How many atoms in a vacuum tube?

BBC News - Seven atom transistor sets the pace for future PCs: "Researchers have shown off a transistor made from just seven atoms that could be used to create smaller, more powerful computers."

If robots can marry[1], can they also marry[2]?

Robot Conducts Wedding Ceremony in Tokyo : Discovery News:

Marry[1] - to conduct a wedding ceremony.
Marry[2] - to enter into the formalized relationship of marriage

"Almost everyone stood when the bride walked down the aisle in her white gown, but not the wedding conductor, because she was bolted to her chair.

The nuptials at this ceremony were led by 'I-Fairy,' a 4-foot (1.5-meter) tall seated robot with flashing eyes and plastic pigtails. Sunday's wedding was the first time a marriage had been led by a robot, according to manufacturer Kokoro Co.

'Please lift the bride's veil,' the robot said in a tinny voice, waving its arms in the air as the newlyweds kissed in front of about 50 guests."

MIT researchers enable self-assembling of chips

MIT researchers enable self-assembling of chips: "Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on Tuesday released research detailing how molecules in chips can self-assemble, potentially reducing manufacturing costs.

A step on the way to building the "other" von Neumann machines (self-replicating machines). If you're a CS major, you're more likely to think of "von Neumann machine" as a type of computer architecture.

"The researchers have developed a technique in which polymers automatically fall into place to create an integrated circuit, said Caroline Ross, professor of materials science and engineering at MIT and a researcher behind the technology. The researchers designed a template to cause polymers to spontaneously arrange themselves into useful patterns."

Watch out for grey goo.

Living with Robots

Honda has been developing robotics technologies for many years now. This short video explores some of the successes to date as well as challenges to be overcome (largely social rather than technological).

You think MY password is long?

Check out the password at time 1:40... students wouldn't laugh at THAT password.

Light-activated, DNA-based Nanomachines

Nanomachinery lights up: "A light-activated switch to turn nanomachines on and off has been developed by Japanese researchers. The team showed how tiny tweezers made with DNA could be triggered to open and close in response to UV and visible light. The clever mechanism is hoped to find useful roles in designing future nano-robots.

DNA is a versatile building block to construct nanomachinery that is small enough to interact with single molecules. But these nanomachines usually require a source of 'fuel' to trigger activity: typically small DNA fragments that are added each cycle. The problems associated with this process are delays in activating and deactivating systems, and the build up of waste products that can inhibit movement."

Flying Pixel Display

3D display made of flying pixel-copters in the works: "Two teams at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are working on a unique 3D display dubbed Flyfire, in which a flock of tiny aircraft carrying multicoloured LEDs hover in front of the viewer to form an image. As pixels that can move through space, the free-flying LEDs could form a shape-shifting 3D display (see video). As well as the pixels displaying moving images like a normal screen, they could change their position to add real depth."