Computer made from swirly magnets can recognise handwritten digits

A prototype computer built using a magnetic material called a skyrmion has been programmed to recognise handwritten digits. The approach could be particularly energy-efficient

By Karmela Padavic-Callaghan

A new type of computer can use the behaviour of magnetic particles to recognise handwritten digits. If made smaller and faster it should be able to process information in an energy-efficient way.

Magnetic materials can be thought of as grids of tiny bar magnets, with each bar magnet representing a particle. One type, called a skyrmion, is like the bar magnets swirling around. Researchers have long thought that skyrmions could be used to build energy-saving electronic devices because it doesn’t take a …