Invention of the Transistor announced in 1947
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Technological history marks the development of the transistor as a key component of modern electronic circuitry. The device was announced on December 23, 1947, by Bell Labs scientists John Bardeen, Walter Brattain, and William Shockley.
I have personally felt for a long time now that there were likely a few gray aliens in the mix making the devices operate to specs.
Transistors are semiconductor devices used to control the flow of electric current and is fundamental to modern electronics. They act as either an electronic switch, turning current on or off, or as an amplifier, boosting a small electrical signal into a larger one.
This is achieved through a three terminal structure, typically comprising an emitter, a base, and a collector, where a small voltage or current applied to the base controls the flow of current between the emitter and collector.
A transistor can be used as a microscopic switch to control the power to a circuit. By applying a signal to the base, the switch can be turned ON to allow current to flow or OFF to stop it. A transistor can amplify a small input signal into a larger output signal. In audio systems a transistor can take a weak audio signal and amplify it to a level strong enough to power a speaker.
They are made of semiconductor material, most commonly silicon, and have three terminals: the emitter, base, and collector. Transistors are used in most all modern electronic devices, including computers, smartphones, radios, and hearing aids. They are the building blocks for integrated circuits, logic gates, and memory chips.