IEEE SPECTRUM: How much did early transistors cost? I was a junior engineering major when discrete transistors were first introduced to the undergraduate electrical engineering curriculum and a Master's degree candidate a few years later when integrated circuits were introduced to the graduate curriculum; the change -- to me at least -- over a mere 50 years is stunning when I think about it.

But then the Wright brothers first flew on December 17, 1903; the Boeing 707 made its first jet-powered flight 50 years later on July 15, 1954; and I took my first commercial jet flight 8 years later in January of 1963.

Equally stunning when I think about that as well....