All articles tagged with #molecular dipoles
New research from Saarland University reveals that ice's slipperiness is caused by molecular dipole interactions at the surface, not pressure or friction, overturning nearly 200 years of scientific understanding and showing that a liquid film can form even at extremely low temperatures.
A new study from Saarland University overturns the long-held belief that pressure and friction cause ice to be slippery, revealing that molecular dipole interactions at the surface disrupt ice's structure and create a thin liquid film, even at extremely low temperatures, fundamentally changing our understanding of ice slipperiness.
Researchers have observed a loophole in the fundamental principle of physics that like charges repel each other, finding that like-charged particles can attract each other over long distances in certain liquids. This behavior was observed in water and specific alcohols, and was attributed to the molecular nature of the liquids, leading to the emergence of an "electrosolvation force" at distinct pH ranges. The researchers believe this discovery could aid in understanding biomolecular condensates and their relevance to human diseases.