Let's talk about silicon chips, shall we?
I recently had the privilege of experiencing the power of the Apple M2 chip and was truly amazed by the ingenuity behind it. It became even more impressive when I considered that it is made from silicon, a chemical element found in sand. Yes, Sand - the thing you find on beaches. I've spent my time uselessly exploring how is that possible and it wouldn't be unfair to suffer that pain alone.
‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️ Caution: Nerdy, boring, science content approaching. ‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️
To make semiconductor materials from sand, the sand must first be refined to remove impurities. This is done through a process called the Bayer process, which involves melting the sand with a chemical called sodium hydroxide (NaOH) at high temperatures. The resulting liquid is filtered to remove any impurities, and the purified silicon dioxide is then converted into silicon through a process called reduction.
At this point, you can stop reading because there's more Nerdy content coming. ‼️
The resulting liquid is poured onto a flat, round surface called a wafer. As the silicon cools and hardens, it forms a thin, circular disc. Next, manufacturers use a machine called a photolithography machine to print a pattern onto the surface of the silicon wafer. This pattern is a very tiny, precise design that includes the millions of tiny electronic components that make up a silicon chip.
Finally, manufacturers use another machine to add tiny wires and other components to the surface of the silicon wafer, connecting the different electronic components together. This creates a functioning silicon chip that can be used in your phones, TVs, and soon your heads.
Now think for a second. I want you to think about how the single most important thing powering the 4th and subsequent industrial revolutions is made from a common element found on our beaches. There's truly infinite possibilities all around us, and we just have to be willing to look. If sand can power a whole industrial revolution, imagine what you - a person made in the image of an awesome God can do.
It's also beautiful to realise how this God created us from this same sand. There should be something unique about sand that we're not seeing.
If you've read to this point, I want to tell you 2 things.
- There are no moral lessons in this post.
- I encourage you to get a life. You can't continue like this. It's not nice to be spending time reading about silicon chips. Thank you.
