Category Physics

Quantum particles have a social life, of a sort...

Taiwan’s world-leading microchip manufacturer TSMC says it has started mass producing next-generation “2-nanometer” chips.

AFP looks at what that means, and why it’s important:

What can they do?
The computing power of chips has increased dramatically over the decades as makers cram them with more microscopic electronic components.

That has brought huge technological leaps to everything from smartphones to cars, as well as the advent of artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT.

Advanced 2-nanometer (2nm) chips perform better and are more energy-efficient than past types, and are structured differently to house even more of the key components known as transistor...

A research team affiliated with UNIST has introduced a technology that generates electricity from raindrops striking rooftops, offering a self-powered approach to automated drainage control and flood warning during heavy rainfall.

Led by Professor Young-Bin Park of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at UNIST, the team developed a droplet-based electricity generator (DEG) using carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP). This device, called the superhydrophobic fiber-reinforced polymer (S-FRP-DEG), converts the impact of falling rain into electrical signals capable of operating stormwater management systems without an external power source...

An ultrathin ferroelectric capacitor, designed by researchers from Japan, demonstrates strong electric polarization despite being just 30 nm thick including top and bottom electrodes—making it suitable for high-density electronics. Using a scandium-doped aluminum nitride film as the ferroelectric layer, the team achieved high remanent polarization even at reduced thicknesses. This breakthrough demonstrates good compatibility with semiconductor devices combining logic circuits and memory, paving the way for compact and efficient on-chip memory for future technologies.

Modern electronic technology is rapidly advancing towards miniaturization, creating devices that are increasingly compact yet high-performing...