Most microchips are made by using light to create patterns on silicon surfaces-a process requiring sophisticated equipment costing tens of millions of dollars. A cheaper chip-making process involves coating the silicon surface with a polymer, heating the polymer until it softens and then mechanically stamping it with a patterned mold. Chemicals dissolve the stamped polymer where it's thinnest, exposing the silicon beneath and etching the pattern into it. A drawback: the polymer can be stamped only once, since reheating deforms it.

Select from the choices above to read the entire article.