(November 21, 2003) Norwalk, Conn.&#8212For decades, progress in microelectronics has relied on the continued miniaturization of the devices and wiring on silicon wafers in order to increase the processing power and memory density of computer chips. As device dimensions are scaled into the realm of quantum physics, extraordinary changes in chip engineering will be required. These changes will necessitate the development of new materials, processing technologies, device structures, and architectures. Various nanomaterials, including carbon nanotubes, semiconductor nanowires, silicon nanocrystals or quantum dots, nanoscale magnetic films, and switchable molecular structures, have emerged as candidates for next-generation memory and logic chips.