12.8 Petabytes, You Say?

MadUndergrad writes "Dr. Jonathan Spanier from Drexel University has come up with a novel way to greatly increase data storage density: water. Specifically, they propose using hydroxyl ions to stabilize minute ferroelectric wires. These wires could be many times smaller than what is possible today, enabling data densities in the neighborhood of 12-13 PB per cubic centimeter. While there are still many problems to be resolved before drives using these can be manufactured this technology does seem promising. For one thing, it would be non-volatile, but could apparently be made to act as RAM. The fact that this is coming out of a university gives me hope that this technology won't turn out to be just so much vapor."

Re:Temperature issues?

[Spy der Mann]

Good point, but they're dealing with water at the nanoscale level. In this scale, water molecules act like glue. Besides, after reading another article on water running thru nanotubes below the freezing temperature, I think it's not possible for so water to form ice at the nanoscale.

Bad physics

[Anonymous Coward]

Without commenting on the competence of the researcher, whoever wrote the press release doesn't have the first idea what they're talking about.

"Ferroelectric materials possess spontaneous and reversible electric dipole moments. These dipole moments are times when the material gains a charge, in this case an electric one. For example, the Earth's magnetic field generates a dipole moment that causes compasses to face north"

First sentence is correct. Second sentence is baloney. A dipole moment is not anything to do with time, and an electric dipole moment does not mean a material gains a net charge, although it might correspond to a charge developing on a certain surface. Third sentence: the dipole moments associated with the earth's magnetization are nothing to do with the dipole moments in a ferroelectric material. The former are the result of intrinsic magnetic moments in atoms, the latter the result of differing charge distributions in materials. Similar names, completely different things.

Mod parent up +5 It does make sense!!!!!

[technoextreme]

http://miru.deviantart.com/journal/ [deviantart.com]
Here is the exact text:

A physics professor and his assistant are working on liberating negatively charged hydroxyl ions, when all of a sudden, the assistant says, "Wait, Professor! What if the salicylic acids do not accept the hydroxyl ions?" And the professor responds, "That's no hydroxyl ion! That's my wife!"
-Joke from Dexter's Laboratory

I've always wanted to understand this joke, from many years ago. @___@;;;
I was reminded of this joke today when we talked about hydroxyls in biology and chemistry. :XD:

To liberate is to set free. The point of this joke is that it's saying that a negatively charged hydroxyl ion is equivalent to a professor's wife. Hydroxyls, which contain at least one hydroxide (-OH), are alcohols. Does the joke mean the wife is drunk?
I then researched salicyclic acids and I found out that salicyclic acid is a plant hormone used as a medicine for acne. More importantly, it is a carboxylic acid. We learned in biology today that an ester linkage is formed between a carboxyl and a hydroxyl, and in this case, salicylic acid and hydroxyl ions create aspirin, the pain reliever.
Now isn't that cool? :D
Lastly, the hydroxyl ion is NEGATIVELY charged, so the wife has had an excess of alcohol.
Basically, therefore, the professor was only trying to give some aspirin to his wife, who has a hangover.
ROTFLMAO.

Btw... I find it creepy that googling this returned six results.

Re:University

[MustardMan]

As a Drexel alumnus, I can say with a fair bit of confidence... most of the faculty there have absolutely no moral fiber, and the university is run by a money grubbing asshole who is actually PROUD that he runs it like a business, and not an institute of higher learning.

Get corrupted? Most people there are already corrupt. The little media contact at the bottom of the press release (Phil Teranova) is a manipulative bastard who would stab his mother in the back if it could make him a dime.

Re:Temperature issues?

[Amouth]

All you need for ice is enough water molecules for them to form a crystalline structure. (hit - not many I think 4-6) but water does have a wonderful property.. it doesn't freeze if it is moving..

Re:Mod parent up +5 It does make sense!!!!!

[Anonymous Coward]

I think you're reading too much into this.

"That's not <X>, that's my wife!" is a classic punchline. The joke is probably nothing more than a callback to that punchline in an unexpected context.

IT'S A JOKE, PEOPLE!

[spun]

Second serious reply to my post, so I guess I have to say it: Dihydrogen Monoxide is WATER. The joke is that if you make something sound scary enough, in vague enough terms, people will believe it's a threat. I thought everyone here would get the joke, but apparently not.