Norway scientists commercialize semiconductors grown on graphene

Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) researchers report they have patented and are commercializing gallium arsenide (GaAs) nanowires grown on graphene, a hybrid material with competitive properties. Semiconductors grown on graphene are expected to become the basis for new types of device systems, and could fundamentally change the semiconductor industry. Crayonano is the caompny …

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George Church outlines a pathway to indeterminant lifespans via Synthetic Biology

George Church is a giant in gene sequencing, synthetic biology and DNA science. In the October, 2012 Discover Magazine, George Church teases with some ideas he has for achieving physical immortality (indeterminant lifespans) via Synthetic biology. George’s idea is to bring in sections of DNA from exotic organisms or genes that are rare for humans …

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Physicists have designed the building blocks of quantum computer that works using sound

Arxiv – On-chip quantum phonodynamics (6 pages) ABSTRACT – Sound can be just as quantum as light. But our toolbox for single quanta of sound, i.e. phonons, is currently insufficient. Here we describe a new component that enables a chip-based, solid-state analogue of cavity-QED utilizing acoustic phonons instead of photons, phonitons instead of polaritons. We …

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Background Radiation Levels

The U.K. Health Protection Agency estimates the typical Briton receives about 2,200 microsieverts of radiation per year from background radiation, or about 0.251 microsieverts per hour — more than double the levels registered in Tokyo. Rome is also about 0.25 microsieverts per hour. “Half of the average annual radiation to people in the U.K. comes …

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D-Wave Systems sells its first Quantum Computing System to Lockheed Martin Corporation

Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE: LMT) has entered into an agreement to purchase a quantum computing system from D-Wave Systems Inc. Lockheed Martin and D-Wave will collaborate to realize the benefits of a computing platform based upon a quantum annealing processor, as applied to some of Lockheed Martin’s most challenging computation problems. The multi-year contract includes …

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