Well, thanks to this little pile of silicon copper and germanium, we have some of the most advanced technology available to us in our computers, cars, telephones and just about everything else. 

The Integrated Circuit (more commonly looking like the 2nd image) is the package that has enabled some of the most advanced circuitry possible. This little device, when first demonstrated by Jack Kilby from Texas Instruments on Sept. 12 1958, didn't look like much, but it could produce a sine wave using just 4 pins - two for power and two for output. As mundane as this seems - this little thing, 7/16in by 1/16in opened the door for everything from the first calculator (also invented by Kilby) to the stunning microprocessors we use on a daily basis. If it wasn't for this little thing - we'd still have single computers taking up entire buildings and computer bugs would still be controlled by Raid. 

Thanks Kilby. You're the man.