Science Update: Flexible friend

AN ELECTRONIC newspaper that can be rolled up and stuffed in a bag has been brought a step closer by a team of French scientists. They have developed a fully flexible transistor - the basis of the silicon chip - which uses plastic and graphite instead of the metal and silicon used in conventional chips. The breakthrough will allow silicon chip components to be etched on to a variety of flexible surfaces including smart credit cards and ultra-thin and light computer screens.