Brief news summary

A century ago, 391 San Antonio Road in Mountain View, California, was an apricot-packing shed, whereas today it is surrounded by low-rise office buildings that accommodate Silicon Valley's tech startups. Notably, in front of this site, three large, unusual sculptures resembling water towers stand tall—two diodes and a transistor, crucial elements of electronic circuitry. In 1956, the site transformed into the Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory, where groundbreaking work was undertaken to develop silicon-based components. This innovation marked the inception of Silicon Valley, establishing it as a hub for technology and entrepreneurship. The evolution of this location from agriculture to cutting-edge technology highlights the remarkable transition and growth of the region over the past century.