A family of silicon-based semiconductors that exhibit magnetic properties has been discovered, paving the way for "spintronic" computer chips that are compatible with
existing silicon manufacturing technology.
http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99994801This would mean faster, instant on, and lower powered computers...
One problem that still remains is temperature. The cobalt-doped iron silicide that the researchers produced only exhibits magnetism below -220 degreesC.
Above this temperature the material's magnetic domains respond to tiny temperature fluctuations rather than to the inherent spin of their electrons, and so lose their magnetism.
But to be used in a computer chip, which heats up due to the large amounts of current passing through it, spintronic transistors would have to be magnetic well above 50 degrees C. Doh!
