IBM tracks rapid atom changes

Scientists at IBM Research in California say they have figured out how to record rapid changes at the level of individual atoms for the first time, according to ZDNet.

Usually, it takes hours to get a picture of what is happening within a single atom. But IBM Research says scientists in the company's $6 billion R&D unit have learnt how to use a scanning tunnelling microscope to record and study very fast changes at the atomic level.

The researchers believe they will now be able to record atoms' behaviour at speeds of up to one million times faster than was previously thought possible. It is thought that understanding how long an individual atom can hold on to information could one day extend data storage much closer to the particle level. The advance could also help with the creation of much more efficient photovoltaic cells and with quantum computing.

Popular Mechanics has announced the winners of its sixth annual Breakthrough Awards, recognising the innovators and products poised to change the world in the fields of technology, medicine, aviation, environmental engineering, and more, reports The Gadgeteer.

“From soccer balls that generate light to cellphones that diagnose medical conditions, our diverse, inspired winners are making the seemingly impossible a reality,” says James B. Meigs, editor-in-chief of Popular Mechanics.

Other innovations include a 'green plane' that burns 70% less fuel and a retinal implant designed to restore people's vision by taking images from an external video camera and sending electric signals to an array implanted in the eye.

Cloud computing company Pano Logic Middle East will be on hand at the Cloud Confex at Gitex Technology Week, as the emerging technology continues to draw attention from the region's IT decision-makers, says ITP.net.

The firm is the exclusive distributor for the Pano Logic range of desktop virtualisation products including the Pano Device the firm terms a “zero client”. Unlike traditional thin clients used on the desktop side, the Pano Device has no computing capacity of any kind such as a processor or an operating system.

It exists simply to connect a range of peripheral input devices, allowing users to work from a virtualised OS instance in the central data centre. As a result, the lack of IT complexity means it is much easier to support and set up.