Chinese researchers achieve making world's fastest flash memory device: Nature

A Chinese research team has developed a revolutionary flash memory device that can store data at a speed of one bit per 400 picoseconds, setting a new record for the fastest semiconductor storage device ever reported.

This groundbreaking research result by Shanghai-based Fudan University researchers was published in Nature on Wednesday.

Named "PoX," this non-volatile memory outperforms even the fastest volatile memory technologies, which take around one to ten nanoseconds to store one bit of data. A picosecond is one-thousandth of a nanosecond or one-trillionth of a second.

Volatile memories like SRAM and DRAM, which lose data on power loss, are ill-suited for low-power systems, while non-volatile memories like flash, though energy-efficient, fail to meet the high-speed data access demands of AI.

The Fudan University researchers developed a two-dimensional Dirac graphene-channel flash memory using an innovative mechanism, shattering the speed limits of non-volatile information storage and access.

"The increase in speed is a major breakthrough, completely overcoming a theoretical bottleneck in existing storage technology frameworks," said Liu Chunsen, a researcher at the State Key Laboratory of Integrated Chips and Systems at Fudan University.

Liu explained that the computation of large AI models mainly relies on GPU chips, and current commercial GPU chips can achieve 33.5 trillion floating-point operations per second while the speed of writing or erasing memory associated with them still lingers at the microsecond (one millionth of a second) level.

"PoX" is precisely tailored to meet the demands of high-speed computation by GPU chips, said Liu.

To expedite the practical application of this groundbreaking technology, the research team has deeply collaborated with manufacturing enterprises during the research and development process. A tape-out verification has been carried out, achieving initial results.

"We have now been able to make a small-scale, fully functional chip. The next step involves integrating it into existing smartphones and computers. This way, when deploying local models on our phones and computers, we will no longer encounter the bottleneck issues such as lagging and heating caused by existing storage technology," said Liu.

Chinese researchers achieve making world's fastest flash memory device: Nature

Both Gold and silver prices hit record highs on Monday, driven by geopolitical tensions and market expectations for further U.S. Federal Reserve rate cuts.

Spot gold prices breached 4,420 U.S. dollars per ounce during the intraday trading on Monday, while gold futures contract on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) briefly surpassed 4,450 U.S. dollars per ounce, both hitting all-time highs.

In addition, the silver futures contract on NYMEX climbed above 69.5 U.S. dollars per ounce on Monday, surging nearly three percent, also reaching a record high.

Bloomberg News reported that escalating geopolitical tensions and market expectations for further Fed rate cuts were the primary drivers behind the soaring gold prices.

Traders anticipate the Fed will cut rates twice in 2026 following last week's release of a series of U.S. economic data.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has consistently advocated more accommodative monetary policies.

Persistent geopolitical tensions in recent weeks have also heightened the safe-haven appeal of gold and silver.

Bloomberg projected on Monday that both gold and silver are poised for their strongest annual gains since 1979.

Due to purchases of central banks and inflows into exchange traded funds (ETFs), gold prices have surged by about two-thirds this year.

Gold-backed ETFs have recorded five consecutive weeks of increased inflows.

World Gold Council data shows that, except for May, the total holdings of these funds have increased month on month this year.

Beyond central banks, investors have also played a significant role in the gold price rally.

Fueled by concerns over the value of sovereign bonds and their denominating currencies, investors have been fleeing these assets.

The Wall Street Journal reported in October that investors who were concerned about the outlook for currencies like the U.S. dollar were aggressively buying alternative assets such as gold.

Goldman Sachs released a research report on December 18, forecasting that gold prices would rise to 4,900 U.S. dollars per ounce by the end of 2026.

Gold, silver prices soar to new record highs as investors hunt for safety