Quantum computing breakthrough

12:41 29th October 2008

Scientists have developed the smallest ever storage device, which can fit inside an atom.

In a step toward quantum computing, which is the holy grail of data storage, researchers from Oxford University, the US Department of Energy and Princeton University successfully stored and retrieved information using the nucleus of an atom.

The immediate lure of quantum computing is in its speed, which would see the technology able to perform mathematical tasks billions of times faster than the most powerful computer available today.

Eugene Haller, co-author of the 'Solid-state quantum memory using the 31P nuclear spin' report, explained that the data was stored and retrieved via nuclear spin.

He said: "The good news is that there are no know physical limits that would prevent quantum memory time in nuclear spin from being longer."

Yesterday (October 28th), scientists claimed that the internet is causing an evolutionary change in our brains, which could see the most-technology competent individuals rise to the top of society.