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Scientists Create Supersolid From Helium
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?"
How can a fluid with no viscosity turn a turbine?
Always going forward, 'cause we can't find reverse.
One of the big problems our power grid has is that electricity must be generated based on demand. There's no way to store electricity for use later during peak hours.
However, a fluid or solid that "once stirred would continue swirling forever" sounds like an interesting possibility for a storage device. Imagine causing the fluid to begin spinning at a high rate using electromagnetic fields. Then, at some later time (i.e., peak demand periods), converting the kinetic energy of the fluid back into electricity. In a sense, it's a frictionless gyro that acts as a kinetic battery.
...expect to see the next generation of Apple PowerBooks constructed from Helium-4, "the world's strongest metal".
If something can flow then its liquid NOT a solid. I'm not arguing the physics, I'm arguing the definition of the english words.
If something swims in the water and has fins, then it's a fish, not a mammal. I'm not arguing the biology, I'm arguing the definition of English words.