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Morphing Metals
aarondubrow writes "Imagine a metal that 'remembers' its original, cold-forged shape, and can return to that shape when exposed to heat or a magnetic pulse. Like magic out of a Harry Potter novel, such a metal could contract on command, or swing back and forth like a pendulum. Believe it or not, such metals already exist. First discovered in 1931, they belong to a class of materials called 'shape memory alloys (SMA),' whose unique atomic make-up allows them to return to their initial form, or alternate between forms through a phase change."
Imagine a carriage that propels itself without the need for horses, fuelled by otherwise useless petroleum spirits. Like magic from some Jules Verne novel, such a carriage could carry a family for hundreds of miles at high speed without tiring, and could revolutionise transportation. Belive it or not, such carriages already exist....
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Where are those mod-points when i need 'm. Its a plot!
Hivemind harvest in progress..
Amazing stuff! A couple more decades and we'll have finally moved away from valve-based electronics, too! This truly is an era of change.
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I didn't know that the Terminator movies were written by this Harry Potter person.
The terminator movies weren't written. They just put the robots on a stage and let them improvise.
What! It works with Keanu Reeves.
Like magic out of a Harry Potter novel? Come on, It's clearly like T1000 technology out of Terminator 2!
Imagine a car made out of this kind of metal. Someone ploughs into you, tow the car home, apply a flame and presto! off you go again.
A memory-metal Pinto would be self repairing...
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I dunno, but there's this device called a "L.A.S.E.R." that sounds promising. Slashdot submission coming soon.
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NO CARRIER