Record-Shattering Molecule Stores Data at “Dark Side of the Moon” Temperatures
Researchers from The University of Manchester and The Australian National University (ANU) have developed a novel molecule capable of storing data at extremely low temperatures, comparable to the frigid conditions on the moon’s dark side at night. Their results, published in Nature , point toward the potential for future data storage devices no larger than a postage stamp, yet capable of holding up to 100 times more information than today’s leading technologies. “The new single-molecule magnet developed by the research team can retain its magnetic memory up to 100 Kelvin, which is about minus 173 degrees Celsius , or as cold as an evening on the moon,” co-lead author Professor Nicholas Chilton, from the ANU Research School of Chemistry, said. “This is a significant advancement from the previous record of 80 Kelvin, which is around minus 193 degrees Celsius. If perfected, these molecules could pack large amounts of information into tiny spaces. “Pink Floyd’...