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Introducing Magnet-Responsive Memory Foam

Posted by timothy on from the had-this-stuff-in-my-head-for-years dept.

Roland Piquepaille writes "The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has recently reported that two research teams have developed a new porous foam of an alloy that changes shape when exposed to a magnetic field. The NSF states that this new material is able to remember its original shape after it's been deformed by a physical or magnetic force. This polycrystalline nickel-manganese-gallium alloy is potentially cheaper and lighter than other materials currently used in devices ranging from sonar to precision valves. It also could be used to design biomedical pumps without moving parts and even for space applications and automobiles."

5 of 69 comments (clear)

  1. this substance has been around since 1991 by circletimessquare · · Score: 4, Funny

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-1000

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    intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
    1. Re:this substance has been around since 1991 by owlstead · · Score: 3, Funny

      I don't think the T-1000 was made of foam. It's been a while since I last saw the movie, but I cannot remember anything about a killer robot cuddling people to death.

  2. Fender Benders? by frinkacheese · · Score: 3, Funny

    This would be cool for bumpers (I think some of the colonies call them fenders). You could park your car, shunt the other card out of the way and then apply your magnetic field and say "Nar it wasn't me, mate. Look, my car is OK. Must have been some other bloke".

  3. Holy specious conclusions, Batman by heinousjay · · Score: 3, Funny

    Yeah, heaven knows the US would be a better place if we all knew how to build motors. Then the Democrats would rule forever!

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  4. Hmmmm... by tgd · · Score: 3, Funny

    *notices banner ad for fleshlight*

    I may just have an idea here...