When creating a new computer, whether it's a laptop or a desktop solution, and especially if it's a gaming device, manufacturers pay special attention to the cooling system. Moreover, data centers around the world spend huge amounts of money to maintain their equipment at the optimum temperature, regardless of external conditions. Engineers from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln decided that it is easier not to struggle with the heat generated, but to find it worthy of use. They offered to use heat as an alternative to electricity.

"If you think about it, whatever you do with electricity, you can also do it with heat, because they are very similar in many respects. They are both energy carriers. If you could control the heat, you could use it to calculate and avoid the problem of overheating, "says Sidi Ndao, co-author of the idea.

The laboratory of Ndao has developed a nanothermomechanical device, more precisely a thermodiode operating at temperatures up to 330 ° C. While this is only a proof of the concept's efficiency, and high efficiency is not a question, but the team believes that the idea can be used to create a physical computer capable of operating at temperatures up to 700 ° C.

"It could be used in space research, for studying the core of the Earth, drilling oil wells and much more.

This can allow us to do calculations and process data in real time, where we could not do it before, "Sidi Ndao said..

The thermodiode can help limit the amount of energy needed to calculate. Researchers believe that heat can be used to power these devices, which will reduce waste and energy costs.

"I hope one day our technology will be used to unravel the secrets of the cosmos, to explore and collect deep geology beneath the surface of our planet and use heat for more efficient use of energy," the inventor said..