Featured image: A plasma etching device, meant for digging trenches in computer chips. (Courtesy Novelion Systems)

For our episode this week, Charles Swanson, resident plasma physicist and avid science hobbyist, gives us an overview of two hugely influential modern technologies: lasers and semiconductor processing. First, lasers come in many varieties, from laser pointers to atmosphere-mapping lens systems, but all of them stay in a directed beam—how? Second, all our computer chips are made with plasma etching, basically the only way to dig the microscopic features we need in our digital world.

That, plus music from many locales and an overview of animal migration. For more, the book of maps Where the Animals Go by James Chesire and Oliver Uberti is incredible and very much worth perusing.

Thanks for listening! The playlist is available on WPRB.com or below.

Featured image: A “wine-dark sea?” What color did Homer think the ocean was? (Courtesy QueenMobs)

This week’s These Vibes episode is short and sweet! Listen for quick highlights on:

• How whales and dolphins close their ears to avoid loud sounds!
• How the color blue wasn’t known by a lot of ancient cultures (with some interesting exceptions!).
• How France is poaching the best climate scientists from around the world (Princeton included!).

The playlist can be found online at WPRB.com or below.