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The Plastic Fractal Magnet
bedessen writes "An article at NewsFactor summarizes the developments in new plastics that exhibit magnetic fields of fractal dimensions. Whereas a simple bar magnet produces magnetic fields that go from the north pole to the south pole, the fields of the new hybrid plastic sprout like branches of a cactus lined with secondary fields that resemble needles. As these fields become increasingly interlocked, they exhibit a unique kind of order. This intensely ordered structure might one day be key to storing information with a very high density. The researchers behind this are Arthur Epstein, director of the Center for Materials Research at Ohio State University, and Joel Miller, a professor of chemistry at the University of Utah. There's also this PDF overview of the subject, which is quite technical but still readable."
This new fractal magnet will allow my flux-capacitor to send this message BACK IN TIME... to get first post! .....
Great Scott!
From the article:
The plastic ultimately stabilized in 1.6 dimensions at a temperature of minus 269 degrees Celsius (minus 452 degrees Fahrenheit).
I'd be happy if my girlfriend would stabilize in three dimensions at room temperature.
How long do you think it'll take for them to figure that one out?
My
Limekiller
Practical Applications?
Finally! A fractal magnet that will stick to my fractal refrigerator! The normal magnets always fell off because it doesn't have a flat surface.
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