Silicon is the material of the digital revolution, of solar energy and of digital photography, which has revolutionized both astronomy and medical imaging. It is also the material of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), indispensable components of smart objects. The discovery of the electronic and optoelectronic properties of germanium and silicon during the Second World War, followed by the invention of the transistor, ushered in the digital age. Although the first transistors were made from germanium, silicon eventually became the preferred material for these technologies. Silicon, From Sand to Chips 1 traces the history of the discoveries, inventions and developments in basic components and chips that these two materials enabled one after the other. The book is divided into two volumes and this first volume is devoted to basic microelectronic components.

Silicon is the material of the digital revolution, of solar energy and of digital photography, which has revolutionized both astronomy and medical imaging. It is also the material of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), indispensable components of smart objects. The discovery of the electronic and optoelectronic properties of germanium and silicon during the Second World War, followed by the invention of the transistor, ushered in the digital age. Although the first transistors were made from germanium, silicon eventually became the preferred material for these technologies. Silicon, From Sand to Chips 2 traces the history of the discoveries, inventions and developments in basic components and chips that these two materials enabled one after the other. The book is divided into two volumes and this second volume is devoted to microelectronic and optoelectronic chips, solar cells and MEMS.

Sand to Silicon is just such an attempt an excursion into the past- to see how these technologies were developed, and the role played by the Indian scientists and engineers. It covers the entire gamut of developments in semiconductors, computers, fibre optics, telecommunications, optical technologies and the Internet.

A finalist for the PEN/E. O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award The gripping story of the most important overlooked commodity in the world--sand--and the crucial role it plays in our lives. After water and air, sand is the natural resource that we consume more than any other--even more than oil. Every concrete building and paved road on Earth, every computer screen and silicon chip, is made from sand. From Egypt's pyramids to the Hubble telescope, from the world's tallest skyscraper to the sidewalk below it, from Chartres' stained-glass windows to your iPhone, sand shelters us, empowers us, engages us, and inspires us. It's the ingredient that makes possible our cities, our science, our lives--and our future. And, incredibly, we're running out of it. The World in a Grain is the compelling true story of the hugely important and diminishing natural resource that grows more essential every day, and of the people who mine it, sell it, build with it--and sometimes, even kill for it. It's also a provocative examination of the serious human and environmental costs incurred by our dependence on sand, which has received little public attention. Not all sand is created equal: Some of the easiest sand to get to is the least useful. Award-winning journalist Vince Beiser delves deep into this world, taking readers on a journey across the globe, from the United States to remote corners of India, China, and Dubai to explain why sand is so crucial to modern life. Along the way, readers encounter world-changing innovators, island-building entrepreneurs, desert fighters, and murderous sand pirates. The result is an entertaining and eye-opening work, one that is both unexpected and involving, rippling with fascinating detail and filled with surprising characters.

From endless sand dunes and prickly cacti to shimmering mirages and green oases, deserts evoke contradictory images in us. They are lands of desolation, but also of romance, of blistering Mojave heat and biting Gobi cold. Covering a quarter of the earth’s land mass and providing a home to half a billion people, they are both a physical reality and landscapes of the mind. The idea of the desert has long captured Western imagination, put on display in films and literature, but these portrayals often fail to capture the true scope and diversity of the people living there. Bridging the scientific and cultural gaps between perception and reality, The Desert celebrates our fascination with these arid lands and their inhabitants, as well as their importance both throughout history and in the world today. Covering an immense geographical range, Michael Welland wanders from the Sahara to the Atacama, depicting the often bizarre adaptations of plants and animals to these hostile environments. He also looks at these seemingly infertile landscapes in the context of their place in history—as the birthplaces not only of critical evolutionary adaptations, civilizations, and social progress, but also of ideologies. Telling the stories of the diverse peoples who call the desert home, he describes how people have survived there, their contributions to agricultural development, and their emphasis on water and its scarcity. He also delves into the allure of deserts and how they have been used in literature and film and their influence on fashion, art, and architecture. As Welland reveals, deserts may be difficult to define, but they play an active role in the evolution of our global climate and society at large, and their future is of the utmost importance. Entertaining, informative, and surprising, The Desert is an intriguing new look at these seemingly harsh and inhospitable landscapes.

Be Afra. Be a frater. Be a brother. Be our brother's keeper. 'Love the Brotherhood' was the message of Beloved Afra, for which he was crucified 500,000 years ago on a continent named after him - AFRICA. There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in our philosophy, science and religion. Life is not a happenstance. The Berlin Act 1885, the Biafran War 1967-1970, June 12, 1993, Sep 11, 2001; the election of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the USA or any other event in life is not a happenstance. This is demonstrated in Be Afra Volumes 1 & 2, using numerological analysis and cosmic clock charting. The Cosmic Law operates throughout the universe, seen and unseen. Be Afra discusses the origin of man, the root races with particular emphasis on the fourth root race, the progenitor of the black race; the law of karma, reincarnation, free will and other aspects of the cosmic law. Each root race has a divine purpose and from the beginning was endowed with divine love, wisdom and power to fulfill that purpose. Each had the knowledge of the cosmic law. Be Afra draws on sacred writings, If, Yrb legends and deep analysis of Yrb language to demonstrate that the black race had knowledge of the Everlasting Gospel, the Teaching that should keep mankind free from ignorance or defiance of the Law. Ignorance of that Law is no excuse. We are who we are and where we are, by series of decisions we took, at the Y-junctions of life. Beloved Great Divine Director, Manu of the seventh (the incoming) root race said: "Perhaps we have been a bit timid ourselves, or should I say conservative and dignified, in not employing more spectacular methods to acquaint mankind with the wonderful product which we have to offer. After all, blessed ones, we are marketing divine freedom to the earth and conveying it to individuals every day, yet we are seldom seen or heard in the marketplace of life. Perhaps the 'shouting from the housetops' through the multitudes of antennas reaching out into the ethers shall one day convey a greater measure of heaven's law to the earth. We shall see." (Pearls of Wisdom Vol. 8 S/No. 21 dated May 23, 1965)

Nanotechnology is a diverse science that has brought about new applications in fields such as colloidal science, device physics and supra molecular chemistry. This volume gives an overview of the development of nanomaterial applications in energy and power generation, medicine and healthcare, water purification, biotechnology, electronics, sporting goods, environmental issues, military defense, and textile/fabric industries. The text also explains the fundamentals of polymer nanocomposites and their industrial applications. Other chapters cover semiconductor applications of nanomaterials, nanomaterial synthesis, characterization of nanocomposites and uses of nanofillers. Readers will also find notes on the DFT study of II-VI semiconducting nano-clusters. This volume is intended to be an introductory reference for students and researchers undertaking advanced courses in materials science and engineering, giving readers a glimpse into the fascinating world of nanotechnology.

Title 40 Protection of Environment - Parts 136 to 149