By — Rebecca Jacobson, Inside Energy Rebecca Jacobson, Inside Energy Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/new-computer-chip-recipe-makes-electronics-greener-cheaper-faster Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter New computer chip ‘recipe’ makes electronics greener, cheaper, faster Science Oct 23, 2014 4:32 PM EDT The technology that runs our daily lives, from laptops and cellphones to car sensors, relies on tiny computer chips. As consumers demand better, faster computers, the chips have to evolve, says Doug Keszler, director of the Center for Sustainable Materials Chemistry at Oregon State University. Keszler and his team at the center are changing the way computer chips are made. Instead of bulky carbon compounds, these researchers are making the chips out of metal oxides, which are more sustainable than the old materials. The new material allows for more transistors on each chip — which means a faster computer. They will also be cheaper, Keszler added. Miles O’Brien has more on this story for the National Science Foundation* series “Science Nation.” *For the record, the National Science Foundation is also an underwriter of the NewsHour. By — Rebecca Jacobson, Inside Energy Rebecca Jacobson, Inside Energy @rebeccajacobson
The technology that runs our daily lives, from laptops and cellphones to car sensors, relies on tiny computer chips. As consumers demand better, faster computers, the chips have to evolve, says Doug Keszler, director of the Center for Sustainable Materials Chemistry at Oregon State University. Keszler and his team at the center are changing the way computer chips are made. Instead of bulky carbon compounds, these researchers are making the chips out of metal oxides, which are more sustainable than the old materials. The new material allows for more transistors on each chip — which means a faster computer. They will also be cheaper, Keszler added. Miles O’Brien has more on this story for the National Science Foundation* series “Science Nation.” *For the record, the National Science Foundation is also an underwriter of the NewsHour.