Nano breakthrough heralds new dawn

Boffins at Hewlett Packard (HP) have patented a method of developing molecular-sized circuits that could see more advances in the field of nanotechnology.

Although it has already been established that molecules can be engineered to open and close like data gates in the same way as semiconductors, HP has discovered that these molecular-scale switches can be connected together with atomic scale tubes just six to 10 atoms wide and two atoms tall.

The technology could be used to connect the components to larger integrated circuits by ordering the molecular system in such a way that it is laid out like a grid.

Success would allow more fluidity in the central processor's ability to locate specific data, while allowing semiconductors to be shrunk by almost 1000 times.

HP, along with other nanotechnology developers, believe that such advances could herald an age where computers could be worn or implanted into the skin, woven into clothing or even injected as medical agents.

The technology was first touted in William Gibson's dark future novels such as Neuromancer.