Ma'am, Your IKEA Graphene Glow Wall Is Ready for Pick-Up [Graphene]

It appears to be graphene day. First, IBM was using the material to shame silicon into submission, and now Swedish scientists say graphene could one day make lamps and other traditional lighting elements unnecessary.
If the Swedes are right, then future homes and buildings could be adorned with graphene panels, called Light Emitting Electromechanical cells (LECs, for short).

The LEC panels can be fashioned so they cover an entire ceiling, wall, or whatever, and they're completely adjustable. Dim your walls and ceiling for a romantic evening with the female characters of Mass Effect 2, for example.

The article notes that OLED panels have seen similar implementations, but the graphene scientists say their material is both cheaper to produce and better for the environment (OLED panels contain indium tin oxide, which is difficult to recycle).
[Gizmodo via Science Daily via Treehugger via DVICE]

IBM's 100Ghz Graphene Transistor Might Replace Silicon Someday [Ibm]

We know graphene is tough stuff, but Big Blue's discovering the substance makes a great transistor too, to the tune of a record-setting 100GHz.
You see, the 100Ghz graphene transistor IBM was crowing about this week is already much, much faster than a comparably sized silicon one. Current 'state-of-the-art' silicon maxes out at 40Ghz. But better still, IBM created the graphene screamer using existing silicon fabrication methods. No new gear necessary!

However, as is commonplace with these types of stories, graphene transistors—at least ones deployed widely in everyday computing—are still a ways away. IBM researchers, why must you tease us so?
[Gizmodo via IBM via Engadget]