French scientists have created the first synthetic polymers that can store information as bits of 0s and 1s. You might think of it as a highly simplified version of DNA, another molecule that is very, very good at storing information. These new polymers could one day replace DNA in the burgeoning field of molecular barcoding.
Molecular barcodes are basically invisible tags sprayed onto anything deemed especially counterfeitable—medicine, luxury hand bags, original art, etc etc. The molecules have a secret sequence that can confirm their authenticity. Because DNA is such a good information storage molecule and so readily available, it has been on the vanguard of molecular barcodes. But these new synthetic polymers composed of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, and hydrogen are simpler than DNA, so they could be one day easier and cheaper to use.
via Gizmodo
Image: Roy et al / Nature Communications
