Lifeboat Foundation

Researchers at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) and Seoul National University in South Korea have demonstrated a new way to enhance the energy efficiency of a non-volatile magnetic memory device called SOT-MRAM. Published in Advanced Materials, this finding opens up a new window of exciting opportunities for future energy-efficient magnetic memories based on spintronics.

In modern computers, the random access memory (RAM) is used to store information. The SOT-MRAM (spin-orbit torque magnetic RAM) is one of the leading candidates for the next-generation memory technologies that aim to surpass the performance of various existing RAMs. The SOT-MRAM may operate faster than the fastest existing RAM (SRAM) and maintain information even after the electric energy supply is powered off whereas all fast RAMs existing today lose information as soon as the energy supply is powered off. The present level of the SOT-MRAM technology falls short of being satisfactory, however, due to its high energy demand; it requires large energy supply (or large current) to write information. Lowering the energy demand and enhancing the energy efficiency is an outstanding problem for the SOT-MRAM.

In the SOT-MRAM, magnetization directions of tiny magnets store information and writing amounts to change the magnetization directions to desired directions. The magnetization direction change is achieved by a special physics phenomenon called SOT that modifies the magnetization direction when a current is applied. To enhance the energy efficiency, soft magnets are ideal material choice for the tiny magnets since their magnetization directions can be easily alterned by a small current. Soft magnets are bad choice for the safe storage of information since their magnetization direction may be altered even when not intended—due to thermal noise or other noise. For this reason, most attempts to build the SOT-MRAM adopt hard magnets, because they magnetize very strongly and their magnetization direction is not easily altered by noise. But this material choice inevitably makes the energy efficiency of the SOT-MRAM poor.

CEO Yariv Bash talks about building a better flying robot, seeking FAA approval and how competition with Amazon helps.

New research shows millions of devices are vulnerable to vulnerable, but there are ways to protect yourself.

A large project is underway to disease-proof pigs using CRISPR to change their DNA. Are people next?

The tech giant is kissing California goodbye.

Crops will grow in stacks 14 layers high and will use more than 20,000 LED lights. Robots on wheels will deliver seeds to the growing shelves.

To the moon — from dream to reality | space documentary.

Between 1969 and 1972 twelve men walked on the surface of the moon. It was seen as the first chapter in an ambitious program of space exploration. But what started with NASA’s Apollo missions ended with the Apollo missions. Humanity’s boldest venture is now 50 years in the past. To The Moon — From Dream To Reality looks back at the people and the technology of the Apollo era.

Continue reading “Space Race to the Moon | Free Documentary” »

This week at NASA:

👨‍🚀 Vice President Mike Pence announced NASA’s Artemis Program astronauts.
🛰 SpaceX’s updated cargo Dragon docked with the International Space Station.
🌊 Sentinel-6 sent back its first sea measurements.
🚀 NASA’s Space Launch System rocket updates.
🔬 #Artemis III science priorities.

Take a look at these stories and more: https://go.nasa.gov/3gFa6U7

In recent years, scientists have learned that one of Earth’s most unique features — its liquid oceans — is far more common throughout the solar system than scientists ever expected.

Take Ceres, a dwarf planet orbiting our Sun inside the asteroid belt, which scientists discovered earlier this year is actually an ocean world, according to Discover Magazine. The discovery of abundant water on other worlds could have huge implications for the search for extraterrestrial life — to the point that NASA astronomer Alan Stern tells Discover that it’s “one of the most profound discoveries in planetary science in the Space Age.”