Atom Thin Transistors
Researchers created the world's smallest transistor out of a one-atom-thick layer of graphene and less than 50 atoms wide. The minuscule graphene-based transistor may be the breakthrough that leads to faster microprocessors, ultimately replacing silicon, which becomes unstable at sizes ten times larger than graphene.
A key element in the creation of faster computer processors is the ability to cram more and more transistors into a smaller and smaller footprint. According to Moore's law, researchers should be able to double the number of transistors and processing power every two years, but the pace of innovation has been hitting speed bumps and potential barriers on the semiconductor industry road map.
Graphene, which is a gauze of carbon atoms resembling chicken wire, was first discovered years ago, but prototypes leaked energy or were difficult to keep stable at such a small size. Finding a way to mass produce this premanufacturing phase breakthrough is the next chalenge.
Rinbot Worm Threatens Big Business Networks
A new computer virus targeting antivirus vendor Symantec's security software has hit a division of at least one big U.S. corporation this week and is still considered a threat to other networks. The virus, which has reportedly infested CNN, is the latest strain of the Rinbot computer virus, which hijacks network systems and takes control of computers remotely.
After a system is affected, the virus quickly spreads and takes over computers with the intention of turning the network into a botnet, or "zombie" network.
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