Tech
Magnetic fields melt and re-form new shape-shifting devices
Miniature machines made of gallium and magnetic particles can switch from solid to liquid and back.
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Miniature machines made of gallium and magnetic particles can switch from solid to liquid and back.
The newfound — and at times quirky — shapes reflect the density of water surrounding submerged ice.
They also could also help coastal residents mine fresh water from salty sources.
These specially grown threads of ice bend into curves, then spring back when released.
To climb walls, robot feet need to alternately stick and let go. A novel adhesive can do that. Its stickiness is controlled by electric fields.
An electrode’s name depends on the circumstances. Confused? It may help to consider which electrochemical reaction is natural — and which is not.
When atoms get an electric charge, they act very differently. Now called ions, these are behind many aspects of chemistry, including acids and batteries.
The lightweight new material could serve as a washable and recyclable, eco-friendly alternative for many current mask filters.
When various particles, atoms, ions or molecules come together to form a substance, they are held together with chemical bonds.
Diamond retains its structure even at extreme pressures, which could reveal how carbon behaves in the cores of some exoplanets.