Technology giant IBM has always invested tremendous amounts of money and talent into technology research, and has one of the largest (perhaps the largest) patent portfolio in the world to show for its efforts. Today, IBM announced another technology breakthrough that, in a decade or so, may revolutionize the way computer CPUs and other microprocessors are made: the company has come up with a way to use organic DNA molecules as a scaffold on which nanotubes and nanowires can self-assemble in precise patterns compatible with today’s lithographic chip-making technology. The technology may enable chip features smaller than 22nm—IBM is currently pushing traditional chip techniques towards 28nm—and may ultimately help make chips smaller and more power efficient.
