"Magic" smoke being released from an electronic component for demonstration purposes
Magic smoke (also factory smoke, blue smoke, or the genie) is a humorous name for the caustic smoke produced by severe electrical over-stress of electronic circuits or components, causing overheating and an accompanying release of smoke. The smoke typically smells of burning plastic and other chemicals. The color of the smoke depends on which component is overheating, but it is commonly blue, grey, or white. Minor overstress eventually results in component failure, but without pyrotechnic display or release of smoke. A power transistor inside a power supply is a frequent culprit for the acrid smoke.
The name is a running in-joke that started among electrical engineers and technicians, which was later adopted by programmers and computer scientists. The jargon file, a compendium of historical and current hacker jargon, defines:
magic smoke: n.
A substance trapped inside IC packages that enables them to function (also called blue smoke; this is similar to the archaic phlogiston hypothesis about combustion). Its existence is demonstrated by what happens when a chip burns up: the magic smoke gets out, whereupon the chip ceases to function, hence the smoke is essential for the chip's function.
The device operates as long as the magic smoke is trapped inside of it, but when the smoke escapes from it, the device ceases to operate. Post hoc ergo propter hoc the smoke (a sort of élan vital) is an essential part of the device and its operation via undetermined ("magical") means.[1]
Magicsmoke (also factory smoke, blue smoke, or the genie) is a humorous name for the caustic smoke produced by severe electrical over-stress of electronic...
Typically, synthetic cannabinoids are sprayed onto plant matter and are usually smoked, although they have also been ingested as a concentrated liquid form in...
as a magic lantern) whose beam reflects off a mirror into a cloud of smoke, which in turn scatters the beam to create an image. The phrase "smoke and mirrors"...
magicsmoke arising from an also included bottle of an Arabian-style genie presented in black profile, but shortly after was reduced to the red smoke...
Working alone, Nikaido sells her powder in a magicsmoke pawn shop, killing the owner and stealing back her magic once he pays her. Nikaido then meets with...
kidnapping and "converting" The Disciple and frequent instances of "magicsmoke" knocking out all of the nWo members except for Hollywood Hogan and covering...
antiparticle, the cluon, they mutually annihilate each other, releasing magicsmoke. Furthermore 1 Lenat = 1 mole (6.022E23) of bogons. The unit of bogosity...
techniques) used one or more magic lanterns to project frightening images –such as skeletons, demons, and ghosts– onto walls, smoke, or semi-transparent screens...
of printer errors Magicsmoke (also factory smoke, blue smoke, angry pixies, or the genie), a humorous name for the caustic smoke produced by burning...
the Forest – vocal At the Gates of Emerald City – (extended version) MagicSmoke Chords Terrified Lion Disc two Haunted Forest, The – (extended version)...
In J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, magic is depicted as a supernatural force that can be used to override the usual laws of nature. Many fictional...
"Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" is a show tune written by American composer Jerome Kern and lyricist Otto Harbach for the 1933 musical comedy Roberta. The song...
M Is for Magic is a collection of child-friendly short fiction by Neil Gaiman. The stories and poems were selected from previously published works, with...
interiors and landscapes, water streams and trees, clouds of fog, and magicsmoke filling the wagon of the Gypsy rabbit Mami! What a sky, and finally,...
Morris Holt (August 7, 1937 – February 21, 2013), known as Magic Slim, was an American blues singer and guitarist. Born at Torrance, near Grenada, Mississippi...
Apotropaic magic (from Greek αποτρέπω, apotrépō 'to ward off') or protective magic is a type of magic intended to turn away harm or evil influences, as...
Ayoub) that he, Sissoko, using black magic, "could take a sum of money and double it" ("... he saw lights and smoke. He heard the voices of spirits. Then...
This is the discography of Magic, an American hip hop recording artist. Body Head Bangerz: Volume One (with Body Head Bangerz) Released: August 3, 2004...
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