of different DNA sequences in there!

    8. Re:There's approximately 24 meg in... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ah, but there are a lot of duplicates!

    9. Re:There's approximately 24 meg in... by jojoba_oil · · Score: 1

      Intelligent. Not bitchy.

      You think anything intelligent would get caught dead near any of us /.ers? :-P

    10. Re:There's approximately 24 meg in... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I hear they're called "SilicoTorches" east of the Atlantic.

    11. Re:There's approximately 24 meg in... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There's approximately 24 megabytes of data in a single ejaculation

      which species are you talking about? and redundant data still consumes storage space, so repetition adds to the total data quantity.

    12. Re:There's approximately 24 meg in... by couchslug · · Score: 1

      Fleshlights don't HAVE shoulders.

      http://www.meh.ro/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/meh.ro5516.jpg

      --
      "This post is an artistic work of fiction and falsehood. Only a fool would take anything posted here as fact."
  3. Puddin' Pops by Mordok-DestroyerOfWo · · Score: 2

    'We’ve created a memory device with the physical properties of Jell-O,' says Dr. Michael Dickey, an assistant professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at NC State and co-author of a paper describing the research."

    Brought to you by Bill Cosby!

    --
    "Never let your sense of morals prevent you from doing what is right" - Salvor Hardin
  4. Does this mean by CCarrot · · Score: 1

    We're one step closer to eXistenZ?

    Damn, that was one creepy movie...

    --
    "I love animals! Some are cute, others are tasty, what's not to like?" - Betsy Schroeder, Jeopardy contestant
    1. Re:Does this mean by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Any movie with Willem Dafoe in it is creepy ...

    2. Re:Does this mean by danlock4 · · Score: 1

      Exactly what I was about to say. If the storyline had been more compelling, it would have been as consumer-confusing and awe-inducing as last year's movie Inception.

      Alas, it was not to be. However, eXistenZ was about the biological technology; Inception wasn't.

      eXistenZ was probably creepier if you enjoy seafood, so possibly CCarrots don't need to worry as much.

      --
      To .sig or not to .sig, that is the question.
    3. Re:Does this mean by CCarrot · · Score: 1

      eXistenZ was probably creepier if you enjoy seafood, so possibly CCarrots don't need to worry as much.

      Or perhaps creepiest if you tend to avoid seafood altogether...;)

      Yeah, I remember it as one of those 'hold on and figure it out as you go' movies, and actually I quite enjoyed it. You're right, it wasn't on the same brain-bend level as Inception, Pulp Fiction or the first Matrix, but at least it wasn't yet another movie exclusively about car chases and explosions...

      --
      "I love animals! Some are cute, others are tasty, what's not to like?" - Betsy Schroeder, Jeopardy contestant
  5. Are there 4 packs? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Does it come in cherry flavour?

  6. Important questions: by toastar · · Score: 1

    We’ve created a memory device with the physical properties of Jell-O

    Yes, yes but which does it work better with: rum or vodka?

    1. Re:Important questions: by illumastorm · · Score: 1

      Either way, your memory would be shot.

    2. Re:Important questions: by Jeremiah+Cornelius · · Score: 1

      "Oh, 'cause it's a computer you think it's made of spiders webs and magic? It's just a metal box Jez, they're indestructible."

      --
      "Flyin' in just a sweet place,
      Never been known to fail..."
    3. Re:Important questions: by LifesABeach · · Score: 1

      Vodka? I wish to submit the as a Nobel Nominee, the inventor of Vodka; for the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Why? Because if a population of Irishmen starring a potatoes as a main food source cannot consider fermenting it; then this globally used chemical concoction that has altered the outcomes of many of humanity is truly exemplary.

    4. Re:Important questions: by black+soap · · Score: 1

      I've got bad news for you: Poitín, from Ireland, is traditionally made from malted barley or potatoes. Vodka is traditionally made from "anything they can ferment," and today most vodka isn't made from potatoes. Of course, you being the historian that you are, you acknowledge that nobody in Europe was making much from potatoes until the 16th century.

