we live today in a digital era with very sophisticated electronic devices such as
sophisticated electronic devices such as
sophisticated electronic devices such as computers and mobile phones forming part
computers and mobile phones forming part
computers and mobile phones forming part of our daily life
of our daily life
of our daily life these devices are simply amazing and
these devices are simply amazing and
these devices are simply amazing and have revolutionized the way humans work
have revolutionized the way humans work
have revolutionized the way humans work make use of the free time and interact
make use of the free time and interact
make use of the free time and interact with each other
with each other
with each other this radical transformation has been
this radical transformation has been
this radical transformation has been possible just in a few decades thanks to
possible just in a few decades thanks to
possible just in a few decades thanks to the combined effort or scientists and
the combined effort or scientists and
the combined effort or scientists and engineers however as in any revolution
engineers however as in any revolution
engineers however as in any revolution in human history we should ask ourselves
in human history we should ask ourselves
in human history we should ask ourselves where we’re really really ready for all
where we’re really really ready for all
where we’re really really ready for all these changes and other negative
these changes and other negative
these changes and other negative consequences that we should identify and
consequences that we should identify and
consequences that we should identify and try to fix this question will bring to
try to fix this question will bring to
try to fix this question will bring to your minds different ideas there are for
your minds different ideas there are for
your minds different ideas there are for instance security issues associated to
instance security issues associated to
instance security issues associated to how electronic data are handled just
how electronic data are handled just
how electronic data are handled just think about the hacking scandal in the
think about the hacking scandal in the
think about the hacking scandal in the last US elections philosophical and
last US elections philosophical and
last US elections philosophical and ethical issues since an education so
ethical issues since an education so
ethical issues since an education so dominated by technology might not be the
dominated by technology might not be the
dominated by technology might not be the best way to bring up our children and in
best way to bring up our children and in
best way to bring up our children and in general if the great dependence that we
general if the great dependence that we
general if the great dependence that we have today on these electronic devices
have today on these electronic devices
have today on these electronic devices makes us really a stronger more
makes us really a stronger more
makes us really a stronger more developed society there is an additional
developed society there is an additional
developed society there is an additional drawback in this story that I haven’t
drawback in this story that I haven’t
drawback in this story that I haven’t mentioned yet which is actually the one
mentioned yet which is actually the one
mentioned yet which is actually the one motivating my own research which is the
motivating my own research which is the
motivating my own research which is the increasing concern associated to the
increasing concern associated to the
increasing concern associated to the total power consumption of computing
total power consumption of computing
total power consumption of computing devices worldwide and its implication
devices worldwide and its implication
devices worldwide and its implication for the environment
for the environment
for the environment the information technology revolution
the information technology revolution
the information technology revolution has been possible thanks to the
has been possible thanks to the
has been possible thanks to the miniaturization of integrated circuits
miniaturization of integrated circuits
miniaturization of integrated circuits an integrated circuit is the electronic
an integrated circuit is the electronic
an integrated circuit is the electronic circuit forming part of a computer it is
circuit forming part of a computer it is
circuit forming part of a computer it is called integrated because the electronic
called integrated because the electronic
called integrated because the electronic components such as transistors are
components such as transistors are
components such as transistors are directly fabricated on the silicon chip
directly fabricated on the silicon chip
directly fabricated on the silicon chip that’s why they can be made extremely
that’s why they can be made extremely
that’s why they can be made extremely it’s extremely small with billions of
it’s extremely small with billions of
it’s extremely small with billions of them occupying a very small area that’s
them occupying a very small area that’s
them occupying a very small area that’s why we have now at the same time really
why we have now at the same time really
why we have now at the same time really light but powerful devices however a
light but powerful devices however a
light but powerful devices however a higher processing power implies a larger
higher processing power implies a larger
higher processing power implies a larger power consumption still these devices
power consumption still these devices
power consumption still these devices such as mobile phones consume less
such as mobile phones consume less
such as mobile phones consume less energy than many appliances at home
energy than many appliances at home
energy than many appliances at home however its number is increasing rapidly
however its number is increasing rapidly
however its number is increasing rapidly throughout the world because a human’s
throughout the world because a human’s
throughout the world because a human’s hunger for technology is currently
