Unusual Fluids Flip, Twirl, and Redefine How Liquids Work
13th December 2019
When not confined to a container, liquids will splatter, dribble, and ooze. They shape-shift into their surroundings as puddles and streams, largely beyond human control.
Lauren Zarzar is trying to make more obedient liquids. Zarzar, a materials scientist at Pennsylvania State University, designs liquids that she can tame—fluids that move or change shape on command. That could mean a tube of water that retains its shape inside a second fluid, or a droplet that separates into two different oils when triggered by light. At their most ambitious, these liquids could even become electronic circuit components. Researchers have already made all-liquid wires and antennas.