Scientists have designed a nanoscale computer that’s smaller than a virus
Nanoscale computers could work inside, or outside the body to help control, direct and interact with other atomic, molecular or nanoscale devices and systems.
Key takeaways
- While the trend for miniaturisation in consumer technology has been halted in recent years with the rise of the 'phablet', the internal components of most of your gadgets are continuing to get smaller.
- The full details of the computing device were published in the journal Nano Research.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2016) 'Scientists have designed a nanoscale computer that’s smaller than a virus', 311 Institute, 15 November. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/scientists-have-designed-a-nanoscale-computer-thats-smaller-than-a-virus/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
While the trend for miniaturisation in consumer technology has been halted in recent years with the rise of the 'phablet', the internal components of most of your gadgets are continuing to get smaller.
In 1959 renowned physicist Richard Feynman, in his talk “Plenty of Room at the Bottom,” spoke of a future in which tiny machines could perform huge feats. Like many forward-looking concepts, his molecule and atom-sized world remained for years in the realm of science fiction but now, engineers at the University of California, Santa Barbara, have designed the world's smallest nanoscale computing device. It uses an unconventional form of logic and measures less than 50 nanometres on each side - that's the same size as a biological virus.
The stacked memresistor design
“Novel computing paradigms are needed to keep up with the demand for faster, smaller and more energy-efficient devices,” said Gina Adam, who worked on the project, "in a regular computer, data processing and memory storage are separated, which slows down computation. Processing data directly inside a 3D memory structure would allow more data to be stored and processed much faster."
And that's exactly what the team did. They used an unusual logic system called "Material Implication Logic", where the computers logic operations and information storage happen simultaneously in the same place, not separated as in most computers. As a result, no space is needed to move data back and forth to the memory.
While the technology to fabricate computers this small are still lagging the teams new design is the first step towards creating computing systems that can operate, for example, inside the body, where it could control, direct and interface with nanobots, or outside of the body where they could compliment next generation molecular computers, and smartdust - small millimetre scale electromechanical (MEMs) devices that can come together to carry out certain tasks.
“Since this technology is still new, more research is needed to increase its reliability and lifetime and to demonstrate large scale 3D circuits tightly packed in tens or hundreds of layers,” Adam said.
The full details of the computing device were published in the journal Nano Research.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
Nanoscale computers could work inside, or outside the body to help control, direct and interact with other atomic, molecular or nanoscale devices and systems.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
Read full bio
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 15-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder and Futurist in Chief of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity program, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
What future do you need to see?
Choose one to get started on computing and the future of your organisation.
Sources and further reading
- Richard Feynman en.wikipedia.org
- University of California universityofcalifornia.edu
- Smartdust en.wikipedia.org
- S12274 016 1260 1 link.springer.com
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 15 November 2016. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2016). Scientists have designed a nanoscale computer that’s smaller than a virus. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/scientists-have-designed-a-nanoscale-computer-thats-smaller-than-a-virus/
You are welcome to quote this article with credit and a link to the original.