How Intergalactic Particles Are Attacking Your Laptop

The video explores the impact of cosmic rays on computer memory, particularly in high-altitude areas like Denver. It explains how cosmic rays, originating from astronomical events, can cause single event upsets (SEUs) in electronics, leading to temporary memory errors. The video highlights dramatic incidents caused by SEUs, such as a voting machine error and a Qantas flight issue. It also discusses strategies to mitigate SEUs, including engineering solutions and error-correcting RAM, emphasizing the growing importance of these measures as technology advances.

What was the unexpected cause of computer memory failures in Denver, Colorado?

• Power surges

• Software bugs

• Cosmic rays

• Electromagnetic interference

How do cosmic rays affect computer memory?

• By causing permanent damage to the hardware

• By slowing down the processing speed

• By overheating the circuits

• By temporarily altering the stored data

What is a single event upset (SEU) in the context of computer memory?

• A software glitch

• A power outage

• A temporary data error caused by cosmic rays

• A permanent hardware failure

Which industry has conducted significant research on protecting electronics from radiation?

• Healthcare

• Telecommunications

• Aerospace

• Automotive

What is one method engineers use to minimize errors caused by cosmic rays?

• Increasing the power supply

• Reducing the number of transistors

• Using ECC RAM for error correction

• Increasing the size of transistors