https://phys.org/ en-us Phys.org internet news portal provides the latest news on science including: Physics, Nanotechnology, Life Sciences, Space Science, Earth Science, Environment, Health and Medicine. A team of engineers at Fudan University has successfully designed, built and run a 32-bit RISC-V microprocessor that uses molybdenum disulfide instead of silicon as its semiconductor component. Their paper is published in the journal Nature. https://phys.org/news/2025-04-bit-risc-processor-molybdenum-disulfide.html General Physics Thu, 03 Apr 2025 09:33:43 EDT news662891623 Quantum simulation enables scientists to simulate and study complex systems that are challenging or even impossible using classical computers across various fields, including financial modeling, cybersecurity, pharmaceutical discoveries, AI and machine learning. For instance, exploring molecular vibronic spectra is critical in understanding the molecular properties in molecular design and analysis. https://phys.org/news/2024-08-scientists-harness-quantum-microprocessor-chips.html Optics & Photonics Mon, 19 Aug 2024 10:23:04 EDT news643281781 Speculative memory side-channel attacks are security vulnerabilities in computers for which no efficient solutions have been found. Existing solutions only address specific security threats without solving the underlying issue. https://phys.org/news/2019-06-infamous-threats.html Security Wed, 12 Jun 2019 08:43:33 EDT news479547805 Microprocessors are at the heart of devices such as computers, smart phones and iPads. In the Texas Architecture and Compiler Optimization (TACO) lab at Texas A&M University, Dr. Daniel Jiménez, professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, has revolutionized the way research on this technology is conducted. https://phys.org/news/2016-06-improbable.html Computer Sciences Wed, 15 Jun 2016 07:30:01 EDT news385194111 Researchers from MIPT have found a solution to the problem of the overheating of active plasmonic components for high-speed data transfer in the optoelectronic microprocessors of the future. These will be able to function tens of thousands of times faster than the microprocessors currently in use today. In the paper, published in ACS Photonics, the researchers have demonstrated how to efficiently cool optoelectronic chips using industry-standard heatsinks despite the high heat generation in active plasmonic components. https://phys.org/news/2016-01-physicists-cooling-processors-future.html Optics & Photonics Tue, 19 Jan 2016 07:10:59 EST news372409770 Advances in microprocessors have transferred the computation bottleneck away from CPUs to better communications between components. That trend is driving the advance into optical interconnection of components, now moving from systems to boards to chip packages to chips themselves. https://phys.org/news/2015-09-silicon-photonics-foundry.html Electronics & Semiconductors Wed, 09 Sep 2015 07:55:28 EDT news361004120 Space is cold, dark, and lonely. Deadly, too, if any one of a million things goes wrong on your spaceship. It's certainly no place for a computer chip to fail, which can happen due to the abundance of radiation bombarding a craft. Worse, ever-shrinking components on microprocessors make computers more prone to damage from high-energy radiation like protons from the sun or cosmic rays from beyond our galaxy. https://phys.org/news/2015-09-fortifying-chips-space.html General Physics Mon, 07 Sep 2015 06:29:59 EDT news360826189 A scientific group from the Center for RNA Research within the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) and School of Biological Sciences in Seoul National University has reported an insightful molecular mechanism of how Microprocessor, the DROSHA-DGCR8 complex, precisely determines cleavage sites on miRNA-containing primary transcripts allowing faithful initiation of microRNA biogenesis. https://phys.org/news/2015-06-microprocessor-precisely-mirna-production.html Cell & Microbiology Tue, 02 Jun 2015 12:10:26 EDT news352465818 Chip-making giant Intel plans to buy a German company that specializes in broadband access and home networking technologies, as part of a push to reach more households with high-end technology. https://phys.org/news/2015-02-chipmaker-intel-german-broadband-specialist.html Business Mon, 02 Feb 2015 10:17:16 EST news342094629 Just