hunger for technology is currently
hunger for technology is currently aimless and in order to illustrate how
aimless and in order to illustrate how
aimless and in order to illustrate how important this problem is today let’s
important this problem is today let’s
important this problem is today let’s take a look at the big data centers so
take a look at the big data centers so
take a look at the big data centers so these data centers such as Google
these data centers such as Google
these data centers such as Google Facebook etc deal with a huge amount of
Facebook etc deal with a huge amount of
Facebook etc deal with a huge amount of information coming from the web and
information coming from the web and
information coming from the web and social media the thousands of thousands
social media the thousands of thousands
social media the thousands of thousands of computing units in the data centers
of computing units in the data centers
of computing units in the data centers create a lot of heat that’s why these
create a lot of heat that’s why these
create a lot of heat that’s why these data centers are normally located in
data centers are normally located in
data centers are normally located in cold areas of the planet and they’ll
cold areas of the planet and they’ll
cold areas of the planet and they’ll require the eye Ganic cooling
require the eye Ganic cooling
require the eye Ganic cooling infrastructures in fact according to
infrastructures in fact according to
infrastructures in fact according to some sources if we imagine all data
some sources if we imagine all data
some sources if we imagine all data centers forming a single country this
centers forming a single country this
centers forming a single country this country would be the fifth on the list
country would be the fifth on the list
country would be the fifth on the list of countries that consume more energy in
of countries that consume more energy in
of countries that consume more energy in the world and is really frightening
the world and is really frightening
the world and is really frightening figure is just going to get worse it is
figure is just going to get worse it is
figure is just going to get worse it is therefore of vital importance to create
therefore of vital importance to create
therefore of vital importance to create new technologies that are greener that
new technologies that are greener that
new technologies that are greener that are not based on completely different
are not based on completely different
are not based on completely different mechanisms and many researchers
mechanisms and many researchers
mechanisms and many researchers worldwide are investigating different
worldwide are investigating different
worldwide are investigating different approaches in my case I use
approaches in my case I use
approaches in my case I use nanotechnology and magnet
nanotechnology and magnet
nanotechnology and magnet nanotechnology is the area of technology
nanotechnology is the area of technology
nanotechnology is the area of technology that deals with objects at the nano
that deals with objects at the nano
that deals with objects at the nano scale which is usually defined to be
scale which is usually defined to be
scale which is usually defined to be between 1 and 100 nanometers in order to
between 1 and 100 nanometers in order to
between 1 and 100 nanometers in order to have an intuitive idea of what this
have an intuitive idea of what this
have an intuitive idea of what this scale really means let’s take a look at
scale really means let’s take a look at
scale really means let’s take a look at this ruler and I would like you to pay
this ruler and I would like you to pay
this ruler and I would like you to pay attention to the 1 millimeter scale now
attention to the 1 millimeter scale now
attention to the 1 millimeter scale now imagine dividing that the scale 1,000
imagine dividing that the scale 1,000
imagine dividing that the scale 1,000 times one of these units could be a
times one of these units could be a
times one of these units could be a micron which is of the same scale and as
micron which is of the same scale and as
micron which is of the same scale and as cells and bacteria
cells and bacteria
cells and bacteria now imagine dividing 1 micron 1/4
now imagine dividing 1 micron 1/4
now imagine dividing 1 micron 1/4 sometimes more that is a nanometer so
sometimes more that is a nanometer so
sometimes more that is a nanometer so you can imagine how small it is so
you can imagine how small it is so
you can imagine how small it is so silicon transistors forming part of
silicon transistors forming part of
silicon transistors forming part of integrated circuits are already
integrated circuits are already
integrated circuits are already nanometric their electrical charge is
nanometric their electrical charge is
nanometric their electrical charge is used to store bits of information in in
used to store bits of information in in
used to store bits of information in in such memories it’s necessary to apply a
such memories it’s necessary to apply a
such memories it’s necessary to apply a continuous supply of energy in order to
continuous supply of energy in order to
continuous supply of energy in order to keep those bits in memory and not being
keep those bits in memory and not being
keep those bits in memory and not being erased over time moreover every time
erased over time moreover every time
erased over time moreover every time there is a computation bits need to be
there is a computation bits need to be
there is a computation bits need to be transferred from the memory to the
transferred from the memory to the
transferred from the memory to the processing unit or CPU going back to
processing unit or CPU going back to
processing unit or CPU going back to memory once the computation has been
memory once the computation has been
memory once the computation has been performed so as you can see current
performed so as you can see current
performed so as you can see current computing architectures could be more
