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December 3, 2008 1:22:13 PM CST

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semiconductor news stories

5 Stories

Transistors
May Migrate
to Paper

Circuit-carrying cellulose undercuts silicon on price

Economist Economist Oct 20, 08 1:49 AM CDT
(Newser) - The future of electronics may be etched on paper, reports the Economist . Researchers have found a cheaper, easier way to make transistors using cellulose, paper’s key ingredient. Paper could soon replace silicon as a surface on which to mount transistors, which control the flow of electric currents and power most gadgets. More »

More about:  electronics • microprocessors • semiconductor • transistor • silicon chip • cellulose

 Would You Mind 
 If This Wasn't Mined? 

Lab-created diamonds get ever closer to nature's version—to chagrin of some

Smithsonian Smithsonian Jun 12, 08 12:07 PM CDT
(Newser) - De Beers might like you to think a “diamond is forever,” but try this on for size: “A diamond is for everyone.” In a secret Massachusetts lab, Apollo Diamond is using novel technology to grow diamonds virtually indistinguishable from their mined cousins, the Smithsonian reports. Unfortunately for consumers, the synthetic gemstones cost about the same as Mother Earth's—for now. More »

More about:  technology • diamond • blood diamonds • semiconductor • industry • De Beers • gems • synthetic diamond

World's Smallest Transistor Sets Path to Better Chips

Newfound material could replace silicon

BBC BBC Apr 18, 08 2:27 PM CDT
(Newser) - Scientists in England have created the world’s smallest transistor, the BBC reports. At 1 atom thick and 10 atoms wide, it could be the key to creating microchips beyond the power of silicon. The transistor is made of graphene, a single layer of graphite and an excellent conductor of electricity. And unlike with silicon, the smaller a graphene transistor is, the faster it works. More »

More about:  computer • electricity • computer chip • computer hardware • semiconductor • transistor • silicon

Etch-A-Sketch Newest Chip Design Tool

Nano-sized wires can be drawn, erased using atomic microscope

MIT Technology Review MIT Technology Review Mar 4, 08 11:57 AM CST
(Newser) - Imagine a computer chip that could literally have wires drawn onto it and erased like an etch-a-sketch. That’s what University of Pittsburgh researchers have been able to create, Technology Review reports. To demonstrate the technology, researchers drew the tip of an atomic force microscope across the chip like a pencil, leaving nano-sized, conductive wires in its wake. More »

More about:  computer chip • semiconductor • transistor • computer memory

Semiconductor Sales Rise While Prices Fall

Main growth in Asian-Pacific region

Wall Street Journal Wall Street Journal Dec 3, 07 1:52 PM CST
(Newser) - Semiconductor sales in October went up 5% worldwide from last year, thanks to strong growth in the Asian-Pacific region and Japan, and an industry association forecasts 3.8% growth for the year, reports the Wall Street Journal . Meanwhile prices have dropped rapidly -- "Consumers are reaping huge benefits from continued rapid price attrition," said the association president. More »

More about:  consumer electronics • computer chip • electronics • semiconductor • hardware sales

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