Better computing with magnets - The simple bar magnet, shrunk down to the nanoscale, could be a powerful logic device

When it comes to computing, we can very easily divide the technologies we use into two distinct categories: speedy electronics and stable magnetics. Electrons, which move fast and interact strongly with one another, are ideal for performing computation. Magnets, by contrast, aren´t known for their speed, but they´re hard to perturb, making them the perfect medium for data storage. But this division may soon disappear. Thanks to modern fabrication technology, we can now create nanometer-scale magnetic devices that can perform computations. These devices are not as speedy as state-of-the-art transistors, but they require far less energy to switch.