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SCIENTISTS AT AMBER (Advanced Materials and BioEngineering Research) have discovered a new magnetic material which they say could lead to superfast technology and energy efficient data storage.
The research group, which is based in Trinity College Dublin and was led by AMBER’s principal investigator Professor Michael Coey, created a new world-first alloy called MRG, which consists of manganese, ruthenium and gallium.
The alloy is magnetic, and internally, it has the same strength as the strongest magnets available today.
It’s created by using established industry-standard processes for making the electronic circuits on silicon chips, meaning its creation can be adopted by computer and electronics companies relatively easily.
It could be used for limitless data storage, resulting in superfast memory in personal computer devices, and could eliminate the potential of external magnetic forces to ‘wipe’ computer data.
In a statement, Professor Michael Coey said that the discovery could have significant implications on the future development of electronics, considering how much of a role magnets play in technology.
Given its unique insensitivity to magnetic fields, and the tenacity of its internal magnetic properties, MRG could now revolutionise how data is stored, which could have major implications for the future development of electronics, information technology and a host of other applications.
Back in April, the same organisation achieved a breakthrough in the production of graphene, a ‘wonder material’ that’s extremely difficult to produce. It discovered a way to produce the material, which could be used to provide the next generation of batteries, biomedical sensors, and water filtration, in industrial quantities.
AMBER is funded by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation through Science Foundation Ireland.
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Terrible news for all in Clarecastle. Hope IDA get a big firm in there soon.
they have a while to try and sell it so not all doom and gloom just yet. if it does close it won’t be until 2018/2019
That is sad. A good provider of local employment. Where is the I.d.a.?
The local MD didn’t know this was happening, how quickly would you expect the IDA to be able to act??
this effects over 1000 people contract workers etc
Where’s Enda now? Cork?
Can’t stand the Snake but what exactly can he do here.
Sad day for the workers to hear this news at this time of the year.
Was he involved in the decision to close the plant Conor ? Not exactly sure why you need to know where he is
oh my God this has been peoples life family’s reared etc
Who cares the boom is back people now get on board the gravy train with biscuit wheels. So what if my house is still worth fork all an my wages are shit The boom is back
SOBO baby !these river views are world class. Roar
The government and the IDA need to support more regional development and investment. Investment and development centred in Dublin, Cork and Limerick is not going to create an equal recovery.
It is deeply sad to see a company that has provided work for a number generations close and we can only hope that something will soon emerge to provide employment in the area for those who are losing their jobs.
Dublin is not Ireland. Dublin is a separate economy. 40 years of Govt mismanagement created a monster Dublin. Result overheated economy/massive rents. Our Govt cannot plan. Only 2 cities in NL have just over 1/2 million people (r’dam and a’dam). But…they have maybe 20 cities around country with 400-500k. That’s planning.
Has NL successfully attracted huge and flourishing Microsoft, Apple, eBay, Twitter Intel and even viagara operations?
Royal Dutch Shell?
short answer is yes. Holland is all Europe’s hub. nothing comes in or out of Europe without Holland being involved. If you have an iPhone/ipad it was delivered to you through Holland. even when you bought a dell computer from Dell in limerick prior to it closing it was made in Ireland shipped out of Ireland to a hub & then shipped back to athlete. Holland is one of the most successful countries in Europe thanks to the EU.
*athlone
NL may not have european HQs of MS, Apple and the other giant US corporations, but with 16 m people in an area no bigger than size of Munster, sure it’s like one big spread-out booming city.
NL, given its geographical position, with its seafaring tradition and being a former top colonial power, has achieved
a level of population growth Ireland can only dream about!
With 500,000 of our finest helping to grow other economies around the world since 2007, little is about to change on that front.
Anyone remember that old oft expressed quip: if Holland had Ireland it would feed the world; and if Ireland had Holland all would drown!
Something must be done on the long-range planning front to grow the economy and population and keep the people employed here.
I’d say the continued migration of culchies to Dublin over many decades has resulted in the city being too large & populous for a small country to be able to support.
The Dutch are lucky that almost all of their (albeit small) country consists of flat habitable and arable land.
Ireland on the other hand, consists mainly of hills, mountains, and boglands, with some a smaller % of land suitable for agriculture and modest areas sutibable for larger-sclae habitation around the coastline – hence the reason we have a low population density and have been unable to grow out population like the rest of Europe in the past.
Culchies would prob not have moved to Dublin if the same job opportunities were available down the country
The government were falling over each other takin g credit for Apple and indeed yesterday now, even Joan he moan managed to take credit for Apple in leaders questions this morning, they’re all very quite now, they make me sick
Apple can be gone tomorrow. Pharma is hard to move…not an assembly plant…fda approval.
Oh grow up. We live in an open market economy where private enterprise creates jobs, not the government, no business lasts forever, a business is only a vehicle for making profit after all, they don’t exist to provide employment, you may be amazed to learn.
Government “taking credit”, that’s entirely your own take on the matter, what exactly do the government have to do with it? Why not be honest about your convictions here BERTIE, would you prefer if there was no private enterprise at all and the government just provided us all with jobs for life? Seeing as you expect them to do everything else for you. /i think some places tried that in the past, not sure how it worked out, I’ll have to look that one up…
Bob, you are the champion of assumption, you moron
Apple would also take a long time to move, they are investing in infrastructure, and in people. In a company that needs brain power and business savvy, moving out of a western country to a lower cost location comes at a knowledge price…
Very sad 240 jobs lost is a huge number
It’s called Capitalism. Nobody owes you a job. Get over it.
No. The most successful economy in the world is Not Capitalist. It is called China where the economy is “planned”.
Actually China is moving towards a ‘Mixed’ economy.
Sorry, which economists in government are being paid millions??
On what metric is China the most successful economy?
So that the trolls come out in force to mock the unfortunate families who now face a Christmas without the security of an honest income. These decision was hardly made overnight ,surely the IDA /government had an idea this was on the cards. Hopefully a replacement development will be brought into the clare region.
At least AlanH -AFC understands how business works with well though out comments compared to most of the ignorant clowns on here…change the f’in tune..
He can’t do anything about it, but he’s taking ask the credit for apple and indeed jobs yet says nothing at all about this…
Unless they’re closing it right now this minute, he does have advance notice.
I don’t think we’ll hear Richard Bruton on anything today .
Goverment are to blame here
It’s scary how stupid some comments are.
I work in a big company, I know how these decisions get made. Without a huge financial incentive to stay, government cannot impact these decisions. They can only manage he fallout and continue to create opportunities for these people.
It will end up like Tipperary town if they don’t act now , we have nothing here since Atari, Coca Cola , Tambrand , Pall and Continental Enterprises left. Last week Super Value closed with the loss of 20 jobs now over 30 business closed on the Main Street alone.
“Fine Gael TD for Clarecastle Joe Carey said yesterday that “every effort” will be made to support the Roche workers.” – …and then he and his party cut their benefits and hit them all with new taxes and water charges. MERRY CHRISTMAS!
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