Atoms and Hard drives

According researchers, 1 bit on your hard drive requires over 1 million atoms to store. Last week, IBM scientists have been able to store the same bit using only 12 atoms! This means that in the near future your ipod could store over 10 terrabyte of videos, pictures, and music--all in a tiny little chip.

Existing hard drives use electrons from iron, which spin in the same direction and in perfect alignment with each other. Newer hard drives can use antiferromagnetic (nonmagnetic) elements which allows closer packing of the atoms. Stay tuned!