Astronomers at San Diego State University (SDSU) have made a name as builders of electronic light detectors for many of the world's great telescopes-among them the Keck telescope in Hawaii and the Hale on California's Palomar Mountain. Now these astronomers have aimed their technology at a new target: computer chips. Mounted on microscopes rather than telescopes, the detectors can find flaws in computer chips more easily-and potentially more cheaply-than existing methods.

In an industry where small technological improvements can make a big difference in profit margins, these detectors, which are sensitive to radiation in the infrared part of the spectrum, could have a significant impact.