Researchers Make RAM From a Phase Change We Don't Entirely Understand (arstechnica.com)

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: We seem to be on the cusp of a revolution in storage. Various technologies have been demonstrated that have speed approaching that of current RAM chips but can hold on to the memory when the power shuts off -- all without the long-term degradation that flash experiences. Some of these, like phase-change memory and Intel's Optane, have even made it to market. But, so far at least, issues with price and capacity have kept them from widespread adoption. But that hasn't discouraged researchers from continuing to look for the next greatest thing. In this week's edition, a joint NIST-Purdue University team has used a material that can form atomically thin sheets to make a new form of resistance-based memory. This material can be written in nanoseconds and hold on to that memory without power. The memory appears to work via a fundamentally different mechanism from previous resistance-RAM technologies, but there's a small hitch: we're not actually sure how it works. The two mechanisms used to change the resistance have been reported in the journal Nature Materials.

Comments

Re:I'm confused as to what this is

[ShanghaiBill]

Generally, we don't care about RAM holding its state beyond a power cycle

This is because our systems are designed with the assumption that RAM is volatile.

If RAM held its value, there would be no need to have a distinction between RAM and "Disk". Computers would boot far faster. Databases would be right on the memory bus, with no need to "sync" to reliable storage. Many, many applications and services could be faster, simpler and more reliable.

honestly, flash degradation hasn't been an issue in RAM modules, since, forever. In flash storage, the degradation hasn't been shown to be much of an issue with MLC let alone SLC drives.

Flash degradation is not a problem because Flash is only used in applications where the degradation won't be a problem. If a Flash replacement can be faster and have unlimited write cycles, then there will be many, many applications for it that Flash can't fulfill.

It works but we don't know why

[E-Rock]

The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not 'Eureka!' but 'That's funny...' Isaac Asimov