The neon shortage is a bad sign

Russia's war against Ukraine has ramifications for the chips that power all sorts of tech. Ukraine is the world's biggest exporter of Neon, a gas that plays a fundamental role in controlling the specialised lasers manufacturers use to make computer chips. These companies have been stockpiling since 2014, preparing for a significant disruption like the one it unfolded when the war started. But reserves are now running out fast, and very few alternatives in the supply chain currently exist to the gas. Rebecca Heilweil explores the looming crisis.