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Microbes recognize letters

06.06.2021

Thanks to their recent discovery, scientists from the Technion's Department of Biomedical Engineering have been able to achieve the recognition of certain geometric patterns - like letters - by colonies of microbes that mimic an artificial neural network.

The method of scientists is based on changing the way of communication within the colonies of microbes in nature. Research conducted by Dr. Siming Lee and Associate Professor Ramez Daniel.

Professor Daniel's laboratory is engaged in synthetic biology, in particular, the creation of biological circuits that essentially combine the principles of biology and electronics. Like electronic switches that can be turned on and off, cells are designed to "turn on" and perform a function, such as fluorescence, in response to a specific stimulus. Using this technique, the group has developed biological "sensors" that detect the presence of arsenic and other poisons in water or the presence of blood in urine.

However, cells are capable of performing more complex functions than a simple yes/no switch. Colonies of microbes in nature are capable of internal communication. For example, they may react differently to external stimuli when there are few colonies or when there are many of them. This phenomenon, called "quorum sensing," also occurs, for example, when our immune system mobilizes against an infection - cells transmit information about which pathogen has entered the body, what response is required, and much more.

One cell by itself may be "stupid", but the whole colony is usually "smart". It is this phenomenon that Professor Daniel's group used to multiply the algorithmic complexity of the task and for the first time create a biological circuit that acts as an artificial neural network capable of performing a relatively complex task: pattern recognition. Its building blocks are modified E. coli bacteria.

The geometric patterns created in this way are a proof of concept for what biological circuits can do, acting like an artificial neural network. In the future, we may see bioengineered systems that track toxins, diagnose cancer, and use them to regenerate tissues. We may even have biological computers. It is interesting to see how synthetic biology, which seeks to mimic the electronics in biological systems, has come full circle, creating a kind of artificial neural network that is, of course, inspired by the human brain, the most complex biological system.

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By 2025, HDD capacity will grow to 100 TB 25.11.2014

The Advanced Storage Technology Consortium (ASTC) predicts a massive market launch of Hear-Assisted Magnetic Recording (HAMR) technology in 2017. This will increase the annual increase in the density of recording information on the HDD up to 30%.

In addition, ASTC claims that Bit Patterned Magnetic Recording technology will be introduced in 2021. In conjunction with HAMR technology, these innovations will achieve information recording density of up to 10 Tbit per square inch by 2025. This, in turn, will lead to the first 3,5-inch hard drives with capacities up to 100 TB.

Seagate Technology has already demonstrated its first drives using thermal magnetic recording technology. But such HDDs will enter mass production only in 2016. And in 2015, ASTC expects hard drives up to 10TB to hit the market using SMR technology.

Recall that the principle of operation of devices using HAMR technology is local laser heating and magnetization reversal in the process of recording the surface of hard disk platters. Heating the surface can significantly reduce the size of the magnetic region that stores one bit of information.

It is also interesting to note the recent achievement of TDK, which promised to release HAMR drives with a capacity of up to 2015 TB and possibly even higher in late 2016 or early 15.

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