Worlds tiniest Computer next to a grain of rice

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image showing Worlds tiniest Computer next to a grain of rice

UsEdScR on July 23rd, 2018 at 23:48 UTC »

What can this tiny computer do?

PabloAlgara on July 24th, 2018 at 00:20 UTC »

How do we know that's not a giant grain of rice?

RodneyNYC on July 24th, 2018 at 04:36 UTC »

Here's the article with some info about the computer:

https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/worlds-smallest-computer-dwarfed-by-rice-grain/

Article excerpt:

The team’s new “computer” uses photovoltaics, a method of converting light into electricity. It also consists of a processor, system memory, and wireless transmitters and receivers that send and receive data through light. Rounding out the package is a base station that feeds the computer with light for power and programming. The station also receives all data transmissions.

Currently, the tiny computer serves as a precision temperature sensor. It uses electronic pulses to convert temperatures into timed intervals. The result, for example, is the ability to report temperatures in a cluster of cells within a tumor with an error rate of around 0.1 degrees Celsius.