Latest Colloid Stories
Finding shows water-like behavior by spherical particlesBeyond its role as the elixir of all life, water is a very unusual substance: Scientists have long marveled over counter-intuitive properties that set water apart from other solids and liquids commonly found in nature.The simple fact that water expands when it freezes -- an effect known to anyone whose plumbing has burst in winter -- is just the beginning of a long list of special characteristics. (Most liquids contract when they...
There is no legitimate reason to swallow colloidal silver -- often sold as a cold medicine, decongestant, or all-around cure-all, says a U.S. newsletter. The Harvard Health Letter warns there may be some serious and/or strange side effects -- including turning blue. While silver may legitimately be found in silver sulfadiazine to treat serious burns, on fabric as a dressing for wounds and in silver nitrate to treat warts and corn, but there's no proof that taking colloidal silver by mouth...
By John Meurig Thomas; Luigi Dei The present intense activity in conserving the medieval paintings on the walls of Santa Croce Basilica in Florence ( La Leggenda della Vera Croce by the 14th-century painter Agnolo Gaddi), and indeed the restoration work of murals in churches across Italy and throughout the world, relies heavily on the ingenious innovations of Enzo Ferroni and his colleagues in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Florence. Wall paintings degrade as a result of the...
Nail polish and expensive cars can nowadays shimmer in many colours, thanks to progress in the field of colloid chemistry, the chemistry of small particles. The bright colours in modern finishes are created because the light is reflected at layers of regularly arranged colloid particles. Individual colours are either removed or strengthened; the thickness of the layers -- what is known as the "lattice constant" -- determines the colour. Because we can nowadays tailor the spherical...
NASA -- On a quiet March afternoon in Cleveland, Ohio, Bill Meyer browsed the second floor of Kohl's Department Store. He was just about to buy a pair of shoes at 70 percent off when his cell phone rang. Sighing, he lifted the phone to his ear and said, "Hello?""Is this William Meyer?" the voice on the other end inquired."Yes, it is," he replied."This is CapCom at the Johnson Space Center," the voice said. "Can you get to a land line? You have a...
