1000-fold increase in computer storage capacity

The densest solid-state memory ever created could soon exceed the capabilities of current computer storage devices by 1,000 times, thanks to a new technique scientists at the University of Alberta have perfected."Essentially, you can take all 45 million songs on iTunes and store them on the surface of one quarter," said Roshan Achal, PhD student in Department of Physics and lead author on the new research. "Five years ago, this wasn't even something we thought possible."

His team used the same technology they developed in previous research to build atomic-scale circuits – which allows the quick removal or replacement of single hydrogen atoms. This enables the memory to be rewritable, offering tremendous potential for more efficient solid-state drives. Previous discoveries of atomic-scale computer storage were stable only at extremely low temperatures. 

But the new memory developed by Achal's team works at real-world temperatures and can withstand normal use. The technology has immediate applications for archiving data, according to Achal. Next steps will include boosting the read and write speeds, for even more flexible applications.