Transistor - The Ghosts Who Almost Invented the Future

What this episode covers

Host Eli Mercer explores how Ferdinand Braun, Julius Lilienfeld, Oskar Heil, and Ralph Bray nearly invented the transistor decades before Bell Labs' 1947 breakthrough. From Braun's 1874 crystal discovery to Bray's 1943 observation of minority-carrier injection, these forgotten pioneers had the right physics but lacked materials, funding, or timing to complete the invention that would define our digital age. Loved this episode? Discover more original shows from the Quiet Please Network at QuietPlease.ai, explore our curated favorites here amzn.to/42YoQGI, and catch just a slice of our AI hosts in action on Instagram at instagram.com/claredelish and YouTube at youtube.com/@DIYHOMEGARDENTV This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.

Share this episode

Similar Episodes

Taste, simplicity, and AI-era product judgment with Michael Shimeles

Jul 8, 2026 ·40m

Half Gaelic, Half Garlic

Jul 3, 2026 ·18m

Know your customer better than your code - product engineering with Lucas Wargha

Jul 1, 2026 ·47m

In the Cool of the Evening

Jun 28, 2026 ·33m

A Bench For All Seasons: Summer

Jun 26, 2026 ·17m

Demos, feedback loops, and AI-era product judgment with Ruben Casas

Jun 24, 2026 ·43m

Similar Podcasts

Synthèses QUB radio et Transistor Média Écoutez les 3 saisons de Synthèses, un balado dédié à la mémoire de femmes victimes de féminicides et dont les meurtres demeurent à ce jour des crimes non résolus. Saison 1 Le cas Valérie Leblanc : Le 23 août 2011, le cadavre de Valérie Leblanc a été retrouvé dans un boisé derrière le Cégep de l'Outaouais, à Gatineau. Le corps de l’étudiante de 18 ans a été retrouvé brûlé et mutilé, durant la semaine de la rentrée scolaire. Sept ans après la mort de Valérie, le meurtrier court toujours et la famille de Leblanc n’arrive pas à faire son deuil. Alors que le dossier fait du surplace, deux réalisateurs gatinois font la synthèseSaison 2 Le cas Louise Chaput : Le 15 novembre 2001, la Sherbrookoise Louise Chaput traverse seule la frontière canado-américaine pour aller faire de la randonnée au mont Washington. Une semaine plus tard, le corps de la psychologue de 52 ans a été retrouvée enseveli sous un tas de branche, en bordure d’un sentier boisé. 18 ans après le meurtre impuni de sa meilleur Transistor Radio Texas 121 Transistor Radio Doug Dylan Jon Jordan A bi-monthly podcast where we have a short Chip Chat about Transistors! Semiconductors are one of the most fundamental technologies of our time, yet are often under-discussed or misunderstood. We want to chat about them (and other things). Come learn some more about Semiconductors! El Transistor OndaCero El Transistor, programa de radio deportivo presentado por José Ramón de la Morena

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Transistor?

This episode is 33 minutes long.

When was this Transistor episode published?

This episode was published on April 10, 2026.

What is this episode about?

Host Eli Mercer explores how Ferdinand Braun, Julius Lilienfeld, Oskar Heil, and Ralph Bray nearly invented the transistor decades before Bell Labs' 1947 breakthrough. From Braun's 1874 crystal discovery to Bray's 1943 observation of...

Is there a transcript available for this episode?

Yes, a full transcript is available for this episode. You can read the complete transcript on the episode page.

Can I download this Transistor episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.