News - IBM makes world’s smallest magnetic memory bit

[HEXUS]

IBM Research creates the world’s smallest magnetic memory bit using only 12 atoms.

Read more.

[shaithis]

“Researchers at I.B.M. have stored and retrieved digital 1s and 0s from an array of just 12 atoms, pushing the boundaries of the magnetic storage of information to the edge of what is possible,”

I bet we are no-where near the edge yet! I would go as far as placing a bet that before long we will be able to store multiple bits per atom.

[crossy]

I bet we are no-where near the edge yet! I would go as far as placing a bet that before long we will be able to store multiple bits per atom.

I'm sure I remember seeing someone suggest some storage method to do with electron spin (don't slag me off too much since a. it was a long time ago, and b. it's past the level of my long-ago-received high school chemistry). In which case are we going to see sulphur and germanium memory modules - 16 and 32 electrons(/bits?) respectively? Germanium would make sense to me, since it's already in use in semi-conductors, although more abundant sulphur might be better for cost reasons.

On second thoughts, at that scale I think I'd want some extra electrons/bit for parity purposes - and I've no idea how you'd go about writing and reading. After all, if I did know how to do this then I could patent the idea and be rich beyond the dreams of my kids...