Scientists at UC Berkeley and the University of Massachusetts Amherst are working on a developing technology that can dramatically change the way that electronic media is stored. The science behind it will involve the ability to let microscopic nanoscale elements precisely amass themselves over a large surface. When all is said and done, the researchers on the project claim that the contents of 250 DVDs would be able to fit into a space about the same size as a quarter.
Researchers have attempted to perform this feat before with little success by using the method where molecules in the thin film of block copolymers arrange themselves into a rigid and central pattern when spread out on a surface. They have run into a problem when the area increased and the pattern would not maintain itself.
The Berkley and Amherst scientists think they have solved this problem by layering the copolymers on the surface of a sapphire crystal. The method is both environmentally friendly and will have low production costs if successful.
Read: [NBC Bay Area]
I was waiting for something like this!