  7. Well I built a squishy CLERIC by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    She has like NO vitality cause I want her to be able to be an effective healer soooo yeah... I built a very squishy cleric

    1. Re:Well I built a squishy CLERIC by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Buff plz

  8. Message from the Orz... by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 3, Funny

    I am *expanding!* It is so much *squishy* to *store* for you!
    *Campers* are the best! I have *anticipation* and then what?
    Better parties in *the middle* for sure.

    --

    "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)

    1. Re:Message from the Orz... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And with wetware-powered brains, it'll be all the easier to remember to enjoy the sauce.

    2. Re:Message from the Orz... by ifrag · · Score: 1

      "Always you make Orz *squeezing juice*. We do not have enough."

      --
      Fear is the mind killer.
    3. Re:Message from the Orz... by Forty+Two+Tenfold · · Score: 1

      Thanks man. BTW. What REALLY happened to the Androsynth?

      --
      Upward mobility is a slippery slope - the higher you climb the more you show your ass.
  9. WTF is Jell-O by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    For those of you who don't know what Jell-O is: it's a desert made from gelatin, which is made from animal bones.

    Yes, it's disgusting. But it's red and tastes like cherry!

    Don't ask how they make it red, it's even worst than the gelatin part.

    1. Re:WTF is Jell-O by Megahard · · Score: 1

      Actually, it's a dessert make from gelatin. The best part is, it could fit anywhere in the body, as there's always room for Jell-O.

      --
      I eat only the real part of complex carbohydrates.
    2. Re:WTF is Jell-O by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Isn't the red they use in Jell-O the one they get from grinding up millions of bugs?

    3. Re:WTF is Jell-O by h4rr4r · · Score: 1

      Far more skin is used than bones to make gelatin.

    4. Re:WTF is Jell-O by itsdapead · · Score: 1

      For those of you who don't know what Jell-O is: it's a desert made from gelatin, which is made from animal bones.

      That's "jelly" for us British viewers. It took me a while to work out that a "peanut butter and jelly" sandwich was actually only 82.5% as disgusting as it sounded (peanut butter and Marmite is much better) - however, I know of at least one diner in the US that are similarly confused about "fish'n'chips" - with rather dry and salty results).

      --
      In a survey of 100 programmers, 111111 thought that duck-typing was a good idea.
    5. Re:WTF is Jell-O by Yvan256 · · Score: 1

      Jelly isn't the same as Jell-O. Look at the list of ingredients. Jelly is mostly sugar, fruit juice and pectin.

    6. Re:WTF is Jell-O by peragrin · · Score: 1

      Just use liposuction to remove excess fat and place it there.

      Or is the consistency is right use it to replace silicone implants. That way guys can say legtimately they are staring at your memory.

      --
      i thought once I was found, but it was only a dream.
    7. Re:WTF is Jell-O by gstrickler · · Score: 1

      Did you miss the part about "us British viewers"? Jelly in Britain isn't what we American's call jelly.

      --
      make imaginary.friends COUNT=100 VISIBLE=false
    8. Re:WTF is Jell-O by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Actually... sometimes it is... Just to confuse everyone:

      In Britain (ex pat living in US) we have TWO things called Jelly.

      In Britain Jelly can mean "Jello-O" (although even in the US, that is a name-brand- correct generic term is gelatine desert).

      Jelly can also mean the same thing as what you call jelly in America. Difference being- in Britain the term Jelly is not completely interchangable with the word Jam. Not all Jams are Jelly. For one, they have to be seedless- Jam is not necessarily seedless.

    9. Re:WTF is Jell-O by itsdapead · · Score: 2

      Actually... sometimes it is... Just to confuse everyone:

      In Britain (ex pat living in US) we have TWO things called Jelly

      ...yes, the world of confectionary, cakes and desserts is truly a minefield for the US/GB traveller. A cookie is a biscuit... unless its a cookie, and ask for a muffin and its fifty/fifty whether you get a rich, circular bread roll or a US style hypertrophied fairy cake. Even we can't decide whether a "biscuit" (US) is a "scone" (long o) or "scon" (short o).

