Computer Chips Exploding for Science 183
Judebert writes "While some may argue that any modern processor without a heat sink already exhibits this behavior, UCSD chemists have discovered that properly doped computer chips are actually explosive. Standard techniques are used, and they function just like normal computer chips.
Better yet, they burn clean, making them ideal for chemical analysis. The article sites other uses, such as micromachine propulsion and military explosives, but I imagine this woudl make for the ultimate in copy protection, as well: "Unauthorized copy detected. This system will self-destruct in 10... 9..."
Science Daily also has a copy."
Watch out for that pentium bug! (Score:4, Funny)
7... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... 0.00000000198
Imagine a Beowulf Cluster of THOSE! (Score:1, Funny)
echo boom >
done
Computer Manufacturers (Score:2, Funny)
Customer: My computer exploded!
Tech Support: Guess you have to get a new one.
Customer: Yeah! Here's $1000 for a new one!
Unethical computer manufacturers could get a lot of money out of this. And 1337 HAX0rZ can blow up people's computers.
Eeesh (Score:2, Funny)
Geeks must be terrorists (Score:3, Funny)
damn! (Score:2, Funny)
so... when does slashdot get a bat boy [weeklyworldnews.com] story icon?
Star Trekkin... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:flying (Score:2, Funny)
Well, on its own the chip's explosion would almost certainly not be life-threatening. However, you could theoretically use this as a catalyst to detonate a high-order explosive.
Your laptops should be safe on airlines, folks. Pretty much the only way to make this dangerous would be to wrap a brick of Semtex around it (which the airports already have sniffer-dogs to detect), or build a chip so large that it releases enough energy to do serious damage. Explaining a laptop the size of a blackboard would be difficult, I think.
"No really, it's for doing some serious number-crunching..."
Re:flying (Score:2, Funny)
"I swear, officer, it's my [slashdot.org]
iBook with 14' screen!"
Re:Imagine a Beowulf Cluster of THOSE! (Score:5, Funny)
Ouch (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Star Trekkin... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Magic? (Score:3, Funny)
READ THE FUCKING ARTICLE (Score:5, Funny)
Vaporware (Score:2, Funny)
Lends a whole new meaning... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Explosion? (Score:2, Funny)
You too can do your part to save the environment by eating a can of beans a night.
Martian Technology! (Score:5, Funny)
Lookout Marvin!
ttyl
Farrell
Machine language (Score:3, Funny)
HCF - Halt and Catch Fire
XOI - Execute Operator Immediately