Thought matter could only come in three flavors—solid, gas and liquid? You're wrong! McGill University researchers have discovered a new state, which they're calling quasi-three-dimensional electron crystal. While the name doesn't really roll off the tongue, this fourth state of matter could be used to fabricate modern transistors and continue Moore's Law... possibly indefinitely.
The quasi-three-dimensional electron crystals were discovered in a device scientists cooled at ultra-low temperatures – roughly 100 times colder than intergalactic space. They then exposed it to the most powerful magnetic fields possible on Earth, which made it “pop” from a 2D electron system to a semi-3D one. This fourth state could help improve transistors, allowing for greater density on a single microchip. Looks like Gordon Moore can rest assure that his law won't be broken for another long while. [Science Blog]
(Note: That's not a picture of the new state of matter, by the way.)
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