computing architectures could be more
computing architectures could be more efficient if no continuous supply of
efficient if no continuous supply of
efficient if no continuous supply of energy was required to keep those memory
energy was required to keep those memory
energy was required to keep those memory those bits in memory and if memory and
those bits in memory and if memory and
those bits in memory and if memory and CPU were merged together but as you can
CPU were merged together but as you can
CPU were merged together but as you can see for that we need a completely new
see for that we need a completely new
see for that we need a completely new padding for computation that’s why my
padding for computation that’s why my
padding for computation that’s why my colleagues and I at the University of
colleagues and I at the University of
colleagues and I at the University of Cambridge are investigating the
Cambridge are investigating the
Cambridge are investigating the possibility of using magnetic nano
possibility of using magnetic nano
possibility of using magnetic nano structures for green computation in
structures for green computation in
structures for green computation in particular we are focusing our attention
particular we are focusing our attention
particular we are focusing our attention on magnetic nano wires a nano wire is a
on magnetic nano wires a nano wire is a
on magnetic nano wires a nano wire is a standard wire but has diameters at the
standard wire but has diameters at the
standard wire but has diameters at the nano scale
nano scale
nano scale and has several microns long because of
and has several microns long because of
and has several microns long because of its very elongated shape it can store
its very elongated shape it can store
its very elongated shape it can store multiple beats along its length which
multiple beats along its length which
multiple beats along its length which move as tiny confined packages when
move as tiny confined packages when
move as tiny confined packages when small pulses of current are applied
small pulses of current are applied
small pulses of current are applied across the wires because they are made
across the wires because they are made
across the wires because they are made of magnetic materials they don’t need a
of magnetic materials they don’t need a
of magnetic materials they don’t need a continuous supply of energy in order to
continuous supply of energy in order to
continuous supply of energy in order to keep those bits in memory and they are
keep those bits in memory and they are
keep those bits in memory and they are not only great to store and move this
not only great to store and move this
not only great to store and move this data but they can also perform
data but they can also perform
data but they can also perform computations this is achieved by
computations this is achieved by
computations this is achieved by modifying the shape of these wires and
modifying the shape of these wires and
modifying the shape of these wires and by connecting them to others in
by connecting them to others in
by connecting them to others in particular configurations many
particular configurations many
particular configurations many scientists have been investigating the
scientists have been investigating the
scientists have been investigating the properties of magnetic nano wires for
properties of magnetic nano wires for
properties of magnetic nano wires for more than a decade now discovering
more than a decade now discovering
more than a decade now discovering fascinating properties now in order to
fascinating properties now in order to
fascinating properties now in order to make integrated circuits based on these
make integrated circuits based on these
make integrated circuits based on these nano wires feasible technology we need
nano wires feasible technology we need
nano wires feasible technology we need that those integrated circuits have
that those integrated circuits have
that those integrated circuits have higher storage capacities and for that
higher storage capacities and for that
higher storage capacities and for that we need an additional radical change
we need an additional radical change
we need an additional radical change which is creating for the first time
which is creating for the first time
which is creating for the first time three-dimensional chips because any chip
three-dimensional chips because any chip
three-dimensional chips because any chip that has been ever fabricated is
that has been ever fabricated is
that has been ever fabricated is essentially two-dimensional with a plane
essentially two-dimensional with a plane
essentially two-dimensional with a plane of transistors and interconnectors
of transistors and interconnectors
of transistors and interconnectors forming just a single plane the plane of
forming just a single plane the plane of
forming just a single plane the plane of the chip this is due to a fundamental
the chip this is due to a fundamental
the chip this is due to a fundamental bottleneck in manufacturing which is
bottleneck in manufacturing which is
bottleneck in manufacturing which is that current nano fabrication methods
that current nano fabrication methods
that current nano fabrication methods used by the microelectronic industry are
used by the microelectronic industry are
used by the microelectronic industry are really great to create complex to the
really great to create complex to the
really great to create complex to the Nano structures but they struggle so far
Nano structures but they struggle so far
Nano structures but they struggle so far to make three-dimensional nano
to make three-dimensional nano
to make three-dimensional nano structures my group in Cambridge
structures my group in Cambridge
structures my group in Cambridge together with collaborators in other
together with collaborators in other
together with collaborators in other groups in the US and one here in
groups in the US and one here in
groups in the US and one here in Zaragoza Spain is investigating the
