3 ms·
Calling bullshit. Semiconductors cannot be "improvised". PN junctions aren't found anywhere accidentally. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foxhole_radio https://e
by geocrasher 3y ago
Calling bullshit. Semiconductors cannot be "improvised". PN junctions aren't found anywhere accidentally.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foxhole_radio https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foxhole_radio
One common type was made from an oxidized razor blade (rusty or flamed) with a pencil lead pressed against the blade with a safety pin. The oxide layer on the blade and the point contact of the pencil lead form a semiconductor Schottky diode and only allow current to pass in one direction.
- 1letterunixname 3y agoYep but that doesn't happen accidentally. And good luck getting a quartz crystal in a form that can be heard.
- geocrasher 3y agoWhere did anybody say accidentally? I said it could be improvised. Are you arguing just to argue? Edit: I realize that the headboard story implies an "accidental" semiconductor. And yes that's totally possible.
- fortran77 3y agoIt could absolutely happen accidentally. Any bad contact between two conductors can cause a non-linear junction that can detect an AM radio signal. TFA refers to, presumably an FM signal (because of the 3.3 meter band and what's usually broadcast there), so I doubt this story a bit.
- geocrasher 3y agoYep I mentioned that in a comment below, an accidental semiconductor IS possible, but that wasn't my point really. I get the arguers point though, a headboard implies accidental, I wasn't thinking of it that way. But anyway, as we've established, both improvised and accidental are possible and documented.
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- atoav 3y agoYou are aware that there are even such things as natural nuclear reactors that happen "accidentally"? So ruling out a simple PN junction is a weird hill to die on.