      --
      In a survey of 100 programmers, 111111 thought that duck-typing was a good idea.
    10. Re:WTF is Jell-O by lazn · · Score: 1

      How is squished up insects worse than bones??

      Insects are a good source of protein, common food in some parts of the world, and if humans ate more of them it'd help with the global food supply.

    11. Re:WTF is Jell-O by CptNerd · · Score: 2

      Memories, mammaries, same thing. Or, they soon will be...

      So women would start including number of bytes in their measurements.

      They would use special bras to squeeze the last bit of storage...

      Oh hell, I'd better stop there...

      --
      By the taping of my glasses, something geeky this way passes
    12. Re:WTF is Jell-O by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      For those of you who don't know what Jell-O is: it's a desert made from gelatin, which is made from animal bones.

      Yes, it's disgusting. But it's red and tastes like cherry!

      Don't ask how they make it red, it's even worst than the gelatin part.

      I live in Utah you insensitive clod.

    13. Re:WTF is Jell-O by danlock4 · · Score: 1

      Yeah, you'd better stop there. Since I tend to go on and on about things, though, I'll continue: Finally, a legitimate argument for why bigger is better! No, seriously, folks. . . Did you hear the one about the woman with back pain? She had an odd number of libraries of congress on one side and an even number of libraries of congress on the other! And talk about the data compression! Some women with no back pain at all had ten times that many Calgary Corpuses in theirs!

      --
      To .sig or not to .sig, that is the question.
    14. Re:WTF is Jell-O by danlock4 · · Score: 1

      Come on... if you're a Utahn, you're probably more accustomed to green Jell-O, whether it's the brand name or generic-brand "flavored gelatin"...

      Which holds more data? Green Jell-O or Green Jell-O with embedded shredded carrots? Uh oh... maybe the CCarrot user's worry is justified after all.

      re: UK vs. US confection naming conventions:
                As far as I've ever known (I'm American), I've used "jelly" to refer to
                the translucent, smooth-textured fruit-based substance often combined
                with peanut butter. "Jam" is like jelly, except that it contains more
                than just fruit juice--it has the solid parts from the fruits also, which
                includes seeds if you're referring to strawberry jam (or grape, perhaps,
                if it's made with non-seedless grapes). Cherry/peach/apple/etc.
                won't include the pit/seeds because that wouldn't be nice to the teeth
                of the human eating it.

      The above paragraph is entirely my opinion; parts of the United States that are not similar to most of the western states might think of jelly and jam in different ways. Oh, and naval jelly and royal jelly are entirely different, as are navel "jelly", sebum, and ear wax. So, probably, is Vegemite, although I've heard of places around here where you can buy it. I won't even start talking about haggis. Or the time zones of Antarctica.

      --
      To .sig or not to .sig, that is the question.
  10. fiction becoming reality? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hmmm how how long till the thinking machines rise? :)

    http://dune.wikia.com/wiki/Gelcircuitry

    1. Re:fiction becoming reality? by snspdaarf · · Score: 1

      Jell-O, not bread.

      --
      Why, without your clothes, you're naked, Miss Dudley!
    2. Re:fiction becoming reality? by danlock4 · · Score: 1

      It probably still depends on the temperature, percentage of yeast contained inside, and how many waves of "Rising machines" humanity has already "punched down".

      Yes, that was injected with humor by yours truly.

      --
      To .sig or not to .sig, that is the question.
  11. Flavor? by synapse7 · · Score: 1

    But what does it taste like?

  12. Has Stargate taught us nothing?!?!?!?! by SengirV · · Score: 2

    It's all crystals. You guys are going in the WRONG DIRECTION!!!!!!

    --

    Prof. Farnsworth - "Oh a lesson in not changing history from Mr I'm-My-Own-Grandpa!"

