The very next leap away from silicon.
We've all used silicon, and more specifically semiconductors made from silicon in our daily lives - and you might not even know or notice when or where you're using it.
Silicon has a limit though, and eventually we're going to need a replacement technique or material to get our computing done faster - and that's where Quantum computing steps in.
Instead of using a positively and negatively charged semiconductor to calculate and process work, scientists can instead use the quantum binary digits (also known as qubits) to represent and perform the same function at a greatly increased speed.
Not only is the speed of the switching faster when using qubits, but they can also hold multiple values - meaning that you can do a lot more with less space.
One of the problems holding quantum computing back was the lack of a suitable medium for suspending the qubits in, but as Fudzilla reports this is getting slightly closer to becoming reality:
The molecular device discovered was found by combining tiny magnets with molecular machines that can transport between two locations without the use of external force. In effect, these maneuverable magnets may one day be used as the basic component of quantum computing.
While we're not sure just how overclockable a qubit is, it's going to be a whole lot of fun finding out!
Issue: 133 | February, 2012