Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a biochemical that makes it possible for internal energy to be transferred among cells. Now, scientists have devised a biological supercomputer that relies on ATP to solve complex problems with less energy.

Earlier supercomputer used synthetic semiconducting circuitry, while the new biological model has small sized ATP-powered protein strings. The new system is superior as it doesn’t overheat due to its dependence on biological agents, which also have lower energy consumption. Other factor that makes it stand out is its small size that coincides with the size of a book.

The new system is a product of efforts employed by Dan Nicolau, Sr. computer scientist at McGill University, and his son, Dan Jr. They began with the idea more than 10 years ago. About couple of years later to that, researchers from the US, Germany, Sweden, Norway and Canada joined him in his initiative.

This circuit structured in it is about 1.5 centimeter square (0.23 square inch) with etched channels. To discuss the idea of supercomputer, a study was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

“We’ve managed to create a very complex network in a very small area. This started as a back of an envelope idea, after too much rum I think, with drawings of what looked like small worms exploring mazes,” said Professor Dan Nicolau, lead author of the study.

The supercomputer requires an area proportionate to the size of basketball courts and needs own power plant to function. Electronic computers can only solve a problem at a time and even require cooling while heating up.