    1. Re:Has Stargate taught us nothing?!?!?!?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      uhhh.... magnets.

    2. Re:Has Stargate taught us nothing?!?!?!?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's all crystals. You guys are going in the WRONG DIRECTION!!!!!!

      move out of your parents basement and get a job Sengir

  13. Didnt IBM do somethign similar in the 90's? by Osgeld · · Score: 1

    I dont remember what they called it but it was some form of jell in a cube and they were beaming lasers through it to toggle bits .... this is probably drive me nuts today

  14. That's not new by Roduku · · Score: 1

    My memory has been like Jell-O for years

  15. Finally by scarface71795 · · Score: 0

    Sexbots?

  16. Compression by Spazed · · Score: 2

    Squishy eh? How does it compress?

  17. Squishy mammary device by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Now women can increase their bust size and work smarter thanks to iBoob!

  18. No Star Trek Fans? by camperdave · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Are there no Star Trek fans online today? I thought for sure there would be references to bio-neural gel packs by now.

    --
    When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
    1. Re:No Star Trek Fans? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ahhh, you beat me to it. That was the very first thing I thought of when I saw this news article. If I had mod points I'd definitely give yah one.

    2. Re:No Star Trek Fans? by impaledsunset · · Score: 4, Funny

      Of course there are Star Trek fans, it's just that we all hate Voyager.

    3. Re:No Star Trek Fans? by f8l_0e · · Score: 1

      I always thought that a neat idea for an episode would have been them running into an abandoned Voyager from a different timeline in which the ship itself had been assimilated by the borg injecting nanites into the gel packs.

    4. Re:No Star Trek Fans? by Syberz · · Score: 1

      Funny, Voyager was my fav series after TNG. I couldn't stand DS9 though...

      --
      ~Syberz
    5. Re:No Star Trek Fans? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Seven of Nine going renegade, integrating gel packs into her own body. Oh no! Her Starfleet uniform won't fit anymore!

    6. Re:No Star Trek Fans? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Didn't they fail or cause problems in almost every episode?

    7. Re:No Star Trek Fans? by camperdave · · Score: 1

      "Ensign Kim. That is NOT a gel pack."

      --
      When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
  19. I already have something like that! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's squishy and I think it's grey in color... But I forget where I put it.

  20. Keepers by darniil · · Score: 1

    Does this mean we're one step closer to having to worry about Keepers?

  21. This gives a whole new meaning to binary blobs! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Right?

  22. A New Day for Computer Security by Chardansearavitriol · · Score: 1

    People will actually take this seriously, and will rarely ever leave bizarre porn and personal information on old computers again. I for one can't wait to see what happens when you hit one of these with a golf club or put it in a microwave.

  23. Toxicity? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    “Our memory device is soft and pliable, and functions extremely well in wet environments – similar to the human brain,” Dickey says.

    The devices are made using a liquid alloy of gallium and indium metals set into water-based gels

    I think I'd want a LOT more research done on those gallium and indium alloys before implanting them into my BRAIN. I'm no biochemist, but Wikipedia says there's not a whole lot of conclusive research out there.

    Also, WTF? 55 posts and you're all just talking about sci-fi and Jell-O? Seriously?

  24. Just like our brains! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    'We’ve created a memory device with the physical properties of Jell-O'

    http://www.tbiguide.com/howbrainhurt.html

  25. Mythbusters will never be the same by Torodung · · Score: 1

    Cool. So now we have ballistics gel that not only will tell us the extent of physical damage a potato cannon can cause, but also the amount of mental disability that might be sustained.

    Let's blow some up.

    --
    Toro

    1. Re:Mythbusters will never be the same by morethanapapercert · · Score: 1

      Grant Imahara is that you?

      --
      I need a wheelchair van for my son. Help me get the word out. https://www.gofundme.com/wheelchair-van-for-jj
  26. Breast Implants... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...that can tell how many times the TSA has groped you!

  27. A waste of time, money, and energy... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...that is what this is. This squishy memory will never be a viable alternative. If we were smart, we'd start judging things based on the likelihood of them being applicable *before* the singularity. However, we're not smart. So, that's probably not going to happen.