Is the Future of Tech Rooted in Nature? Bio-Inspired Computing and the Innovation of the Time Crystal
Some people may imagine nature as the opposite of technology, but technology and nature are continually becoming more intertwined than ever. After all, nature is arguably the most complex yet efficient system we know of, and technological systems are constantly striving to meet more complex demands in efficient ways.
When it comes to the intersection of nature and technology, there are two main arenas: biomimicry and bio-inspired computing. Biomimicry refers to the various ways in which we use nature as a model for life. Did you know that the needles attached to medical syringes are inspired by mosquitos’ proboscis — the part of the mosquito’s mouth that sucks our blood? And then there are air crafts, of course, which are designed with the aerodynamics of birds in mind, and Velcro, created after the burrs George de Mestral, an engineer, found on himself and his dog after spending time outdoors. The list could go on forever.
Bio-Inspired Computing and Current Technologies
Technology, too, is informed by nature and designed with nature in mind. As a branch of biomimicry, bio-inspired computing is a philosophical approach that aims to solve problems by looking at patterns presented in nature. With less focus on high-speed algorithms and more focus on manageability and dependability, bio-inspired computing has the ability to complete complex tasks and recognize intricate patterns.
Modern examples of bio-inspired computing include neural networks, inspired by the brain; genetic algorithms, inspired by evolution; and sensor networks, inspired by the sensory organs. Bio-inspired computing is clearly underpinning artificial intelligence, and AI researchers certainly utilize the fact that neuroscience can provide the framework for AI to learn brain information processing.
But machines and emerging technologies aren’t just mimicking biology — they are directly leveraging biological processes. Time crystals, which are systems of moving atoms that cycle through a unique pattern resistant to entropy, are a good example of this.
What is a Time Crystal?
The idea of the time crystal was conceived about a decade ago, and since then scientists have attempted to create time crystals, which exist in a new phase of matter that resembles a perpetual motion machine.
The particles in a time crystal move in a regular, repeating cycle, but burn no energy; time crystals are often compared to a watch that can run forever without a battery.
Recently, researchers at Google Quantum AI and their colleagues announced they have created time crystals using Google’s Sycamore quantum computing hardware, and the findings were released online in 2021 in the journal Nature.
Why is this important? Well, time crystals represent a stunning innovation inspired by biology and made possible only by quantum computers.
Currently, quantum computers build memory using electron spins, with different spins representing either a 1 or a 0 in binary. An issue with this is that electron spins are not always stable, and they can be susceptible to disruption from outside forces like heat or magnetism. Problems with electron spin inevitably lead to inaccurate data storage.
Time crystals, however, are revolutionary in that they provide a stable, repeating system that can be manipulated into reliable patterns. Once scientists are able to perfect the oscillation of these systems, time crystals will make for an impenetrable form of data storage.
Returning to Nature
Ultimately, bio-inspired computing can be a needed perspective in scenarios where technological problems seem to have no clear solution. As the need for increased processing power, processing speed, and memory capacity continues to rise, bio-inspired computing suggests that some of the answers we’re looking for already exist in nature.
“Returning to nature” doesn’t just have to be something we do to relax on weekends — creating parallels between technology and nature may solve the most pressing and seemingly incalculable dilemmas.
