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by AlecSchueler 141 days ago
> The materials that go into a chip are nothing.

They really aren't. Every material that goes into every chip needs to be sourced from various mines around the world, shipped to factories to be assembled, then the end goods need to be shipped again around the world to be sold or directly dumped.

High power, low power, it all has negative environmental impact.
2 comments
cortesoft 140 days ago
That doesn't contradict the point, though. The negative impact on the environment is not reduced by making a less powered chip.
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AlecSchueler 140 days ago
No, hence "all around."
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direwolf20 141 days ago
Which materials are they and how would you suggest doing it with fewer materials?
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serf 140 days ago
ultra pure water production itself is responsible for untold amounts of hydroflouric acid and ammonia , and most etching processes have an F-Gas involved, and most plants that do this work have tremendously high energy (power) costs due to stability needs/hvac.

it's not 'just sand'.

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direwolf20 140 days ago
How would you suggest doing it with fewer materials?
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robotresearcher 140 days ago
The claim was that "the materials that go into a chip are nothing". Arguing that that is not that case does not really put someone on the hook to explain or even have any clue how to do it better.
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stackghost 140 days ago
In theory, graphene based semiconductors would eliminate a lot of need for shipping and mining.
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hansvm 140 days ago
Maybe. They have the potential for faster semiconductors, but only after adequate modifications. Graphene isn't a semiconductor, and it isn't obvious that we'll find a way to fix that without (or even with) rare resources.
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AlecSchueler 140 days ago
Cease production.
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cruffle_duffle 140 days ago
Why are you on a technology site?
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AlecSchueler 140 days ago
I'm not sure why you're asking this or what you're insinuating. The site is called Hacker News, it should be open to anarcho- and eco- hackers too. Not all of believe in infinite growth.

Do you want to expand on why you're on this site?

I've been here for more than 15 years and I'm not the person I was when I signed up or when I went through life in a startup.

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