How do we manufacture over a trillion computer chips every single year?
In short: The modern world runs on billions of transistors built every second. This video explores the intricate process of photolithography used to create these tiny, complex devices and examines the environmental footprint left by the global semiconductor industry.
Global production of computer chips exceeds one trillion units annually. To achieve this, manufacturers build approximately 20 trillion transistors every second across fewer than 500 fabrication plants worldwide. The process relies on photolithography, a precise technique essential for crafting the microscopic, interconnected architecture found inside our devices.
Beyond the technical marvel of their creation, the industry faces significant environmental challenges. By exploring the manufacturing cycle, the video highlights the scale of production and the ecological impact associated with maintaining our high-tech infrastructure.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: How are microchips made? - George Zaidan and Sajan Saini
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