Recently, scientists from Tel Aviv University reported the creation of a new, previously unseen structure of peptides and DNA. The resulting substance, peptide nucleic acid, can be actively used in the production of electronic gadgets. Scientists experimented with different options for connecting molecules. As a result, they managed to build molecules in such a way that the resulting structure became fluorescent. That is, a transparent flexible and luminous material was created. Such properties are already opening up opportunities for creating flexible displays for smartphones or other next-generation gadgets.
Most people remember from school that DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) stores genetic information. However, DNA, as a substance, can do more than just store genetic data. Recently, scientists have increasingly paid attention to its "construction" properties. The complex structure of molecules allows you to create unusual designs using other materials. Thus, the latest semiconductors were created based on the DNA chain and graphene.
Silicon semiconductors, which are now widely used to create chips for any technology, have reached the limit of their capabilities. It is almost impossible to increase productivity further. A fundamentally new material is needed. Graphene can become such a material, but for the mass production of ultra-fast processors based on it, a “binding material” is needed. DNA becomes such a material. Back in 2013, a group of scientists from the USA and Singapore developed a technology in which graphene chains one atom thick are placed on a DNA tape. They form a stable connection and do not lose their superconducting properties. A transistor is subsequently formed from such tapes. A computer chip is made from transistors. According to scientists, such a chip will operate at a speed tens of times higher than that produced by modern silicon circuits. At the same time, the chip's energy consumption will be extremely low.
However, when creating computers, DNA can serve not only as a “binding material”, but also as a base substance. Back in the 50s of the 20th century, the legendary physicist Richard Feynman suggested that it could be used to create a supercomputer. The first mathematical calculations using programmed DNA were carried out in 1994 by the American scientist Leonard Adleman. The first DNA computer was placed in a test tube. In a very short time, it coped with a task that was practically impossible for silicon computers of that time. The fact is that DNA-based computers can perform a huge number of parallel calculations. In modern silicon processors, the number of cores is increased for this purpose. Today, DNA processors exist, but so far they are used exclusively for scientific purposes. It is too early to talk about the release of such technology on the market, although in 2009, IBM began working on the creation of DNA chips.
Another property of DNA that can be actively used in information technology is the ability to store information. Recently, scientists from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich conducted a study to determine the capacity of such an information storage. As it turned out, one gram of DNA can store approximately 455 million terabytes of information. Considering that all the information that exists on Earth is about 1.8 zettabytes, about 4 grams of DNA would be needed to store it. The Swiss are currently working hard to create a technology that would allow data to be recorded quickly and stored reliably. When such a system is created, it will revolutionize our understanding of information carriers.
Recently, scientists from Tel Aviv University reported the creation of a new, previously unseen structure of peptides and DNA. The resulting substance, peptide nucleic acid, can be actively used in the production of electronic gadgets. Scientists experimented with different options for connecting molecules. As a result, they managed to build molecules in such a way that the resulting structure became fluorescent. That is, a transparent flexible and luminous material was created. Such properties are already opening up opportunities for creating flexible displays for smartphones or other next-generation gadgets.
Most people remember from school that DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) stores genetic information. However, DNA, as a substance, can do more than just store genetic data. Recently, scientists have increasingly paid attention to its "construction" properties. The complex structure of molecules allows you to create unusual designs using other materials. Thus, the latest semiconductors were created based on the DNA chain and graphene.
Silicon semiconductors, which are now widely used to create chips for any technology, have reached the limit of their capabilities. It is almost impossible to increase productivity further. A fundamentally new material is needed. Graphene can become such a material, but for the mass production of ultra-fast processors based on it, a “binding material” is needed. DNA becomes such a material. Back in 2013, a group of scientists from the USA and Singapore developed a technology in which graphene chains one atom thick are placed on a DNA tape. They form a stable connection and do not lose their superconducting properties. A transistor is subsequently formed from such tapes. A computer chip is made from transistors. According to scientists, such a chip will operate at a speed tens of times higher than that produced by modern silicon circuits. At the same time, the chip's energy consumption will be extremely low.
However, when creating computers, DNA can serve not only as a “binding material”, but also as a base substance. Back in the 50s of the 20th century, the legendary physicist Richard Feynman suggested that it could be used to create a supercomputer. The first mathematical calculations using programmed DNA were carried out in 1994 by the American scientist Leonard Adleman. The first DNA computer was placed in a test tube. In a very short time, it coped with a task that was practically impossible for silicon computers of that time. The fact is that DNA-based computers can perform a huge number of parallel calculations. In modern silicon processors, the number of cores is increased for this purpose. Today, DNA processors exist, but so far they are used exclusively for scientific purposes. It is too early to talk about the release of such technology on the market, although in 2009, IBM began working on the creation of DNA chips.
Another property of DNA that can be actively used in information technology is the ability to store information. Recently, scientists from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich conducted a study to determine the capacity of such an information storage. As it turned out, one gram of DNA can store approximately 455 million terabytes of information. Considering that all the information that exists on Earth is about 1.8 zettabytes, about 4 grams of DNA would be needed to store it. The Swiss are currently working hard to create a technology that would allow data to be recorded quickly and stored reliably. When such a system is created, it will revolutionize our understanding of information carriers.
