Tag:

Approaches

Today in video games – 1st September: a new month begins and Silksong approaches

by admin September 1, 2025

September is here so we’re also here with another daily report, collating all of today’s gaming news and events in one place.

As September arrives, the fabled release of Hollow Knight sequel Silksong approaches. The game we seem to have been waiting an eternity for releases this week. Will it have been worth the wait?

September also marks the beginning of an uptick in big releases as the holiday shopping season approaches – I can’t believe I’m alluding to Christmas already – and today we see the review-results of one of them: eerie action adventure Hell is Us. It was a mixed bag for Ed.

Onwards!

Coverage
Comments

Source link

September 1, 2025 0 comments

Gaming Gear

Next-generation 3D DRAM approaches reality as scientists achieve 120-layer stack using advanced deposition techniques

by admin August 25, 2025

Imagine trying to build a tower out of hundreds of very thin, slightly different sheets of material, where each sheet wants to bend or warp on its own. That’s essentially what researchers at imec and Ghent University accomplished when they grew 120 alternating layers of silicon (Si) and silicon-germanium (SiGe) on a 300 mm wafer—a key step toward three-dimensional DRAM. At first glance, it sounds like stacking sheets of paper, but in reality, it’s more like balancing a house of cards with materials that naturally want to pull apart.

The challenge starts with lattice mismatch. Silicon and silicon-germanium crystals have slightly different atomic spacings, so when stacked, the layers naturally want to stretch or compress. Think of it like trying to stack a deck of cards where every second card is slightly larger than the first—without careful alignment, the stack warps and topples. In semiconductor terms, these “topples” appear as misfit dislocations, tiny defects that can ruin a memory chip’s performance.

You may like

(Image credit: B. N. Khan, J. F. M. Van Hove, M. Meuris, Journal of Applied Physics, AIP Publishing, 2025.)

The process itself, using advanced epitaxial deposition techniques, is like painting with gases. Silane and germane—gases containing silicon and germanium—are broken down on the wafer surface, leaving behind precise, nanometer-thin layers. Controlling the thickness, composition, and uniformity of each layer is crucial; even a tiny deviation can propagate through the stack, magnifying defects.

Now, why go through all this effort? In conventional DRAM, memory cells are laid out flat, limiting density. Stacking layers vertically—in 3D—allows for far more memory cells in the same footprint, improving storage capacity without making chips larger. Successfully creating 120 bilayers demonstrates that vertical scaling is achievable, bringing us closer to next-generation, high-density memory devices.

Think of each bilayer as a story in a skyscraper, if one floor is misaligned then the entire building becomes unstable. By controlling strain and keeping layers uniform, the researchers effectively built a nanoscale skyscraper of silicon and SiGe that could host thousands of memory cells per unit area.

(Image credit: Future)

The implications stretch beyond memory chips. Techniques for growing precise multi-layer structures can advance 3D transistors, stacked logic devices, and even quantum computing architectures, where controlling layer properties at the atomic level is critical. Samsung has already put 3D DRAM on its roadmap and even has a dedicated R&D facility for it.

Furthermore, the research aligns with ongoing efforts to develop Gate-All-Around Field-Effect Transistor (GAAFET) and Complementary FET (CFET) technologies. These advanced transistor architectures benefit from the precise control over material properties afforded by epitaxial growth techniques, enabling the fabrication of smaller, more powerful transistors that are crucial for the continued miniaturization of electronic devices.

In summary, this is not just stacking silicon as you might know; it’s engineering order from atomic tension, creating structures that nature itself would struggle to produce. For memory technology, like we say with every new breakthrough, it’s a milestone that could reshape how chips are designed, making them denser, faster, and more reliable than ever before.

Follow Tom’s Hardware on Google News to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.

Source link

August 25, 2025 0 comments

Crypto Trends

The Three Main Approaches and Their Pros and Cons

by admin August 24, 2025

Ether (ETH) is trading near record highs and bullish forecasts like Tom Lee’s $15,000 year-end target have put a spotlight on how investors can best gain exposure to ETH.

Market Context

According to CoinDesk Data, ether, the second-largest cryptocurrency, is trading at about $4,783 at the time of writing, near its all-time highs, reflecting strong investor demand amid growing institutional adoption.

Tom Lee, head of research at Fundstrat, CIO of Fundstrat Capital and chairman of BitMine Immersion Technologies (BMNR), told CoinDesk last month that ETH could reach $15,000 by the end of 2025. His comments highlight renewed optimism around Ethereum’s growing importance for stablecoins, decentralized finance (DeFi) and real-world asset (RWA) tokenization.

Direct ETH ownership: the purest play

Owning ETH outright is the most straightforward way to participate. Holders gain full control of the asset and direct access to Ethereum’s decentralized finance (DeFi), NFT and staking ecosystems. ETH trades 24/7 across global markets, but investors must manage custody and security — whether through self custody wallets or third party custodians — and contend with evolving regulations. Costs are generally limited to exchange fees and gas.

Spot ETH ETFs: regulated simplicity, with staking proposals pending

Spot ether ETFs have made it possible for traditional investors to gain regulated ETH exposure through brokerage accounts. Some issuers are now seeking permission from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to add staking to their products.

If approved, staking would allow funds to earn additional yield by securing Ethereum’s proof-of-stake network and pass that income to shareholders. That would represent a first for U.S. crypto ETFs.

Prominent ETF analyst Nate Geraci said on July 30 that staking-enabled ether ETFs are likely to be “the SEC’s next hit list” before it takes up applications for other spot crypto products.

His point reflects a broader expectation that regulators will scrutinize staking first, since it blends DeFi-native mechanics with traditional fund structures. For investors, that means staking-enabled ETFs could reshape exposure by adding income streams beyond price appreciation — but only if regulators are satisfied that custody, transparency and market manipulation concerns are addressed.

For now, the SEC has acknowledged amendments to allow staking but has not yet granted approval, leaving timing uncertain.

Corporate treasuries: equity exposure with added volatility

Another path is investing in shares of publicly-traded companies that hold ether in their treasuries. BitMine Immersion Technologies, for example, disclosed on Aug. 18 holdings over 1.5 million ETH currently worth around $7.3 billion.

This approach ties shareholder value to ETH price movements and, potentially, corporate staking income. But equity exposure adds new risks:

Capital raising risk: Companies need strong share prices to issue new equity for ETH purchases. A weak stock price directly limits their ability to grow treasuries.
Double volatility: Even if ETH rises, the company’s stock might fall due to unrelated factors (earnings, sentiment, governance), meaning investors face risks beyond ETH’s price swings.

Comparing the options

Direct ETH

Pros: Full control, access to DeFi/NFTs, 24/7 liquidity
Cons: Custody and security risks, regulatory uncertainty
Best for: Hands on investors comfortable with wallets

Spot ETH ETFs

Pros: Regulated, simple brokerage access, potential staking yield (if approved)
Cons: Fees, SEC hurdles, no DeFi access
Best for: Traditional investors seeking simplicity

Corporate Treasuries

Pros: Exposure to ETH plus potential corporate growth/staking returns
Cons: Double volatility, dilution risk, governance exposure
Best for: Equity investors looking for a hybrid play

Choosing a path

With ETH near record highs and bold forecasts fueling investor interest, the question for 2025 is less about whether to own ether and more about which vehicle best fits each investor’s risk appetite.

Source link

August 24, 2025 0 comments