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The stolen formula was used to create the gooey innards of an aluminum electrolytic capacitor. Capacitors contain three main components: electrodes; a gooey fluid-like substance (called a dielectric) which is used to separate the third component; and reactive plates (the third component). The capacitors in question are of the several thousand uF (microfarad) range and are physically breaking apart, allowing the fluid to leak out (thereby causing a "short" circuit). The reason the capacitors are failing is due to the stolen formula. It was incomplete, and the subsequent fluid created from those faulty formulas is not entirely stable, causing a small quantity of hydrogen gas to be emitted when electric current is applied. Over time it builds up and bursts open the capacitor. The estimated life expectancy of the faulty capacitors is less than 4,000 hours (or roughly 6 months running 24/7). So far the only manufacturers to acknowledge the problem are ABit and IBM. However, it is believed that many more motherboards manufactured in 2002 may contain the faulty capacitors and may soon be failing. One problem in tracking down the originating guilty culprit is that many of the capacitors in question contain no manufacturer markings whatsoever. Quite an interesting development. Read more at IEEE.org.