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Scientists Create Supersolid From Helium

Posted by simoniker on from the megasolid-next-up dept.

jabberjaw writes "Nature is reporting that Pennsylvania State University researchers Eun-Seong Kim and Moses Chan have created a 'supersolid' from helium-4. Although a crystalline solid, the supersolid can flow much like a liquid. This is due to the fact that the empty compartments in the crystal move coherently, thus waves can progress through the lattice. The supersolid state can be compared to the superfluid state. Perhaps a condensed matter physicist can dumb the article down for layfolk such as myself?"

20 of 408 comments (clear)

  1. Supersolid? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Next generation viagra additive?

    1. Re:Supersolid? by glenebob · · Score: 2, Funny

      Hmmm you'd likely be called a cold fish. Or maybe your GF would claim to have been "cold cocked". The only thing going up would be the temperature!

  2. Sweet! by Dolemite_the_Wiz · · Score: 2, Funny

    I can soon expect 'Chunk-o-helium' for my high-pitched voice needs. Is this something I'm going to see next to 'Kit-Kat's in the store?

    Dolemite
    _________________

    --
    Save the World! Use a Quote!
  3. Re:Slightly OT by Ignorant+Aardvark · · Score: 4, Funny

    My dad did his PhD thesis on liquid helium 3. Apparently it's pretty difficult to contain the stuff, since even the tiniest opening in a container is enough for everything to escape at once (no viscosity)...

    Then I have a good idea for an infinite motion machine. Put the liquid helium, as well a turbine, inside of a Klein bottle. As the helium tries to escape out of the hole it will only lead back into the bottle - meanwhile producing electricity through the turbine! Brilliant! I think I've just solved the Earth's energy crisis!

    --
    Cyde Weys Musings - Scrutinizing the inscrutable
  4. Oh man by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    I just laid a supersolid one. Yeah I posted anon.

  5. You know your tired by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    when you misread the title as "Scientist creare supersolid human"

    Kind of a nice idea though...

    I'm going to sleep now.

  6. Liquid Metal by Blaskowicz · · Score: 5, Funny

    Great news. Now we can understand how the T1000 works!
    I hope they'll build one soon; it could be a great war machine AND sex toy

    1. Re:Liquid Metal by woohoodonuts · · Score: 2, Funny

      it could be a great war machine AND sex toy

      unfortunately... it probably wouldn't be the best P.R. move to have arnold come back in time and annhialate you every time during climax.

    2. Re:Liquid Metal by qualico · · Score: 1, Funny

      OOpps I had a flash back to the less glamorous Timex Sinclair 1000 I first started programming on. :-)

    3. Re:Liquid Metal by adrianbaugh · · Score: 2, Funny

      Jeez... you know how skin can get stuck to frozen lamp posts at -30{\deg}C or so? Now just think for a minute about using a sex toy that's been cooled to 2.7mK... *wince* :-)

      --
      "'I pass the test,' she said. 'I will diminish, and go into the West, and remain Galadriel.'"
      - JRR Tolkien.
  7. Re:This physicist says: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    This is like asking for an industrial application for LSD.

  8. Re:Quantums vs. Pressure by ObviousGuy · · Score: 2, Funny

    It causes the atoms to grow up into bitter adults who are overachievers in their particular area of expertise but can't manage to maintain steady personal relationships.

    --
    I have been pwned because my /. password was too easy to guess.
  9. Re:Slightly OT by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny
    Then I have a good idea for an infinite motion machine. Put the liquid helium, as well a turbine, inside of a Klein bottle. As the helium tries to escape out of the hole it will only lead back into the bottle - meanwhile producing electricity through the turbine!
    And if the whole "perpetual motion" thing doesn't work out, at least you've got one hell of a killer bong...
  10. Supersoldier by WernerStormcrow · · Score: 2, Funny

    Did anyone else read "Scientists create supersoldier" at first?


    Maybe I'm just a bit jumpy, because I've just had my morning coffee... BTW, do you people also hear a clicking sound every time you phone your left-wing journalist friend? Strange...

  11. Old news... by woohoodonuts · · Score: 3, Funny

    What's the big friggin deal? I've been using this stuff in the flux capacitor of my DeLorean for like twenty years...

    ~Doc

  12. Re:MANY more states of matter by bravehamster · · Score: 4, Funny

    Professor Jonathan Vos Post
    Woodbury University
    have an accounton /. but keep forgetting password...

    and here I thought "absent-minded professor" was just a cliche ;)

    --
    ---- El diablo esta en mis pantalones! Mire, mire!
  13. Re:Haiku by Walles · · Score: 4, Funny
    But seriously, this stuff is really cool.

    Thanks, but that was kind of obvious. It was the other parts that needed explaining.

    --
    Installed the Bubblemon yet?
  14. Re:Supersolids by Porthos · · Score: 3, Funny
    A superfluid is a fluid that flows without viscosity, meaning that if you were to stir a spoon in a superfluid soup, you could take out the spoon and the soup would keep swirling forever on, since there is no mechanism there (i. e. no friction) to make the vortex you just made disappear.


    How exactly does the spoon start the soup swirling? If a superfluid has no viscosity, the spoon isn't able to disturb it, right?
  15. Re:I wonder... by meta-monkey · · Score: 2, Funny

    Heisenberg was never sure whether he did it or not.

    --
    We don't have a state-run media we have a media-run state.
  16. Helium 3? Pffft. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    This is Helium 4 we're talking about. It is obviously better than Helium 3. Your dad needs to get with the times.