Scientists Make Water Run Uphill 144
redshadow01 writes to mention a BBC story about scientists flouting the laws of physics for fun, and profit. From the article: "The US scientists did the experiment to demonstrate how the random motion of water molecules in hot steam could be channelled into a directed force. But the team, writing in Physical Review Letters, believes the effect may be useful in driving coolants through overheating computer microchips."
M. C. Escher & Dyson. (Score:5, Interesting)
So Escher was right after all (Score:3, Interesting)
Against the flow (Score:3, Interesting)
Very Impressive, but... (Score:1, Interesting)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aqueduct_(Roman) [wikipedia.org]
Re:Interesting (Score:3, Interesting)
Yeah, like heating the water, and using it to drive the turbine.
Or around here, pumping the water into the ground, where it is heated, and comes out through the natural geothermal vents, driving a turbine.
I live in Lake County, California, USA, and Calpine (which is rapidly approaching bankruptcy, or just declared it, or something) is selling "The Geysers" to some other company, but lately they've been pumping half-treated sewage into the ground in order to replenish the water that drives the turbines, so they can stay in business...