Scientists at IBM report that they are able to store data on the smallest set of atoms ever.  They can store a bit of data on just 12 atoms.  Probably not ready for your thumb drive (or even your pinkie drive) this new approach will still lead to revolutionary ways of thinking about storing data.  The new approach uses an antiferromagnetic structure which means the atoms point in opposite directions.  Because of that they can also pack a lot more of them together.  The work uses the scanning tunneling microscope which was invented at IBM 30 years ago and used to create the famous IBM logo spelled out with just 35 atoms.
http://tinyurl.com/87p5hfn