Keeping a computer cool is a growing problem as microprocessors become more powerful and emit ever increasing quantities of heat. Now, researchers in the US have found that they can increase the rate at which a chip can be cooled by 2.5 times by aiming a stream of ionized air at it. The work, which was funded by the chipmaker Intel, could be used to cool computers within the next three years ( J. Appl. Phys. to be published).