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In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have discovered a metal capable of repairing itself, opening the door to a new era of engineering. While studying metal resistance, American researchers observed for the first time a piece of platinum, just 40 nanometers thick, closing cracks autonomously, without external intervention. Published in the prestigious journal Nature, the study surprised scientists, who are still trying to understand how this phenomenon works.
During the experiment, the tiny piece of platinum was subjected to repeated stresses under a transmission electron microscope, being stretched 200 times per second. This movement caused cracks known as “fatigue damage,” a form of wear caused by stress and constant movement. In normal situations, these cracks progress until they cause failures in metal structures or components. However, to the researchers’ surprise, after 40 minutes, the metal began to melt again on its own, defying established concepts in engineering.
New era of engineering with the discovery of self-repairing metal
Brad Boyce, a materials scientist leading the study, expressed surprise at seeing this behavior in the metal. “It was absolutely stunning “We have seen this firsthand,” Boyce said. He and his team believe that if this “self-healing” is understood and controlled, the discovery could mark the beginning of a new era in engineering, with applications ranging from bridges to engines and electronic devices, increasing the durability and resilience of metal structures.
In metallurgy, the trend is to design materials that prevent or slow down crack expansion, since crack formation is assumed to be irreversible. However, this new observation opens up the possibility of a completely different approach. “The premise that fatigue cracks can heal autonomously in metals challenges the most fundamental theories about how engineers design and assess fatigue life in structural materials,” say the authors of the self-healing metal study.
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Especially promising discovery
One possible explanation for the phenomenon is a process known as “cold welding,” in which closely spaced metal surfaces can bond together at room temperature due to the entanglement of atoms. While this phenomenon is more common under specific conditions, the fact that it occurred at room temperature during the metal experiment makes the discovery especially promising.
Michael Demkowicz, a member of the team and a researcher in the field, had already raised this possibility in 2013, but only now has he been able to observe it. According to him, this discovery could encourage the scientific community to explore to what extent this “self-healing” is applicable to conventional metals in more common conditions, such as outdoors.
While new investigations are conducted To further our understanding of this metal, the discovery serves as a milestone in materials science. “My hope is that this discovery will encourage researchers to consider that, under the right circumstances, materials can do things we never expected,” Demkowicz concluded.
Look at the Terminator becoming reality
That's right! 🤔😂
Yes, life imitates art.
The ancients created theories, after the invention of TV the theories became films.
Let's create the theory of money falling from the sky! 😂
Where it all began for the T-1000.
T-1000, is that you?
This is simply incredible. I imagine houses, cars, buildings, bridges, household items that never rust and rebuild themselves with nano robots. It would be extraordinary, like something out of a movie. But if this were really viable, there would be a lot of opposition due to hidden interests, just like many other technologies previously discovered that disappeared and their inventors died. Tesla is just one example, but leaving conspiracy theories aside, it is a fascinating discovery.
It is really impressive, incredible and wonderful to know that this exists. Before, for me, this was practically impossible, "just something from a movie." Now, hearing this information, I believe that many things will be improved. It will be something that will revolutionize metal infrastructure!