Ever wondered how we produce over a trillion microchips each year? That’s about 20 trillion transistors every second, all crafted in fewer than 500 fabrication plants worldwide. From photolithography that uses light as a sculpting tool to precision polishing processes, each wafer undergoes hundreds of steps to transform into the tiny, intricate devices we rely on daily. But it doesn’t come without cost—factories consume vast amounts of energy, water, and chemicals, and waste products are piling up.

Learn about the innovative steps behind chip production and discover how the industry is facing its sustainability limits. Can we create future chips in a cleaner, greener way? Let’s find out in this video from Ted-Ed: