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Morphing Metals

Posted by samzenpus on from the forge-ahead dept.

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."

3 of 121 comments (clear)

  1. Horseless carriages by fridaynightsmoke · · Score: 5, Funny

    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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    This is a substitute for a clever sig that fits within the maximum number of characters.
    1. Re:Horseless carriages by Haedrian · · Score: 5, Funny

      Those are the work of the devil. They will stop chickens from laying eggs and the speed that people will move in them will suck the air out of their lungs.

  2. Re:News? by thoughtfulbloke · · Score: 5, Funny
    If you like this article, you may excited to read other breaking tech news:
    • The cyclotron was invented
    • Thomas Edison submits last patent
    • Emerson Iron lung perfected
    • Deuterium discovered