Always Be Curious #238: Computational lithography, chips on steroids, and how IBM automated the fab
This week in ABC: ASML releases a fresh animation about computational lithography, TSMC is building chips on steroids, and the story of how IBM was the first to automate a semiconductor fab
It’s ironic. Sometimes we only learn about a life when it is publicized in death. I learned about Michael Hawley a while ago. And before I read this New York Times article, I had never really heard of him. But Hawley was a true Renaissance man. He lived a prolific, creative and downright amazing life. Get this: he was an intern at Bell Labs, a professor at MIT, a videogame programmer at LucasFilm, a computer pioneer at NeXt, a flat mate to Steve Jobs, a speechwriter (writing the famous ‘stay hungry, stay foolish’ speech for Jobs), a published visionary on Artificial Intelligence and Internet of Things, a scientific director to an Everest expedition, an academic author, an accomplished pianist, a husband and a father. And he was just 58 years old. Gone too soon. MIT’s obit reads: “He achieved beauty in life by rigorously seeking it, living it, absorbing it, improving it, transforming it.” 🔥 Amen. Here’s to beauty in life. ✨
Have a good week, stay safe and sound,
👨💻The round-up in sci-tech💡
⚛️ The inside story of Google’s quiet nuclear quest (IEEE Spectrum)
For a decade, Google Research has helped advance nuclear energy R&D.
🤔 How America’s war on Chinese tech backfired (Foreign Affairs)🔐
And why Trump’s plans would make things even worse.
🧬 “Wearable” devices for cells (MIT)
MIT researchers developed tiny wearable devices for cells that can snugly enfold neurons and neuronal processes without damaging the cell. These thin-film wearables, made from a soft polymer, could enable scientists to measure and modulate neurons at a subcellular level.
📷 Neuromorphic camera helps drones navigate GPS-free (IEEE Spectrum)
High-end positioning tech comes to low-cost UAVs.
⚡️ Fusion power is getting closer—no, really (The Economist)🔐
Two developments in 2025 will mark a decisive shift in the decades-old quest to generate cheap and abundant energy from nuclear fusion
📚 Book - The Technological Republic - Releasing in 2025 (Penguin)＄
A rallying cry for the West from the co-founder and CEO of one of America’s hottest and most controversial tech companies, Palantir. Looks interesting! Available for pre-order now.
“The wizards of America’s digital revolution have produced many shiny consumer products and apps. But they have often remained aloof from engaging in a sense of national purpose or common good. This book is a rallying cry, as we enter the age of artificial intelligence, for a return to the World War II era of cooperation between the technology industry and government in order to pursue innovation that will advance our national welfare and democratic goals. A fascinating and important work.”
—Walter Isaacson
🪖The US Army's vision of soldiers in exoskeletons lives on (WIRED)🔐
Following decades of failed attempts and dashed dreams, the US Army is once again trying out powered exoskeletons to help soldiers haul munitions and equipment in the field.
🤓This week in chips⚠
🍿 The power of computational lithography (ASML)
Here's our latest explainer animation, delving into "computational lithography"! Because lithography today is as much about software and advanced algorithms, as it is about mechatronics and system engineering. 💪
💪 AMD granted a glass substrate patent to revolutionize chip packaging — Intel, Samsung, and others racing to deploy the new tech (Tom’s Hardware)
AMD has been granted a patent that covers glass core substrate tech. Glass substrates will replace traditional organic substrates for multi-chiplet processors in the coming years. The patent not only means AMD has worked on appropriate technologies extensively but will enable the company to use glass substrates in the future without risks that a patent troll or competitors could sue it.
✨ TSMC 'Super Carrier' CoWoS interposer gets bigger, enabling massive AI chips to reach 9-reticle sizes with 12 HBM4 stacks (Tom’s Hardware)
Chips on steroids. Bigger, better, faster, stronger.
🔥 TSMC starts equipment installation for 2nm fab (Taipei Times)
TSMC held an equipment installation ceremony for its first 2-nanometer fab in Kaohsiung. A full SIX MONTHS ahead of schedule.
🔥 TSMC Kaohsiung 2nm fab moves in, Apple and AMD expected as first customers (TrendForce)
According to Economic Daily News, TSMC’s new 2nm fab in Kaohsiung marked a significant milestone with its equipment installation ceremony, achieving three notable records. First, it represents TSMC’s inaugural 12-inch fab in Kaohsiung, preparing for mass production in 2025. Second, the equipment installation commenced over six months ahead of schedule. Third, once operational, the Kaohsiung fab will produce the world’s most advanced chips, with Apple and AMD expected to be among its first customers.
😎 TSMC 1.6nm update: Tangible improvements, but new challenges emerge (Tom’s Hardware)
Best suited for AI and HPC processors.
🎧 ASML (Red Queen Podcast)
The podcast’s host Eeke was curious about an iconic company from her homeland of the Netherlands. She sat down with author Marc Hijink to dive into the world of nanometers.
🇺🇸 The forgotten story of how IBM invented the automated fab (IEEE Spectrum)
Fifty years ago, a brash middle manager had a vision: a chip in a day
🇰🇷 Yonsei adopts Korea’s 1st commercial quantum computer (Pulse)
South Korea’s Yonsei University unveiled the IBM Quantum System One, the first commercially deployed quantum computer in the country.
📈By the numbers📉
📄 Report - State of the semiconductor industry (PWC)
AI adoption, particularly the shift from predictive to generative AI, is leading to burgeoning demand for semiconductors, specifically AI accelerators.
📊 Global DRAM industry revenue grows by 13.6% quarter over quarter, Samsung still leads with around 41% market share (wccftech)
The latest DRAM market trend shows an upwards trends with 13.6% revenue increase in Q3 2024 compared to the second quarter.
❤️For the love of tech❤️
Brilliant idea, Google! Use genAI to create your own custom chess set! ♟️ Scroll down to see which set I created and played with. 😇 Note: the site won’t load in NL, you need a VPN connection to the US.
GenChess (GoogleLabs)
Turn your ideas into one-of-a-kind chess pieces you can play online with.
Always Be Curious is the personal newsletter of Sander Hofman, Senior Creative Content Strategist at ASML. Opinions expressed in this curated newsletter are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of my employer.