Wagner and the metaphysics of semiconductors. “Rheingold! Rheingold! Reines Gold!”

The Ring of the Nibelung is the story of a magic ring granting its possessor the power to rule the world. It is never very clear what this power consists of, but that may well be because only those who use it can truly have access to its secrets and modus operandi. The ring is forged from gold from the Rhine river and quickly becomes the object of inten…