And high-tech ceramics are used to make everything from electronic components (capacitors and resistors) to the heat shield on the space shuttle.

FORBES: No. 16: The Pot

For the first quarter-century of the microprocessor's life, most integrated-circuit packages were fairly predictable hunks of ceramics, bought largely from one of four Japanese firms: Kyocera (its name is a combination of the words Kyoto and ceramics), NGK Spark Plug, Shinko Electronic Industries and Sumitomo Metal Electronics Devices.

FORBES: It's all in the packaging

For the first quarter-century of the microprocessor's life, most integrated-circuit packages were fairly predictable hunks of ceramics, largely bought from one of four Japanese firms: Kyocera (its name is a combination of the words Kyoto and ceramics), NGK Spark Plug, Shinko Electronic Industries and Sumitomo Metal Electronics Devices.

FORBES: It's all in the packaging