There was an interesting article this morning on fortune.com about the phenomenon called “tin whiskers”. (No. I don’t normally read fortune.com. There was a link to the article on Slashdot.) I know that sounds like a made up phrase, but it isn’t. Tin whiskers are just what the name implies — little thin strands of tin that arise off of tin solder joints in electronic components. These whiskers, being metal, can wreak havoc if they bridge two electronic circuits and create a short.

According to the article, they were discovered in the 1940s and the solution was to mix a very small amount of lead into the solder. The lead inhibited the formation of the whiskers. This worked fine until it was discovered that lead is neuro-toxic to humans and other animals. Now many governments, including the European Union are outlawing lead in electronics. Of course, this is being done with having found a sure-fire replacement to it. What does that mean? The author of the article argues that it means a resurgence in electronics problems due to tin whiskers. He believes it is the new Y2K. What do you think?

–Pete