Morphing metal Engineers at England's Cambridge University have developed metal structures that can change or morph from flat sheets into tubes and other shapes. They say these structures could form the basis for flexible screens and keyboards for mobile computers that could be rolled up for storage.

Other potential applications include electronic newspapers and compact mobile phones. The metal sheets, made from copper alloys, work without the need for moving parts such as hinges. They snap from one shape into another and were inspired by bracelets that transform from a straight strip into a coil around the wrist by manipulating the stress within the structure. Instead of breaking when stress is increased, the structure is forced into a different shape. A non-electronic application would be temporary shelters that could be put up in emergency situations.

Light-speed computers High-speed laser-driven computer microprocessors could be a reality in five years now that researchers at Intel and the University of California have perfected a silicon-based laser that can be made in volume using existing processes. The latest achievement is the result of a concerted effort that followed a breakthrough in silicon lasers announced last year that combined the light-emitting properties of indium phosphide and the light-routing properties of silicon. When electric current is passed through indium phosphide, photons are generated that are concentrated in silicon cavities to emit beams of light. As replacements for copper wiring, the hybrid silicon lasers have the potential of achieving data transmission within computers at unprecedented speeds. However, competitors investigating alternatives say indium phosphide could still be too expensive for the semiconductor industry to adopt widely.