"Superman memory crystal" becomes reality

[DTS]

Researchers from the University of Southampton used nanostructured glass to demonstrate recording and retrieval processes of five dimensional digital data using a super fast laser that can write up to 360 TB of data on a single CD sized media and withstand a temperature of 1000 degrees Celsius.
The new development by researchers from the University of Southampton seems like a dream come true for anybody looking for the ultimate storage medium. Jokingly referred to as the "Superman memory crystal" the glass memory has some very unique properties just like the crystals seen on the Superman movies.
-
Using a special ultra fast femtosecond laser, the researchers demonstrated the new system by storing 300 kb of digital text on a fused quartz crystal encoded in five dimensions: the three usual ones plus the size and orientation. The data encoded in the crystal created a "file" made out of three layers of nanostructured dots separated by five micrometers (or one millionth of a meter). This storage method and material is said to have thermal stability up to 1000°C and practically unlimited lifetime.
- See more at: http://thefutureofthings.com/5131-new-m ... ueUWz.dpuf

[scared?]

Old...

[Pext]

what's so special about this?

it's not like anybody expected a hard limit in data/cm³ anytime soon

[Whiskey 7]

what's so special about this?

it's not like anybody expected a hard limit in data/cm³ anytime soon

No, but it is certainly interesting nevertheless

[scared?]

if ur old...

[LawL]

You're old.

[DTS]

what's so special about this?

it's not like anybody expected a hard limit in data/cm³ anytime soon

The "thermal stability up to 1000°C and practically unlimited lifetime".

[Pext]

ah ok, that's a nice feature.

related: did you know the first lighbulb is still functional? but then the producers of lightbulbs figured out that selling lightbulbs with an unlimited lifetime is a bad business decission.

[edit]

to finish the thought for you: once they reach a hard limit in data/cm³ the industry will have to find a way to reduce the lifespan of the respective medium.

[losCHUNK]

So you can back up sex whilst on fire, WOOOOOOOOAAAAHAHOIOOOOAAAH.

nice !

[obsidian]

did you know the first lighbulb is still functional? but then the producers of lightbulbs figured out that selling lightbulbs with an unlimited lifetime is a bad business decission.

Pretty sure that's nonsense. Not sure though.

[losCHUNK]

To the folks on the committee, the fire department and the city of Livermore California, the bulb is priceless, but we did have an offer for $5,000 once.

[seremtan]

Not sure though.

As EU rules deny householders the right to use traditional filament bulbs...

those sneaky foreign bastards, depriving honest Englishmen of their ancient right to inferior quality technology

to be fair though, a ban was unnecessary. when you factor in the lifetime replacement and electricity costs, LEDs are a fraction of the cost of incandescents

[Pext]

Not sure though.

yeah... i did not remember the details properly. i guess i was talking about this one.

[losCHUNK]

Not sure though.

As EU rules deny householders the right to use traditional filament bulbs...

those sneaky foreign bastards, depriving honest Englishmen of their ancient right to inferior quality technology

to be fair though, a ban was unnecessary. when you factor in the lifetime replacement and electricity costs, LEDs are a fraction of the cost of incandescents

Fuck that, the energy savers take a week to get glow on. Plus this already expensive alternative (but cheaper running costs) rose in price when the ban was enforced, for obvious reasons

[MKJ]

time to move out of the dark ages. energy savers light up instantly nowadays.
if all else fails, leds.

[Ryoki]

to be fair though, a ban was unnecessary. when you factor in the lifetime replacement and electricity costs, LEDs are a fraction of the cost of incandescents

It's a wonderful thing to believe the average person will follow this logic, your statement is a display of trust in the good intentions and intelligence of man that quite honestly makes me feel a little warm inside

Unfortunately a lot of people really are goddamn retards, a vital piece of information that should never be overlooked when making sweeping statements. I think a ban was necessary, people would just keep buying them if they were still available...

[seremtan]

precisely precisington, as Stephen Fry would say

edit: @ MKJ

[losCHUNK]

time to move out of the dark ages. energy savers light up instantly nowadays.
if all else fails, leds.

Do they toss

Obviously it makes sense to use an energy saver in the living room or lights you use a lot if only for cost reasons. My point was that I'd still like the option for the closet under the stairs or the back steps so I can actually see when I'm looking at when I'm searching for shoes n shit, cos nothing beats a good 100 watt bulb . Same goes for the garage, I had to get halogen bulbs for the pit after trialing mini fluorescents, that shit ain't cheap. Got fluorescents on the ceiling tho which is a bonus they're still around I guess.

Any positive effect I'd also argue is negligible when put into the wider scale of things, I'd also argue that if they put a tax on bulbs instead then the benefit in investing that into alternative fuel sources would be of greater use, as the cost savings alone *should* be pushing people towards energy saving anyway. To me it's just as stupid as the plastic bag tax they introduced into Wales, which would kinda make sense if it didn't apply to paper !. Along with the added cost the only person/thing I see this hurting is the consumer and that's not assuming that the contents of the bulbs themselves are more harmful to the environment when disposed of.

I also sincerely hope that's bullshit n all cos I've had a few of these explode on me

[losCHUNK]

Toxic substance

Environmental scientist Dr David Spurgeon said: "Because these light bulbs contain small amounts of mercury they could cause a problem if they are disposed of in a normal waste-bin.

"It is possible that the mercury they contain could be released either into the air or from land-fill when they are released into the wider environment.

"That's a concern, because mercury is a well known toxic substance."

Official advice from the Department of the Environment states that if a low-energy bulb is smashed, the room needs to be vacated for at least 15 minutes.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7172662.stm

Heh, fucking great. I'm not even mad that my fags come with warning labels even tho they never required people to vacate the motherfucking room