SHAW CAPITAL MANAGEMENT:Shaw warns FSA stance on mutuals could force mergers

SHAW CAPITAL MANAGEMENT:Shaw warns FSA stance on mutuals could force mergers

Martin Shaw, chief executive of the Association of Financial Mutuals has warned that the Financial Services Authority s stance on friendly society s use of with-profits funds will force societies to merge or demutualise in order to survive.
The FSA has sent a dear CEO letter to friendly societies » Full Story on clipmarks.com
Diamond Could Store Quantum Information
When it comes to quantum computing, flawed diamonds are better than perfect ones. Click to enlarge this image.
Ann Thomas/Corbis
THE GIST

* By manipulating atoms inside diamonds, scientists have developed a new way to store information.
* The technique could lead to quantum computers capable of solving problems beyond the reach of today's technology.

One of the most common defects in diamond is nitrogen, which turns the stone yellow. When a nitrogen atom sits next to a vacant spot in the carbon crystal, the intruding element provides an extra electron that moves into the hole. Several years ago, scientists learned how to change the spin of such electrons using microwave energy and put them to work as quantum bits, or qubits.
The technique has "a fidelity of 85 to 95 percent," Awschalom said March 22
this diamond memory works at room temperature. The spins inside the diamond can be both changed and measured by shining laser light into the diamond