OT:techology

[Tony Duell]

> > Well, my first thought is that sand is SiO_2, so you could try to
> > reduce it to silicon and make transistors.
> > 
> 
> We'd not be able to make transistors with just sand.  There are
> essential doping agents.  I'm not sure arsenic can be easily extracted
> from bamboo...

True, but sand is not _pure_ SiO_2, and there are probably other 
rocks/minerals around. You might well be able to extract suitable dopants 
from thsoe.

-tony