Researchers at New York University have developed a technique called "Crystal Clear" that allows scientists to visualize the internal structure of colloidal crystals in three dimensions. Using transparent particles, dye molecules, and confocal microscopy, they can create dynamic models to study the arrangement and defects within crystals, providing new insights into crystallization processes and potentially aiding in the development of better materials.
Physicists from the University of Utrecht and the Faculty of Physics at the University of Warsaw have observed the Brazil nut effect in a mixture of charged colloidal particles, confirming that the process can occur spontaneously without the need for external energy. The discovery could have applications in fields such as geology and soft matter physics, as well as in industry for the stability of paint and ink.
Physicists have observed the Brazil nut effect in a mixture of charged colloidal particles, confirming that the process can occur spontaneously without external energy. The Brazil nut effect is the phenomenon of large objects rising to the surface of a mixture of small objects, which contradicts the intuition that heavier objects should sink to the bottom due to gravity and inertia force. The discovery could find applications in a wide range of fields, from geology to soft matter physics.
