Nearing the limit of Moore's Law?

Moore's Law describes how the number of transistors that can be cheaply placed on a computer chip doubles almost every two years. In 2005, Gordon Moore noted that transistors would eventually reach the limits of atomic levels and scientists working with nanotechnology have now created a transistor using apparently only seven atoms.

The "Quantum Dot" embedded in a single silicon crystal in the heart of the nanoscopic transistor measures only 4 nanometres across and promises a new generation of super computing.

'Quantum dot' promises faster PCs | Stuff.co.nz

Visiting the London Science Museum

Last July we visited the London Science Museum - well parts of it. There is too much there to see it all in one day.

Some of the highlights included exhibits in the "science museum 100 celebrating a century of science", such as a Cray supercomputer, half a Mini, and many many more important contributions to science and technology.

 

Print a brick

Ginger Krieg Dosier from the American University of Sharjah (UAE) has invented a method of producing printable, bio-manufactured bricks.

Printing layers of sand, bacteria (Sporosarcina pasteurii), yeast extract, urea, calcium chloride and water starts a biological process where the bacteria produce a glue that binds the materials together. Printable bricks can be almost any shape and are as strong as marble.

A neat feature is that the same bio process can be used to bind bricks together doing away with the need for traditional mortar.

More details on Metropolis Magazine.

As seen on Printable Brick Could Cut World's Carbon Emissions by "At Least" 800 Million Tons a Year | Fast Company

Did you know New Zealand has a space program?

Rocket Lab is a commercial rocket company in NZ, delivering small payloads into space and to suborbital heights for scientific research and experiments. Solar physics, micro-gravity, climate change measurements and launching ashes into space for memorials are just some of the applications of these small, efficient, low-cost rockets. The research from the program has developed several innovative technologies including environmentally-benign fuels.

Rocket launch - NZ blasts into space

Rocket Lab : Ātea-1 Suborbital Rocket Launch

More on Rocket Lab Ltd - Innovative access to space