IBM introduces new ‘racetrack’ memory solution

Posted in Storage by Darrin Olson on April 13th, 2008

Stuart Parkin and colleagues at IBM introduce a new type of memory dubbed ‘racetrack’ memoryDr. Stuart Parkin and colleagues at IBM have recently published a paper in Science introducing a new type of storage technology dubbed ‘racetrack memory’.

The memory uses something called spintronics which uses the storage of bits generated by the magnetic spin of electrons rather than their charge to identify each as “on” or “off”. This new storage solution offers some advantages over the most popular current options. It’s faster than traditional hard disk drives and has a lower failure rate since there are no moving parts.

Ferrofluid Art

Posted in Magnets by Chetz on April 7th, 2007

Ferrofluid ArtThe idea behind ferrofluid is to take a liquid that has magnetic properties and introduce a magnetic current through it. The field will then interact with the fluid, pulling and pushing it along the lines of current. When it’s in motion ferrofluid is an amazing thing to look at as it twists and distorts in patterns, looking almost like it’s some kind of alien life form related to The Blob.

It probably should come as no surprise that someone has combined ferrofluid with music and created a new form of art. Morpho Towers: Two Standing Spirals …

A Railgun Cannon. What’s Next Star Destroyers?

Posted in News, Science by Chris Weber on January 20th, 2007

Navy test railgun - a railgun demonstrated in stargate atlantisHow many games have you played that featured a railgun as a weapon? I’m guessing just a few under a thousand. From Halo to Stargate to the movie Eraser, railguns are just as much a part of the sci-fi genre as bad acting and large-chested blue aliens. Now however, railguns are no longer science fiction. They are a reality for the US Navy.

The Navy demonstrated its new toy at the Naval Surface Warfare Center. The weapon uses electromagnetism to propel …





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