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stored in live cells
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If
DNA is the blueprint of life, adding notes
in the margins could be a good way to store
data, especially given how much data microscopic
DNA molecules contain. And if the DNA in question
belongs to a radiation-resistant bacteria,
the data could survive for countless generations
-- the ultimate in archival storage. You could
even pass on your life's history to your progeny
along with your genes.
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Faster
quantum crypto demoed
Most quantum cryptography research grapples with
the difficult task of generating one photon at a
time. The result is that, despite an impressive
array of schemes and prototypes, none of today's
systems work anywhere near the speeds of the telecommunications
networks they're designed to work over. A demo of
a system that uses ordinary lasers is a big step
toward better performance, at least over short distances.
Bumpy
surface stores data
Stroking a thin skin of molecules with microscopic
promises to be a fast way to store lots of data.
Gently drawing a microscope tip across a particular
type of thin film causes regularly-sized, perfectly
spaced bumps to appear. Count each bump as a bit,
and the process could lead to a new type of data
storage device.
Quantum
computers go digital
Quantum computers use the traits of individual atoms
and subatomic particles to perform fantastically
fast calculations. But quantum particles are notoriously
hard to pin down, and it's tricky business using
them for hard-and-fast digital calculations. A scheme
that calls for pairs of electrons to slide past
each other puts a little binary black and white
in the otherwise colorful quantum world.
Tiny
hole guides atoms against tide
Cells manage to coax ions to flow through their
membranes against the natural force driving the
charged atoms. Researchers have duplicated this
feat using a nanoscale hole in a plastic film. The
results promise a better understanding of cells,
and could lead to new ways to power biochemical
nanomachines.
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