The freezing temperature record for water has been broken. Free Technical Library News

NEWS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, NOVELTY IN ELECTRONICS
Free technical library / timeline

Water freezing point record broken

01.01.2022

Knowing how and why water turns to ice is essential to understanding a wide range of natural processes. Climate fluctuations, cloud dynamics and the water cycle are affected by the transformation of water and ice, as are animals living in freezing conditions.

Tree frogs, for example, survive the winter on land by allowing their bodies to freeze. This allows them to emerge from hibernation faster than species that hibernate deep underwater without freezing. But ice crystals can rupture cell membranes, so animals that use this technique need to find a way to prevent ice from forming in their cells and tissues. A better understanding of how water freezes can lead to a better understanding of these extreme species.

Although the rule of thumb is that water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius, water can remain liquid in the low temperature range under certain conditions. Until now, it was believed that this range stopped at minus 38 degrees Celsius. A little lower - and the water should freeze. For the first time, researchers have managed to keep water droplets in a liquid state at temperatures down to -44 degrees Celsius.

The opening was aided by very small droplets and a very soft surface. They started with droplets ranging in size from 150 nanometers, slightly larger than an influenza virus particle, to two nanometers, a cluster of just 275 water molecules. This range of droplet sizes has helped researchers unravel the role of size in the transformation of water into ice.

Since it is virtually impossible to observe the freezing process on such a small scale, the researchers used measures of electrical conductivity - since ice is more conductive than water - and light emitted in the infrared spectrum to capture the exact moment and temperature at which droplets transform from water to ice.

It has been found that the smaller the drop size, the colder it must be for ice formation, and for droplets 10 nanometers in size and smaller, the rate of ice formation drops sharply. In the smallest droplets they measured, ice did not form until the water reached -44°C.

The discovery could go a long way in preventing icing of man-made materials such as aviation and power systems, Ghasemi said. If water takes longer to freeze on soft surfaces, engineers can incorporate a mixture of soft and hard materials into their designs to keep ice from forming on those surfaces.

<< Back: Electricity from sea lettuce 02.01.2022

>> Forward: Christmas ball with real snow generation 01.01.2022

Latest news of science and technology, new electronics:

The existence of an entropy rule for quantum entanglement has been proven 09.05.2024

Quantum mechanics continues to amaze us with its mysterious phenomena and unexpected discoveries. Recently, Bartosz Regula from the RIKEN Center for Quantum Computing and Ludovico Lamy from the University of Amsterdam presented a new discovery that concerns quantum entanglement and its relation to entropy. Quantum entanglement plays an important role in modern quantum information science and technology. However, the complexity of its structure makes understanding and managing it challenging. Regulus and Lamy's discovery shows that quantum entanglement follows an entropy rule similar to that for classical systems. This discovery opens new perspectives in the field of quantum information science and technology, deepening our understanding of quantum entanglement and its connection to thermodynamics. The results of the study indicate the possibility of reversibility of entanglement transformations, which could greatly simplify their use in various quantum technologies. Opening a new rule ... >>

Mini air conditioner Sony Reon Pocket 5 09.05.2024

Summer is a time for relaxation and travel, but often the heat can turn this time into an unbearable torment. Meet a new product from Sony - the Reon Pocket 5 mini-air conditioner, which promises to make summer more comfortable for its users. Sony has introduced a unique device - the Reon Pocket 5 mini-conditioner, which provides body cooling on hot days. With it, users can enjoy coolness anytime, anywhere by simply wearing it around their neck. This mini air conditioner is equipped with automatic adjustment of operating modes, as well as temperature and humidity sensors. Thanks to innovative technologies, Reon Pocket 5 adjusts its operation depending on the user's activity and environmental conditions. Users can easily adjust the temperature using a dedicated mobile app connected via Bluetooth. Additionally, specially designed T-shirts and shorts are available for convenience, to which a mini air conditioner can be attached. The device can oh ... >>

Energy from space for Starship 08.05.2024

Producing solar energy in space is becoming more feasible with the advent of new technologies and the development of space programs. The head of the startup Virtus Solis shared his vision of using SpaceX's Starship to create orbital power plants capable of powering the Earth. Startup Virtus Solis has unveiled an ambitious project to create orbital power plants using SpaceX's Starship. This idea could significantly change the field of solar energy production, making it more accessible and cheaper. The core of the startup's plan is to reduce the cost of launching satellites into space using Starship. This technological breakthrough is expected to make solar energy production in space more competitive with traditional energy sources. Virtual Solis plans to build large photovoltaic panels in orbit, using Starship to deliver the necessary equipment. However, one of the key challenges ... >>

New method for creating powerful batteries 08.05.2024

With the development of technology and the expanding use of electronics, the issue of creating efficient and safe energy sources is becoming increasingly urgent. Researchers at the University of Queensland have unveiled a new approach to creating high-power zinc-based batteries that could change the landscape of the energy industry. One of the main problems with traditional water-based rechargeable batteries was their low voltage, which limited their use in modern devices. But thanks to a new method developed by scientists, this drawback has been successfully overcome. As part of their research, scientists turned to a special organic compound - catechol. It turned out to be an important component that can improve battery stability and increase its efficiency. This approach has led to a significant increase in the voltage of zinc-ion batteries, making them more competitive. According to scientists, such batteries have several advantages. They have b ... >>

Alcohol content of warm beer 07.05.2024

Beer, as one of the most common alcoholic drinks, has its own unique taste, which can change depending on the temperature of consumption. A new study by an international team of scientists has found that beer temperature has a significant impact on the perception of alcoholic taste. The study, led by materials scientist Lei Jiang, found that at different temperatures, ethanol and water molecules form different types of clusters, which affects the perception of alcoholic taste. At low temperatures, more pyramid-like clusters form, which reduces the pungency of the "ethanol" taste and makes the drink taste less alcoholic. On the contrary, as the temperature increases, the clusters become more chain-like, resulting in a more pronounced alcoholic taste. This explains why the taste of some alcoholic drinks, such as baijiu, can change depending on temperature. The data obtained opens up new prospects for beverage manufacturers, ... >>

Random news from the Archive

Flight over the volcano 03.10.2006

The Cotopaxi volcano (the highest active volcano on the planet, 5897 meters) is located just 55 kilometers from the capital of Ecuador, the two-millionth city of Quito.

A dangerous neighbor needs constant monitoring. Until recently, it was conducted from helicopters and light aircraft, but this method is too expensive.

The Institute of Aerospace Engineering in Braunschweig (Germany) has created an unmanned aerial vehicle "Carollo R-330" with a wingspan of 330 centimeters, capable of flying to altitudes of up to 7000 meters. An airplane weighing 5 kilograms carries cameras and various sensors. It is controlled by an autopilot the size of a pack of cigarettes, it includes a gyroscope, a satellite navigation receiver and a microcomputer.

By design, "Carollo" is a motor glider with an electric drive: the energy of a battery weighing 1100 grams allows you to rise up and soar there using ascending air currents. Carollo is already being used by Ecuadorian volcanologists to photograph fresh lava flows from the Cotopaxi crater and other volcanoes. The device costs 20 thousand euros, but it pays off in ten flights.

See full Archive of science and technology news, new electronics

All languages of this page

Home page | Library | Articles | Website map | Site Reviews