as we are coming to grips with having less privacy in our lives thanks to the Internet, a new use of the technology is poised to present new questions about security and privacy - and create a new threat to society. https://phys.org/news/2014-09-sensors-privacy-expert.html Security Tue, 16 Sep 2014 15:50:02 EDT news330100797 "Cool it!" That's a prime directive for microprocessor chips and a promising new solution to meeting this imperative is in the offing. Researchers with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)'s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have developed a "process friendly" technique that would enable the cooling of microprocessor chips through carbon nanotubes. https://phys.org/news/2014-01-cooling-microprocessors-carbon-nanotubes.html Nanophysics Wed, 22 Jan 2014 14:38:21 EST news309623879 (Phys.org) —A pair of breakthroughs in the field of silicon photonics by researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Micron Technology Inc. could allow for the trajectory of exponential improvement in microprocessors that began nearly half a century ago—known as Moore's Law—to continue well into the future, allowing for increasingly faster electronics, from supercomputers to laptops to smartphones. https://phys.org/news/2013-10-breakthrough-photonics-faster-electronics.html Optics & Photonics Tue, 01 Oct 2013 08:40:01 EDT news299833917 In today's computers, moving data to and from main memory consumes so much time and energy that microprocessors have their own small, high-speed memory banks, known as "caches," which store frequently used data. Traditionally, managing the caches has required fairly simple algorithms that can be hard-wired into the chips. https://phys.org/news/2013-09-software-hardware-high-speed-on-chip-memory.html Computer Sciences Fri, 13 Sep 2013 07:19:41 EDT news298275563 Just in time for the back-to-school season, new laptops with extended battery life are hitting store shelves. https://phys.org/news/2013-08-haswell-laptops-battery.html Consumer & Gadgets Thu, 22 Aug 2013 17:17:19 EDT news296410604 Just when Intel Corp. finally is making real progress in the desperate push to get its chips into smartphones and tablets, the tech titan finds itself in a Catch-22. https://phys.org/news/2013-07-intel-mobile-chip-strategy-costly.html Hardware Wed, 10 Jul 2013 18:10:01 EDT news292696999 Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation has developed an ultra-compact semiconductor laser (LEAP laser) enabling 10-Gbit/s data transmission with the world's lowest energy consumption. The energy consumption for 1-bit data transmission is 5.5 fJ, which is less than one-tenth that of conventional semiconductor lasers. https://phys.org/news/2013-05-laser-enabling-transmission-ultra-low-energy-consumption.html Optics & Photonics Tue, 28 May 2013 06:23:31 EDT news288940993 Google has become deeply involved in a series of projects to build and operate wireless networks in emerging markets including sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia, a report said Friday. https://phys.org/news/2013-05-google-eyes-emerging-networks.html Telecom Fri, 24 May 2013 16:36:59 EDT news288632212 Despite being battered by the slumping personal computer market, Intel signaled its commitment to its current course with the selection Thursday of chief operating officer Brian Krzanich as CEO and software head Renee James as president. https://phys.org/news/2013-05-analysis-intel-stray-current-path.html Business Fri, 03 May 2013 13:58:13 EDT news286808215 A new breakthrough could push the limits of the miniaturization of electronic components further than previously thought possible. A team at the Laboratoire d'Analyse et d'Architecture des Systèmes (LAAS) and Institut d'Électronique, de Microélectronique et de Nanotechnologie (IEMN) has built a nanometric transistor that displays exceptional properties for a device of its size. To achieve this result, the researchers developed a novel three-dimensional architecture consisting of a vertical nanowire array whose conductivity is controlled by a gate measuring only 14 nm in length. https://phys.org/news/2013-03-transistors-dimension.html Nanophysics Tue, 12 Mar 2013 05:32:08 EDT news282285114 Microcontrollers are everywhere. Essentially tiny computers that are embedded in machines, they supervise a