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Hard Drive Guys Win Nobel Prize

Physics award goes to discoverers of 'giant magnetoresistance,' key to shrinking computers

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 9, 2007 9:44 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Proving physics isn’t just theoretical black-hole gazing, this year’s Nobel Prize went to a discovery that paved the way for radically shrinking the size of computers. Albert Fert and Peter Grunberg won for uncovering “giant magnetoresistance,” the phenomenon that big electrical resistance variances can be produced from weak magnetic ones. In practical terms? “Without it you would not be able to store more than one song on your iPod!” one scientist told the BBC.

GMR, which the pair discovered in the late 1980s, made it possible to develop sensitive reading tools to pull data off hard drives, the BBC explains, opening the door to  laptops, mp3 players and other consumer tech applications. Scientists say GMR’s structures, which consist of very thin layers of differing magnetic materials, represent one of the first real nanotech applications. 

Members of the Royal Swedish Committee of Science from left Per Carlsson, chairman, Gunnar Oquist, secretary and Borje Johansson, announce in Stockholm, Tuesday Oct. 9, 2007 the winners of the Nobel prize in physics 2007. France's Albert Fert and German's Peter Gruenberg have been awarded the Nobel prize for their...
Members of the Royal Swedish Committee of Science from left Per Carlsson, chairman, Gunnar Oquist, secretary and Borje Johansson, announce in Stockholm, Tuesday Oct. 9, 2007 the winners of the Nobel prize...   (Associated Press)
Dmitry Kisselev, a technician for Action Front Data Recovery Inc., works on a hard drive at the company's facility in North Dallas, Texas.
Dmitry Kisselev, a technician for Action Front Data Recovery Inc., works on a hard drive at the company's facility in North Dallas, Texas.   (KRT Photos)
Peter Gruenberg during the awarding ceremony of the German Future Prize in Berlin in this Dec. 8, 1998 file photo. France's Albert Fert and German Peter Gruenberg won the 2007 Nobel Prize in physics on Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2007, for their discovery of giant magnetoresistance. The duo received the prize...
Peter Gruenberg during the awarding ceremony of the German Future Prize in Berlin in this Dec. 8, 1998 file photo. France's Albert Fert and German Peter Gruenberg won the 2007 Nobel Prize in physics on...   (Associated Press)
A woman displays the latest 3.5-inch 1,000 GB Hitachi hard drive...
A woman displays the latest 3.5-inch 1,000 GB Hitachi hard drive...   (Getty Images)
Akron police detective Stanley H. Smith holds a hard drive that may contain evidence in an Internet crime.
Akron police detective Stanley H. Smith holds a hard drive that may contain evidence in an Internet crime.   (KRT Photos)
In a file photo France's Albert Fert receives a Japan Prize plaque during a presentation ceremony in Tokyo Thursday, April 19, 2007. France's Albert Fert and German Peter Gruenberg win the 2007 Nobel Prize in physics it was announced Tuesday Oct. 9, 2007 (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
In a file photo France's Albert Fert receives a Japan Prize plaque during a presentation ceremony in Tokyo Thursday, April 19, 2007. France's Albert Fert and German Peter Gruenberg win the 2007 Nobel...   (Associated Press)
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