What will replace Silicon?
All along Silicon Valley people are worried the time is fast approaching when they can't fit any more onto a computer chip. And they are turning to an array of alternative technologies—: optical, DNA— based, molecular, quantum — in an effort to beat this looming blockage. But perhaps the biggest concern should be that this new technology may result in computers smarter than we are.
read the full story


Technology
Bill Gates: Will Frankenfood Feed the World?
Will We Still Drive Our Cars (Or Will Our Cars Drive Us)?
Bruce Sterling: Will Cybercriminals Run the World?
Will Cybersex Be Better Than Real Sex?
Will We Still Turn Pages?

more questions

  • v21 home
  • live events
  • bulletin boards
  • caleb carr
      mystery

    sound bites
    (require RealAudio)


    Dino Sarafoglu, 33, Accountant


    Samah Salman, 20 Summer Analyst

    download RealPlayer

  • quiz
    When was the first single-chip microprocessor invented?

    a) 1971
    b) 1975
    c) 1982
    d) 1968
    poll
    Do you think we will have to replace Silicon anytime soon?
    Yes
    No



    web resources
    Quantum Computers
    The Stanford-Berkeley-MIT-IBM NMR Quantum Computation Project

    NASA
    NASA scientists work to improve optical computing

    Timeline of the Microcomputer
    Chronology of events in the history of the microcomputer