1meg
Research & Development

1meg Labs

Pioneering research at the intersection of physics, biology, and computing. From bits to atoms - building the infrastructure of tomorrow.

Our Mission

The current internet depends on a handful of cloud providers, DNS registrars, and certificate authorities. A single company's outage can take down half the web. We believe technology should be decentralized, resilient, and owned by users.

1meg Labs researches the science and engineering required to build truly distributed infrastructure - from mesh networks that don't need ISPs, to storage systems that don't need data centers, to energy sources that don't deplete. We track breakthroughs, publish analysis, and prototype solutions.

Research Tracks

Our research spans eight domains - from technologies ready for deployment to moonshots we're tracking for the future.

Active Research - Building now
Tracking - Monitoring breakthroughs
Emerging - Early stage science
Active Research
Decentralized Infrastructure
Replacing cloud providers with distributed, censorship-resistant systems. IPFS hosting, blockchain DNS, and peer-to-peer computing.
IPFSBlockchainP2PWeb3
  • Content-addressed storage eliminates single points of failure
  • ENS/Handshake domains provide censorship-resistant naming
  • Home nodes can replace data center dependency
Learn more
Active Research
Mesh Networks & Satellite
Building internet infrastructure that doesn't require traditional ISPs. LoRa mesh, LEO satellites, and portable connectivity.
LoRaMeshtasticStarlinkRF
  • Meshtastic enables off-grid communication up to 10km
  • LEO satellites provide global coverage at 20-40ms latency
  • Backpack ISPs could democratize connectivity
Learn more
Tracking
Quantum Computing
Understanding qubits, quantum gates, and algorithms that will break current cryptography while enabling new possibilities.
QubitsShor's AlgorithmPost-QuantumSuperconducting
  • IBM's 1,121-qubit Condor processor achieved in 2023
  • Post-quantum cryptography standards finalized by NIST
  • Quantum advantage demonstrated for specific problems
Learn more
Tracking
Fusion Energy
The physics of achieving net energy gain from fusion reactions. Tokamaks, stellarators, and inertial confinement.
TokamakITERNIFPlasma Physics
  • NIF achieved ignition (Q>1) in December 2022
  • ITER on track for first plasma in 2025
  • Private fusion companies raised $6B+ in funding
Learn more
Emerging
DNA Data Storage
Using synthetic DNA as an archival medium. 215 petabytes per gram, stable for millennia, zero energy to maintain.
SynthesisSequencingArchivalEncoding
  • 1 gram of DNA can store 215 petabytes of data
  • DNA remains readable for 10,000+ years in proper conditions
  • Cost dropping exponentially with synthesis improvements
Learn more
Emerging
Bio-Fabrication
3D bioprinting tissues, organs, and materials. Cloud labs enable remote biology experiments.
BioprintingTissue EngineeringCloud LabsSynthetic Bio
  • Bioprinted human corneas entering clinical trials
  • Cloud labs (Emerald, Strateos) enable remote experiments
  • CAD-for-biology tools democratizing bioengineering
Learn more
Emerging
Humanoid Robotics
General-purpose robots trained via simulation. Sim-to-real transfer learning enables physical AI.
Tesla OptimusFigureSim-to-RealRL
  • Figure 01 demonstrated autonomous warehouse work in 2024
  • NVIDIA Isaac Sim enables massive parallel training
  • Standardized hardware platforms emerging
Learn more
Active Research
Distributed Computing
Moving computation from centralized clouds to the edge. WASM runtimes, edge functions, and compute marketplaces.
WASMEdgeP2P ComputeDecentralized
  • WebAssembly enables portable, sandboxed code execution
  • Cloudflare Workers serve from 300+ edge locations
  • Compute marketplaces (Akash, Golem) provide alternatives to AWS
Learn more

Essential Whitepapers

The foundational research papers that define each field. Curated for engineers who want to understand the science, not just the hype.

Decentralized Systems
IPFS: Content-Addressed, Versioned, P2P File System
2014

Juan Benet

The foundational paper describing the InterPlanetary File System, combining DHTs, BitTorrent, Git, and SFS into a new protocol.

Read Paper
Blockchain
Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System
2008

Satoshi Nakamoto

The original blockchain whitepaper. Essential reading for understanding decentralized consensus.

Read Paper
Blockchain
Ethereum: A Next-Generation Smart Contract Platform
2014

Vitalik Buterin

Programmable blockchain enabling decentralized applications, smart contracts, and Web3.

Read Paper
Mesh Networks
The LoRa/LoRaWAN Tutorial
2020

Semtech

Technical deep-dive into LoRa modulation and the LoRaWAN protocol stack for long-range IoT.

Read Paper
Quantum Computing
Quantum Computing Progress and Prospects
2019

National Academies

Comprehensive assessment of quantum computing state-of-the-art, challenges, and timeline projections.

Read Paper
DNA Storage
DNA Data Storage: Research Landscape and Future Prospects
2019

Ceze et al.

Survey of DNA storage encoding schemes, synthesis/sequencing technologies, and error correction.

Read Paper
Fusion Energy
Progress Toward Fusion Energy Breakeven
2023

Hurricane et al. (NIF)

The landmark paper documenting the first fusion ignition experiment achieving energy gain.

Read Paper
Robotics
Learning Dexterous In-Hand Manipulation
2019

OpenAI

Sim-to-real transfer learning enabling a robot hand to solve a Rubik's cube with human-like dexterity.

Read Paper
Bio-Fabrication
3D Bioprinting of Functional Human Skin
2016

Cubo et al.

Technical approach to bioprinting layered human skin with proper cellular organization.

Read Paper
Quantum Computing
Post-Quantum Cryptography Standardization
2024

NIST

Final standards for quantum-resistant cryptographic algorithms: CRYSTALS-Kyber, CRYSTALS-Dilithium, SPHINCS+.

Read Paper

From Bits to Atoms

The next wave of technology translates digital information into physical reality. DNA stores data as molecules. 3D printers convert CAD files to objects. Robots learn in simulation and perform in the real world. We're tracking this convergence.

Bits

Digital information, algorithms, neural networks, encryption

Translation

DNA synthesis, bioprinting, sim-to-real, additive manufacturing

Atoms

Physical objects, tissues, materials, robots, storage media

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