Zaragoza Spain is investigating the
Zaragoza Spain is investigating the possibility of using electron
possibility of using electron
possibility of using electron microscopes for 3d nano fabrication an
microscopes for 3d nano fabrication an
microscopes for 3d nano fabrication an electron microscope is one of the most
electron microscope is one of the most
electron microscope is one of the most versatile tools in nanotechnology
versatile tools in nanotechnology
versatile tools in nanotechnology instead of using conventional light it
instead of using conventional light it
instead of using conventional light it uses electrons in order to image objects
uses electrons in order to image objects
uses electrons in order to image objects at the nano scale in great detail in our
at the nano scale in great detail in our
at the nano scale in great detail in our case we combine these processes with
case we combine these processes with
case we combine these processes with gases and in order to use these
gases and in order to use these
gases and in order to use these microscopes as 3d nano printers so the
microscopes as 3d nano printers so the
microscopes as 3d nano printers so the images that you can see here on the
images that you can see here on the
images that you can see here on the screen have been created with this
screen have been created with this
screen have been created with this technique and have features about 1,000
technique and have features about 1,000
technique and have features about 1,000 times smaller than what the best 3d
times smaller than what the best 3d
times smaller than what the best 3d printer in the market can do today
printer in the market can do today
printer in the market can do today this technique is still only feasible
this technique is still only feasible
this technique is still only feasible for prototyping and we will need to make
for prototyping and we will need to make
for prototyping and we will need to make this processes faster and cheaper in
this processes faster and cheaper in
this processes faster and cheaper in order to to make it compatible with mass
order to to make it compatible with mass
order to to make it compatible with mass massive production our group is
massive production our group is
massive production our group is investigating if the properties of these
investigating if the properties of these
investigating if the properties of these nanowires have the the necessary
nanowires have the the necessary
nanowires have the the necessary characteristics for green computation
characteristics for green computation
characteristics for green computation and in particular we face several
and in particular we face several
and in particular we face several important challenges the first one is
important challenges the first one is
important challenges the first one is that we need to make these the materials
that we need to make these the materials
that we need to make these the materials made of these nanowires better in order
made of these nanowires better in order
made of these nanowires better in order to achieve a smooth flow of data
to achieve a smooth flow of data
to achieve a smooth flow of data moreover most nanotechnology methods
moreover most nanotechnology methods
moreover most nanotechnology methods that have been created are designed to
that have been created are designed to
that have been created are designed to probe two-dimensional nano structures in
probe two-dimensional nano structures in
probe two-dimensional nano structures in our case in our lab we are doing
our case in our lab we are doing
our case in our lab we are doing modifications and creating new
modifications and creating new
modifications and creating new techniques in order to be able to probe
techniques in order to be able to probe
techniques in order to be able to probe the magnetic properties of these
the magnetic properties of these
the magnetic properties of these three-dimensional nano structures for
three-dimensional nano structures for
three-dimensional nano structures for the first time to conclude I find really
the first time to conclude I find really
the first time to conclude I find really exciting that we are getting closer to
exciting that we are getting closer to
exciting that we are getting closer to having in our hands devices that are
having in our hands devices that are
having in our hands devices that are based on circuits that are greener and
based on circuits that are greener and
based on circuits that are greener and have noble functionalities this will
have noble functionalities this will
have noble functionalities this will make possible these devices to be less
make possible these devices to be less
make possible these devices to be less dependent on energy sources becoming
dependent on energy sources becoming
dependent on energy sources becoming less of a concern for the environment of
less of a concern for the environment of
less of a concern for the environment of the planet in order to achieve this I
the planet in order to achieve this I
the planet in order to achieve this I would like to plead for a society that
would like to plead for a society that
would like to plead for a society that is aware of the challenges of the future
is aware of the challenges of the future
is aware of the challenges of the future a society that supports research and
a society that supports research and
a society that supports research and innovation in order to advance and
innovation in order to advance and
innovation in order to advance and overcome these challenges and that makes
overcome these challenges and that makes
overcome these challenges and that makes a responsible use of technology today in
a responsible use of technology today in
a responsible use of technology today in order that next generations can enjoy
order that next generations can enjoy
order that next generations can enjoy our now technological world thank you
our now technological world thank you
our now technological world thank you very much
very much
very much you
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