Technology Review (july 2005)

DO YO U LOO K FAT I N YO U R G E N E S ? p52 Go Bla H t I ck ow t R Be ig rry ht p 36 MIT’s Magazine of Innovation Intel’s Breakthrough Its new silicon laser could add decades to Moore’s Law— and save the digital economy. By Robert Service p62 The U.S. Government’s Plan to Store Everything Forever Intel’s experimental optoelectronic chip By David Talbot p44 Why Placebos Really Work 07 By Stephan Herrera p79 The Economics behind Digital Media By Stacy Lawrence p31 0 09281 01308 JULY 2005 USA $4.99 • CANADA $6.99 www.technologyreview.com 2 Contents 6 People and Organizations Index A guide to what’s in this issue 12 From the Editor How a blog is like a scrapbook 14 Letters Your thoughts on emerging technologies, energy policy, Michael Crichton, more R EADM E Read before operating this magazine 16 Memo to Washington Save the data. 18 Push(y) E-Mail Beware incoming distractions. Volume 108, Number 7 Intel’s Breakthrough Its silicon laser could mean a solution to one of the great challenges facing the semiconductor industry: how to move data fast enough to keep up with Moore’s Law and tomorrow’s ultrafast computers. Silicon optics could provide a way to access this vast computational power. 62 18 End Fattism We must treat obesity as a real disease. F O R WA R D Emerging technologies in brief D EALFLOW BY I N V I TAT I O N 33 Funding of Innovative Startups Savi Networks, Axial Biotech, more By Andrew Madden 43 Nuclear Accountability Forensic technology may deter states from giving terrorists nukes. By Graham Allison 21 Your Ad Here The digerati debate shilling in blogs. FI NANCIAL I N DICES 23 Heart Check Taking blood pressure from the ins