Self-healing Metal: A Groundbreaking Discovery

Scientists from Sandia National Laboratories and Texas A&M University have observed a cracked piece of ultra-thin platinum "healing" itself, a phenomenon that could revolutionize engineering. Using a specialized transmission electron microscope technique, the researchers induced fatigue damage in the metal, causing microscopic cracks. Astonishingly, after around 40 minutes of observation, one section of the crack began to mend itself. The researchers are now focused on understanding the mechanism behind this self-healing process and its potential applications in engineering.