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From cellphones to handheld consoles, it seems that technology is getting smaller and smaller everyday - to the point that devices might not be visible to the naked eye anymore. Such is the case with the tiny microscopic radios built out of carbon nanotubes - or strands of carbon atoms - recently constructed by U.S. researchers. And yes, they actually work, despite their size.
Well, we've certainly reached the ultimate level of portability, then. But what does this really mean, besides that we can now make radios for bacteria? The answer lies in the size itself - that is, the really diminutive scale on which things happen could have some pretty interesting effects on electronic properties. This includes the potential of nanotubes being manufactured as faster, more efficient semiconductor material - resulting in faster, more efficient devices.
And it's not too hard to make, either. In fact, the researchers say that after the hard part of the manufacturing process is done - i.e. lighting up all the tubes in an orderly way - the rest of the process is quite similar as to how one can construct electronics using conventional silicon chips. And with the pros outweighing the cons - a smaller, better chip than the best that the silicon technology age can offer - the effort certainly pays off.
Here's to more good things - and smaller technology - from these guys.
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