Tape Cartridge Could Store 330 Terabytes

Credit; IBM Research

IBM and Sony have teamed up to produce a magnetic tape cartridge that could fit 330 terabytes in the palm of your hand.

The tape can store 201 gigabits (25 gigabytes) in a single square inch (pictured). Arstechnica notes that the theoretical 330 terabyte tape cartridge would be more than 20 times the biggest capacity current available, and five times the capacity of the biggest hard drive on the market.

It was very much a combined effort with Sony concentrating on the pure logistics of producing a higher-capacity tape and IBM working on how to read the data.

The key was switching the method of applying the magnetic material to the tape. Traditionally what’s involved is coating it in a liquid. The new method involves sputter deposition, which is already used for creating some circuit components.

In simplified terms, that means creating a gas and accelerating the ions onto a source material. This causes particles from the source material to be ejected in a straight line, depositing them into a film on the surface of the tape.

The upshot is that the magnetic grains on the tape are 10 or more times thinner than in existing tapes, thus increasing capacity.

The new tape also includes an additional layer of lubrication to make sure it runs smoothly. That’s vital given that the narrower magnetic grains leave less room for error with the tape moving from side to side.

Meanwhile IBM adapted the tape drives to use a narrower read head and better control the flow of the tape to ensure precise positioning. It also rethought the algorithm it uses for transforming the positioning of the magnetic grains into data.


Ralph Maccio Returns In Karate Kid Spinoff

Ralph Macchio and William Zabka are reprising their roles from the Karate Kid in a 10-part series on YouTube’s Red subscription service. Cobra Kai will depict LaRusso and Johnny 30 years after their initial All Valley Karate Tournament clash.

The main storylines involve Johnny looking to rebuild his life by reopening the Cobra Kai dojo while Daniel struggles with life after the death of Mr Miyagi. The pair then renew their rivalry via karate, though it’s not clear if this means as battling coaches or in a physical clash.

The show being named Cobra Kai rather than Karate Kid isn’t just because LaRusso would now be in his late 40s. YouTube says it reflects that the new story will be as much about Johnny as it will LaRusso.

It’s arguably the most high-profile original content for YouTube Red, which charges a subscription fee for a mix of original content, ad-free streaming and offline viewing.

Although YouTube Red is only available in five countries (Australia, Mexico, New Zealand, South Korea and United States), some of the original content has been made available as a standalone purchase in a selection of other countries.

Inmates Escape Prison Life with Dungeons & Dragons [Video]

All across America, hardened criminals are donning the cloaks of elves and slaying dragons all in orange jumpsuits, under blazing fluorescent lights and behind bars.

In this video, the folks from Waypoint meet with two former cellmates who played D&D together in a maximum security prison and how they are now using the game to integrate back into civil society.

[Waypoint]

Today’s Hottest Deal: Mind Blowing Deals on Crayola Products (Markers, Colored Pencils, and MORE!)

If you’re an artist, a parent, or a teacher, you’ll likely be in need of crayola products very soon, and today, Amazon has one of the best deals we’ve ever seen on their products: Markers, colored pencils, crayons, supply packs for teachers, and more!

Be sure to check out the deal near the top of the page on Amazon’s “Gold Box Deals” page right here.

NASA Looking For Planetary Protection Officer

NASA wants somebody to take responsibility for keeping Earth – and other planets — safe. The Planetary Protection Officer will earn up to $187,000 a year.

The job isn’t so much about zapping incoming aliens. Rather it’s about making sure that space missions don’t contaminate Earth with organic or biological material from other planets and bodies, and vice versa.

It’s largely an executive position, with the Planetary Protection Officer responsible for developing policy and making decisions about matter such as how close an exploratory craft that might be contaminated with Earth’s bacteria can fly to the surface of another planet. The role also includes coordinating efforts with other countries and agencies.

Catherine Conley, who is the incumbent in the role, told the New York Times that it’s not just about damaging planets, but also compromising scientific work: “If we’re going to look for life on Mars, it would be really kind of lame to bring Earth life and find that instead.”

As well as an science, engineering or mathematics degree, the successful candidate will need “Advanced knowledge of Planetary Protection”, “demonstrated experience planning, executing, or overseeing elements of space programs of national significance” and “demonstrated skills in diplomacy that resulted in win-win solutions during extremely difficult and complex multilateral discussions.”