Episode 3 explores how silicon emerged as the dominant material in semiconductor manufacturing, overtaking earlier materials like germanium. Listeners learn why silicon became the gold standard—thanks to its abundance, thermal stability, and the ability to form a high-quality insulating layer of silicon dioxide, which is essential for building reliable and scalable transistors.

The episode covers the invention of the integrated circuit (IC) by Jack Kilby and Robert Noyce, which allowed multiple transistors to be placed on a single silicon chip. This innovation dramatically reduced size and cost while increasing performance—paving the way for mass production of microelectronics.

We also look at the birth of Silicon Valley, named after the material itself, and how companies like Fairchild Semiconductor and Intel turned silicon into the foundation of the digital age. By the end of the episode, listeners understand how silicon became the heart of the modern electronics revolution.

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