“Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh report in Nature Nanotechnology that the transistor’s central component — an island only 1.5 nanometers in diameter — operates with the addition of only one or two electrons. That capability would make the transistor important to a range of computational applications, from ultradense memories to quantum processors, powerful devices that promise to solve problems so complex that all of the world’s computers working together for billions of years could not crack them.” — from Science Daily

An atomic-scale depiction of the SketchSET shows three wires (green bars) converging on the central island (center green area), which can house up to two electrons. Electrons tunnel from one wire to another through the island. Conditions on the third wire can result in distinct conductive properties. (Credit: Image courtesy of University of Pittsburgh)

via Gizmodo and Science Daily