Forgot your password?

typodupeerror
Science

Morphing Metals 121

Posted by samzenpus
from the forge-ahead dept.
aarondubrow writes "Imagine a metal that 'remembers' its original, cold-forged shape, and can return to that shape when exposed to heat or a magnetic pulse. Like magic out of a Harry Potter novel, such a metal could contract on command, or swing back and forth like a pendulum. Believe it or not, such metals already exist. First discovered in 1931, they belong to a class of materials called 'shape memory alloys (SMA),' whose unique atomic make-up allows them to return to their initial form, or alternate between forms through a phase change."

Comment: Re:Or you could (Score 1) 390

by morie (#33056634) Attached to: If You Don't Want Your Car Stolen, Make It Pink

It's considered a luxury.

Or an option for people who do not care about performance. There is still the widespread illusion that automatic transmissions shift at sub-optimal moments. Many people want to control shifting gears themselfs and regard automatic transmissions as inferior. Even more so for (much more efficient and responsive) Continuous Variable Transmission (invented in the Netherlands). Those were marketed as "so easy even your grandmother can drive one" and are subsequently associated with granny's driving performance.

Comment: Re:Abolish the Penny (Score 1) 594

by morie (#32123258) Attached to: On Pennies:

Even more interesting: even though the prices are rounded with cash payments, they are not for debit or creditcards. You could profit from this!(though not much :-)

Even stranger: you cab still use the 1 or 2 ct coins, but even then you have to pay the rounded amount (http://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten-en-publicaties/vragen-en-antwoorden/mogen-winkeliers-betalingen-afronden-op-5-eurocent.html, dutch)

Incidently, your two cents should be rounded to 0.

Promptness is its own reward, if one lives by the clock instead of the sword.

Working...