NPR.

Today's story starts in 1957 with seven scientists working in the semiconductor industry

in Northern California.

The seven scientists were working at a company called Shockley Semiconductor.

Sebastian Meloby told the story of the scientists in his book The Power Law.

William Shockley, the founder, was a brilliant Nobel Prize-winning scientist, but an absolute

jerk to work for.

One of the seven had the idea to send a letter to an investment firm in New York, where

he had a personal connection.

And they weren't asking for money.

Rather, this was a desperate attempt to network.

They figured that they're going to be more likely to invent something of consequence

if they stick together as a team.

They were working with semiconductor chips, which, as we know, are fundamental to electronic

devices we use today.

But it was early days then, and these scientists were collaborating on what materials should

even be used.

And so their idea is, maybe we can find another company that would hire us as a squad

and keep us together.

And so this letter ends up in the hands of a guy called Arthur Rock at the investment firm,

but Arthur doesn't have a job lined up for them, does he?

Yeah, but he has a better idea.

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