New tempered glass computer chip self destructs in seconds

A new tempered glass computer chip that self destructs in seconds when remotely triggered could keep sensitive date secure, according to researchers.

In the new chips, silicon computer wafers are attached to a piece of tempered glass that breaks into small pieces when heat is applied at one spot.

The heat could be turned on via a remote, which in the future could possibly be triggered by anything from Wi-Fi to a radiofrequency signal, said Gregory Whiting, a materials scientist and manager of the Novel Electronics Group that produced the chip at PARC, a California-based company.

According to Whiting,  the new technology could allow for easier recycling of electronics, or help ensure that data on stolen electronics remained secure.

''Live Science' reported that the researchers opted to use tempered glass, an extra strength material also known as safety glass, to make self-destructing electronics.

Glass is normally tempered by cooling the edges which causes the exterior to shrink, while the warmer interior maintained incredible tensile stress.

While the glass was stronger than normal, "if you break a piece of safety glass, it kind of explodes, shatters explosively into little pieces," Whiting said.