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MIT spinout Vertical Semiconductor raises $11 million to develop efficient AI power chips

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Vertical Semiconductor, a startup spun out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), has raised $11 million in funding to commercialize a new generation of gallium nitride (GaN) power chips designed to deliver electricity more efficiently to artificial intelligence data centers, the company announced on Wednesday.

Led by Playground Global, the funding will help the company bring its vertical transistor architecture to market. The technology aims to reduce the massive energy losses that occur when power is converted from grid-scale voltages to the tiny levels needed by microchips—losses that typically generate significant amounts of heat instead of usable power.

“That is power you are not delivering to computing tasks—it straight turns into heat,” said Matt Hershenson, a partner at Playground Global.

AI data centers, which power tools like ChatGPT, consume enormous amounts of electricity—comparable to that of entire cities. As a result, chipmakers including Renesas, Infineon, and Power Integrations are partnering with Nvidia to develop next-generation GaN power chips.

Vertical Semiconductor’s innovation lies in stacking transistor components vertically rather than spreading them horizontally, making the chips smaller, more efficient, and cooler. The company plans to deliver prototypes this year and begin full production in 2026.

The firm was co-founded by MIT professor Tomas Palacios and researcher Joshua Perozek, whose doctoral work laid the foundation for the technology. CEO Cynthia Liao, formerly of MIT Sloan, said the company’s chips could offer data center operators step-change energy savings rather than incremental improvements.

“We do believe we offer a compelling next-generation solution that is not just a couple of percentage points here and there, but actually a step-wise transformation,” Liao said.

Nvidia to Launch Quantum Computing Lab in Boston in Partnership with Top Universities

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Nvidia has announced plans to open a quantum computing research lab in Boston, aiming to collaborate with leading academic institutions such as Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). CEO Jensen Huang revealed the initiative during Nvidia’s annual software developer conference in San Jose, California, where the company held a dedicated day for quantum computing discussions.

The new lab, named the Nvidia Accelerated Quantum Research Center (NVAQC), will foster partnerships with prominent quantum computing firms, including Quantinuum, Quantum Machines, and QuEra Computing. The center is set to begin operations later this year. Huang’s announcement followed his earlier statement in January, where he suggested that practical quantum computers could still be two decades away—comments he sought to clarify during the event.

The quantum computing industry, which is still in its early stages, sees companies like Quantinuum and IonQ exploring commercial applications of quantum technology. Even though some quantum machines may eventually outperform Nvidia’s renowned graphics processing units (GPUs) in tasks like simulating atomic interactions, industry leaders emphasized that quantum computers are unlikely to replace classical systems. Instead, quantum and classical computing will likely work in tandem.

Huang highlighted the continued importance of Nvidia’s GPUs in current computational tasks, with quantum machines complementing traditional systems, not replacing them. He expressed optimism about the future of quantum computing, indicating that Nvidia’s involvement would further accelerate the industry’s growth.

Researchers Create Cell-Level Wearable Devices to Rejuvenate Neuron Function

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Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have made a revolutionary breakthrough in the field of neuroscience with the development of cell-level wearable devices that could offer new hope for treating neurological disorders, such as multiple sclerosis (MS). These innovative micro-scale devices are designed to wrap around individual neurons, mimicking the natural myelin sheath to restore disrupted electrical signaling in neurodegenerative diseases. The devices are battery-free and powered by light, providing a non-invasive method to monitor and possibly modulate neuronal activity within the body.

Restoring Function with Synthetic Myelin

The groundbreaking technology involves soft polymer-based devices that can conform to the intricate shapes of axons and dendrites when exposed to specific wavelengths of light. This adaptability allows the devices to encase the neuronal structures without damaging delicate cellular components, making it a significant advancement for repairing nerve damage. Deblina Sarkar, the head of MIT’s Nano-Cybernetic Biotrek Lab, emphasizes the potential of these devices to create “symbiotic neural interfaces,” closely interacting with the neurons to restore their function. By wrapping around the axons—the neural wiring responsible for transmitting electrical impulses—the devices act as synthetic myelin, offering the possibility of repairing and rejuvenating damaged neurons.

Microelectronics Meets Biology

At the heart of these cell-wearable devices is azobenzene, a light-sensitive material. When activated by specific light wavelengths, azobenzene films transform into microtubes that securely wrap around neuronal structures. This highly specialized material and the novel fabrication method allow for precise control over the devices’ interaction with the neurons. According to Marta J. I. Airaghi Leccardi, lead author of the study and a Novartis Innovation Fellow, the team has developed a scalable technique to produce thousands of these devices without the need for a semiconductor cleanroom. This breakthrough opens the door to mass production, making it possible to create affordable and accessible therapies for patients with neurological disorders.

Implications for Therapeutic Applications

The potential applications of these cell-level wearable devices are vast. Beyond the treatment of MS, they could help patients with a variety of neurodegenerative conditions by restoring lost functions at the cellular level. By enabling more precise and localized interventions, these devices could offer targeted treatments that are both effective and minimally invasive. As the technology matures, it could lead to new, revolutionary ways to treat nerve damage, offering hope to millions of people living with conditions that impair neuronal function.