Eli5: How are they able to make transistors so extremely small?

Question

Eli5: How are they able to make transistors so extremely small?

In: 11

Answer 1

Every three years since about 1962, engineers have found a way to make transistors on a slab of silicon half as big as before, over and over again. This has been done by making the equipment have more accuracy and operate more cleanly to reduce defects. Reducing the transistor size this many times has gotten them from big enough to see, down to just a few dozen atoms across.