Semiconductor of the Week
A semiconductor is a material that can conduct electricity, but less than a conductor. Semiconductors have unique physical properties that are a mix of a conductor like aluminum and an insulator like glass. This week I am choosing Germanium because it one of the most common elemental semiconductors.
Germanium is a chemical element with symbol Ge and an atomic number of 32. It is a lustrous, hard, grayish-white. Purified germanium is a semiconductor with an appearance most similar to elemental silicon. Like silicon, germanium naturally reacts and forms complexes with oxygen in nature. Unlike silicon, it is too reactive to be found naturally on Earth in the free (native) state.
Semiconductors are mainly classified into two categories: Intrinsic and
Extrinsic. An intrinsic semiconductor material is chemically very pure and
possesses poor conductivity. Where as an extrinsic semiconductor is an
improved intrinsic semiconductor with a small amount of impurities added
by a process, known as doping, which alters the electrical properties of
the semiconductor and improves its conductivity. Introducing impurities
into the semiconductor materials (doping process) can control their conductivity.
Science Toys
I can't find the link for this question so this section is TO BE CONTINUED
Alchemy
I think alchemy is a beautiful practice of science, magic, and art combined. Unlike the very single minded, Western way of looking at Science, Alchemy has a way of viewing the world and its elements as a sort of magical and spiritual study. I think this is very important and it's something we are missing today in modern science. I don't understand why in the past 100 years or so, there's been such huge debates about such things as Darwin Vs. God. Why can't it be both? Why can't we incorporate the pure magic of life into our sciences and not have it be so black and white? What many Westerners can't seem to understand or respect is the history of this planet and it's people; That people have been surviving and discovering and learning long before the Colonialists came along. I think humbling one's self and opening your eyes to the magic we witness every day in this life could really help to balance the sciences that lead the world today. Science and magic should have never been separated in the first place.
Ｇｏｏｄ Ｊｏｂ！
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