Discovery

Story and video by Becky Philips for WSU Today

Cars, computers, cell phones, DVDs, and life-saving medical technology – our modern world thrives on the power of electronics and integrated circuits. Today, the microprocessor — the workhorse behind most of these devices — is set to undergo an extreme makeover that promises to push the possibilities even further.

Josè Delgado-Frias, professor in the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Centennial Boeing Chair in Computer Engineering, is working to merge the fields of digital technology and nanotechnology — the field of study which develops materials and devices smaller than 100 nanometers in size.

Using carbon nanotubes and FinFETS—tiny electronic gates used in digital components—Dr. Delgado-Frias’ research stands to advance the world of electronics by producing computers and other digital devices with faster speed, reduced size, improved reliability, and wide-ranging adaptability.

CMOS vs. nanocircuits
Contemporary integrated circuits and microprocessors are based almost entirely on a technology known as CMOS. The problem with CMOS is that it allows leakage of electrical current along system pathways, ultimately wasting most of their power. With nanoelectronics, that leakage can be blocked — resulting in a sharp drop in power consumption along with decreased heat production.

The technology can also make computers run faster. In theory, FinFETS could increase processor speed by a magnitude of 10. Carbon nanotube-based microprocessors are projected to run up to 1,000 times faster.

(more…)

By Julie Titone, College of Education:

You’re in seventh grade, slouched in your seat. The science book on your desk is a jumble of words like endoplasmic reticulum, enzymes and organelles. You’ll NEVER understand this stuff. If you had superpowers, you’d blast right through the classroom window.

Matt Marino to the rescue.

Marino, an assistant professor at WSU, is working with two leading education companies to create science video games that redefine how middle school students learn about science.

“If you’re reading at a fourth grade level, middle school science vocabulary can be pretty brutal,” said Marino, whose goal is to help students meet new federal science education standards – and have fun doing it. His partners on the game project are Wisconsin-based Filament Games and Texas-based PCI Education.

Read more at WSU Today…