Asianometry

Discover the fascinating history of vitamins and their crucial role in our health. Delve into the shadowy world of the global vitamin market and the cartels manipulating prices. Understand the challenges faced by newcomers in a market dominated by major players. Hear about the rise and fall of vitamin cartels, including Roche's notorious practices. Finally, uncover the consequences of a major scandal that reshaped the industry and paved the way for China's dominance in vitamin production.

Explore the fascinating history of Mexico's telephone industry, tracing its roots from the 1800s to its late 20th-century privatization. Discover how Antonio de Obregón y Alcocer shaped wealth through a massive silver mine and contrasts with Carlos Slim's rise to power. The discussion uncovers the implications of monopolistic practices and the government's role in creating a plutocrat. Delve into the intersection of corporate success and socioeconomic impacts, revealing how wealth inequality persists in a nation with millions in poverty.

Dive into the intriguing world of tariffs and their surprising impact on economic growth! Discover how Latin America, with its high tariffs, initially outpaced the growth of East Asia prior to World War I. Explore the tumultuous fight for independence in the 1820s and the aftermath of colonial legacies. Uncover how the contrasting tariff strategies of these regions shaped their economic trajectories, prompting significant reevaluations after the war. Context and timing play critical roles in understanding this economic paradox!

Dive into the intricate world of EUV mirror fabrication, where precision is key in semiconductor technology. Learn about the astonishing challenge of achieving lambda/50 wavefront error with mirrors that must be more accurate than hydrogen atoms! Discover the historical advancements that shaped today's manufacturing processes and the brilliant innovators who drove these breakthroughs. The quest for perfect optics is not just about technology; it’s a thrilling journey of science and engineering.

Discover how Moore's Law reshaped radio frequency technology, leading to sleek designs in today's cellphones. Delve into the breakthroughs of RF-CMOS chips and their impact on telecommunications since the early 2000s. Explore the current challenges of power leakage and miniaturization in next-gen cellular communication, especially with the emergence of 6G technologies. The discussion raises intriguing possibilities, including a potential return to legacy technologies to boost performance.

A groundbreaking announcement has surfaced about Huawei's Chinese-developed EUV machine, utilizing a new light source known as Laser-Induced Discharge Plasma. This innovative approach is touted as more efficient than traditional methods, raising competitive stakes in semiconductor technology. The discussion dives into the evolution of EUV light sources, comparing LDP with ASML's systems. It also highlights the potential future of EUV technology in China as industry dynamics shift.

Xiaomi made waves by transforming from a smartphone giant to a contender in the electric vehicle market. The company’s co-founder, Lei Jun, shares lessons from early failures that guided this ambitious pivot. Discover how Xiaomi's innovative MIUI software set them apart and the challenges they faced in a maturing phone market. The podcast also dives into the booming electric vehicle scene in China and Xiaomi's strategy to carve out its niche, suggesting parallels with Apple's potential automotive journey.

The podcast dives into the epic history of the once-mighty Soviet fishing fleet, exploring its rise from traditional fishing to advanced industrial techniques. It highlights the geopolitical strategies behind its expansion and the rise of international fishing laws. Challenges like the establishment of Exclusive Economic Zones and the impact of the Soviet Union's fall on fishing capacities are discussed. The episode also examines the dark legacy of Soviet whaling, revealing its environmental consequences and drawing connections to modern fishing practices, especially in China.

In the early 2000s, a bizarre crisis erupted as PC motherboards suffered from the infamous capacitor plague. Reports flooded in of popping sounds and strange smells as capacitors leaked or burst. Consumers were baffled, often bringing their failing machines to repair shops, unaware of the underlying issue. The inconsistency left many wondering what caused such a widespread problem in the tech world. Delve into the theories and challenges posed by this peculiar crisis that left its mark on electronics.

Today's leading edge chips get hot. Like really hot. And nowadays much work is being done to try and keep them from getting TOO hot. Fancy things like dipping the whole chip into water or oil. But why do the chips get hot? And how does that heat spread? Simple question right? In this video, we explore heat at nanometer scale. Easier video ever. Get all episodes of Asianometry, Sharp Tech, Sharp China, Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Greatest of All Talk, and Dithering as part of Stratechery Plus for $15/month or $150/year. Listen to Stratechery. Listen to Dithering. Listen to Sharp China. Listen to Sharp Tech. Listen to Greatest Of All Talk.