Crystal Fire

"Without the invention of the transistor, I'm quite sure that the PC would not exist as we know it today."—Bill Gates On December 16, 1947, John Bardeen and Walter Brattain, physicists at Bell Laboratories, jabbed two electrodes into a sliver of germanium. The power flowing from the germanium far exceeded what went in; in that moment the transistor was invented and the Information Age was born. No other devices have been as crucial to modern life as the transistor and the microchip it spawned, but the story of the science and personalities that made these inventions possible has not been fully told until now. Crystal Fire fills this gap and carries the story forward. William Shockley, Bell Labs' team leader and co-recipient of the Nobel Prize with Brattain and Bardeen for the discovery, grew obsessed with the transistor and went on to become the father of Silicon Valley. Here is a deeply human story about the process of invention — including the competition and economic aspirations involved — all part of the greatest technological explosion in history. The intriguing history of the transistor — its inventors, physics, and stunning impact on society and the economy — unfolds here in a richly told tale."—Science News "Thoroughly accessible to lay readers as well as the techno-savvy. . . . [A] fine book."—Publishers Weekly

It's hard to imagine any device more crucial to modern life than the microchip and the transistor from which it sprang. Every waking hour of every day people benefit from its use in cellular phones, computers, radios, TVs, and ATMs. This eloquent retelling of the story behind the invention of the transistor recounts how pride and jealousy coupled with scientific aspirations ignited the greatest technological explosion in history. Photos & drawings.

A futuristic romance that Janelle Taylor calls, "a unique and magical tale". Marissa frees the daring warrior Brace from unjust imprisonment to use as a pawn in exchange for her sister's freedom. But as the danger-filled days and the long cold nights pass, Marissa knows her mission is doomed. For how can she save her sister by betraying the man she loves?

Are science and technology independent of one another? Is technology dependent upon science, and if so, how is it dependent? Is science dependent upon technology, and if so how is it dependent? Or, are science and technology becoming so interdependent that the line dividing them has become totally erased? This book charts the history of technoscience from the late nineteenth century to the end of the twentieth century and shows how the military–industrial–academic complex and big science combined to create new examples of technoscience in such areas as the nuclear arms race, the space race, the digital age, and the new worlds of nanotechnology and biotechnology.

Presents a history of physics, examining the theories and experimental practices of the science.

Open your heart and mind to the divine magic of crystals For thousands of years, across cultures, civilisations and traditions, crystals have been cherished for their magical uses. From rose quartz to obsidian, topaz to amber - and even the most unassuming of seaside pebbles - the stones that we find in the natural world vibrate with potent energy. This little book will act as your all-encompassing guide to understanding the magic and mystique of sacred stones, and how they can enhance all aspects of your life. By practising the unique, crystal-focused spells, blessings and rituals contained within these pages, you can harness the innate power of crystals to take your spiritual practice to the next level.

The one holding the weapon is the emperor! This was the story of a young man wielding a divine sword and a bronze mirror, saving the lives of countless mountains and rivers. Close]

A revelatory history of the people who created the computer and the internet discusses the process through which innovation happens in the modern world, citing the pivotal contributions of such figures as programming pioneer Ada Lovelace. By the author of Steve Jobs. 500,000 first printing.