As the crisis developed and the various warnings were relayed to us over the camp tannoy system, I got hold of a little transistor radio.

BBC: Missile crisis: Your memories

In 65 short years, the humble transistor evolved into an artificial life form called Watson, a computer system that recognizes natural language and, in 2011, handily defeated two former champions on the TV quiz show Jeopardy.

FORBES: Cyber Security And The Rise Of The Silicon-Based Life Form

Her glorious soprano soared to us from record players and transistor radios, from folk clubs and grand concert halls, over the public address system at rallies against the war in Vietnam and now through the ear buds of our iPods.

NPR: Judy Collins, From Both Sides Now