Ultra-Low Power Operation

Gentlemen,

I vaguely recall going back the best part of 60 years now, there was a
competition among radio designers (AM in those days) to come up with
the design which would operate at the lowest possible supply voltage.
This had arisen, I would guess, as a result of the 'semiconductor
revolution' and all these designers would compete to develop a working
radio using ever more absurd Vcc levels. I'm pretty sure someone
managed to get something credible together that worked off of just
over 1 volt but can't be sure after all these years and there's
nothing I could find on the 'net about such a contest, either. But I
do remember it, for sure.
I'd just be interested to know what can be done with <1V today. Anyone
know?