Type:departments

16 Feb 23

Eugene H. Spafford: Malware Nemesis

Computer & Information Technology

During Eugene H. Spafford’s more than three decades as professor of computer sciences at Purdue University, in West Lafayette, Ind., he has made groundbreaking contributions to computer and network security. A member of the Cyber Security Hall of Fame, he is considered one of the most influential leaders in information…

31 Dec 22

Always Break Yolks: The Joy of Microwave Cooking

Electrical, Electronics & Instrumentation

As I write this month’s article, my house is a noisy, dusty construction zone. I am renovating my kitchen, which was originally built in 1964. Although I’m happy to be rid of some of the disastrous 1960s design missteps—seriously, only one electrical receptacle in the entire kitchen?—I was sad to…

30 Nov 22

John Bardeen’s Terrific Transistorized Music Box

Electrical, Electronics & Instrumentation, Metallurgy & Material Science

On 16 December 1947, after months of work and refinement, the Bell Labs physicists John Bardeen and Walter Brattain completed their critical experiment proving the effectiveness of the point-contact transistor. Six months later, Bell Labs gave a demonstration to officials from the U.S. military, who chose not to classify the…