rapidly-expanding universe of functions. In washing machines, for instance, they may access information embedded in electronic tags in clothing labels, allowing them to know whether items are wash-and-wear or wool. Other sensors may tell them how soiled the items are. They may also control water valves, and ensure that the door is securely closed. https://phys.org/news/2013-02-network.html Telecom Mon, 11 Feb 2013 08:00:02 EST news279791455 Chipmaker Texas Instruments says will lay off more than 500 people at a research and development plant near Nice, France, in the coming months. https://phys.org/news/2012-12-texas-instruments-jobs-france.html Business Tue, 18 Dec 2012 10:00:14 EST news275047208 (Phys.org)—Earlier this week Linus Torvalds took away support for 386 CPUs from the Linux kernel. He agreed with the position of Red Hat engineer and Linux kernel developer Ingo Molnar to drop support for Intel's old 386 microprocessors. For Linux users, the world is not coming to a halt. All it means is that the 386 DX33 chip will not be able to run in future versions of Linux, just in existing versions of the kernel. Intel 386-DX owners, for whatever hobbyist or other reasons, will not be able to enjoy the new Linux versions starting with 3.8. Molnár explained that the extra work involved in continuing support was greater than the returns in benefits. https://phys.org/news/2012-12-linux-intel-processors-ways.html Software Fri, 14 Dec 2012 15:00:33 EST news274719613 Argonne's new supercomputer won't be in full production until 2013, but it represents such a leap forward that just the first two prototype racks already rank among the top 100 fastest computers in the world. https://phys.org/news/2012-11-mira-supercomputer.html Hardware Tue, 20 Nov 2012 05:57:22 EST news272613414 (Phys.org)—Intel will introduce two NUC barebone computer models for the general public by next month. These are tiny barebone PCs that will be available through online retailers. One of the two models, the DC3217BY, has had a once-over review and there are reports that online retailers such as Amazon will be selling the tiny 4"×4"×2" computing devices starting at about $300 to $320. The little NUC is no way to be confused with a notebook or ultralight. What you get out of the box is an Ivy Bridge processor and motherboard and chassis, and, for the rest, you're on your own. https://phys.org/news/2012-11-intel.html Hardware Sun, 11 Nov 2012 15:30:04 EST news271868369 Chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices Inc. says it will cut nearly 1,800 jobs, about 15 percent of its workforce, by the end of the year in order to reduce spending in the face of dwindling sales. https://phys.org/news/2012-10-amd-jobs-pct-workers.html Business Thu, 18 Oct 2012 17:40:26 EDT news269800813 Stretching a layer of silicon can build up internal mechanical strain which can considerably improve its electronic properties. With strained silicon, one can, for example, build faster and less power-consuming microprocessors. https://phys.org/news/2012-10-silicon-nanowires-extreme-tensile-strain.html Nanophysics Mon, 08 Oct 2012 18:19:00 EDT news268938965 Intel previewed a wave of tablet computers powered by a microprocessor that the company redesigned to make a bigger dent in the rapidly growing mobile market. https://phys.org/news/2012-09-intel-previews-tablets-powered-chip.html Consumer & Gadgets Thu, 27 Sep 2012 18:01:55 EDT news267987709 (Phys.org)—Scientists from the University of Bristol's Centre for Quantum Photonics have developed a silicon chip that will pave the way to the mass-manufacture of miniature quantum chips. The announcement was made at the launch of the 2012 British Science Festival [4 to 9 September]. https://phys.org/news/2012-09-silicon-chip-enables-mass-manufacture-quantum.html Quantum Physics Tue, 04 Sep 2012 07:20:16 EDT news265961980 IBM on Tuesday introduced a new line of mainframe computers the company calls its most powerful and technologically advanced ever. https://phys.org/news/2012-08-ibm-powerful-mainframe.html Hardware Tue, 28 Aug 2012 11:47:56 EDT news265373266 Hewlett-Packard declared victory Wednesday in a legal dispute in which it accused business software titan Oracle of reneging on a contract to use HP servers. https://phys.org/news/2012-08-hp-legal-oracle.html Business Wed, 01 Aug 2012 17:33:01 EDT news263061169