How Alpha Particles Can Break Computer Chips

Veritasium · 2:07

3,746,229 views · 113,690 likes · May 15, 2026

In the 1970s, Intel couldn't work out what was damaging the DRAM on their microchips.

The cause turned out to be the ceramic that the chip was encased in. It was secretly flipping 1s to 0s.

But how?…

In the 1970s, Intel couldn't work out what was damaging the DRAM on their microchips.

The cause turned out to be the ceramic that the chip was encased in. It was secretly flipping 1s to 0s.

But how?…

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