Transistor Defects, Body Armor, Soft Robots

Also in this issue: drug-delivery materials

View as a Web Page A biweekly news digest from the National Institute of Standards and Technology OCTOBER 19, 2021 Editor's Note The building block of the information revolution is the tiny on-off switch known as the transistor, the basic component of computers, smartphones and other electronic devices. Since transistors were invented in the 1950s, chipmakers have made them smaller and smaller so they can cram more into their devices, from four in 1950s radios to 2,250 in the first commercially produced microprocessor in 1971 to the tens of billions in today's top-end computer chips. But the nano sizes of today's transistors make it all the more difficult to detect defects in them. In this issue, learn how NIST and collaborators have developed a relatively straightforward method that detects defects in some of the tiniest devices, not only in traditional silicon but in silicon carbide, a potential next-generation transistor material. Enjoy the issue! —Ben P. Stein, Managing Editor NIST, Collaborators Develop Sensitive New Way of Detecting Transistor Defects The novel method could benefit the semiconductor industry and speed the development of next-generation devices. READ MORE How Do You Measure the Performance of Body Armor? In movies and video games, body armor makes you invulnerable. In real life, things are different. Learn more in the latest explainer from our "How Do You Measure It?" web series. READ MORE Clear as Glass: Studying Drug-Delivery Materials as a NIST SURF Student Claire Lamberti explains how her summer fellowship helped her lay foundations for her future studies. READ MORE Soft robots are the new bots on the block, and Jennifer Case is testing their capabilities. NIST's Facebook page has the scoop on these flexible machines for the factory floor. MORE NEWS FROM NIST Graphene's Magic Act Relies on a Small Twist From the Joint Quantum Institute: Researchers have discovered that stacking layers of graphene and twisting them opens fertile new territory for scientists to explore. In this animated story, two professionals discuss ransomware attacks and the impacts they can have on small businesses. Since ransomware is a common threat for small businesses, this video provides an example of how these attacks can happen — along with how to stay prepared, get helpful information, and find support from NIST's Small Business Cybersecurity Corner website.

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