Oliver Wong wrote:
> <markzoom@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:1158000420.972899.277770@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >
> > I read somewhere that memory will produce about one data error a week
> > solely due to background radiation. :-o
>
> That's consistent with how frequently I misplace my keys.
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiation_hardened
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soft_error
> <quote>
> Indeed, in modern devices, cosmic rays are the predominant cause. Many
> different particles can be present in cosmic rays, but the main cause of
> soft errors seems to be neutrons. Neutrons are uncharged and cannot disturb
> electron distribution on their own, but can undergo neutron capture by the
> nucleus of an atom in a chip, producing an unstable isotope which then
> causes a soft error when it decays producing an alpha particle.
> </quote>
>
> - Oliver
Well there ya go. Interesting.
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