![\"Researchers](\"https:\/\/wp-assets.futurism.com\/2019\/11\/piece-metal-refuse-sink-300x158.jpg\")
<\/div>Seeing Double<\/h2>
Researchers from the University of Rochester just released a video that looks like an optical illusion. In the clip, they place two seemingly identical metal structures into a glass of water. But while one sinks to the bottom — you know, as you’d expect something metal to do — the other floats.<\/p>
That’s because the structures aren’t actually identical — and the one that floats could lead to the creation of unsinkable ships.<\/p>
Unsinkable Metal<\/h2>
On Wednesday, the researchers published a study<\/a> in the journal ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces<\/em> detailing their creation of the bizarre unsinkable metal.<\/p> Using extremely short laser bursts, they etched air-trapping patterns into two aluminum plates. They then created a structure in which the two plates were parallel to one another, with the etched surfaces facing inward but not quite touching.<\/p> The final result looks a bit like a really flat spool, but the tiny distance between the two plates is perfect for trapping air, even if the structure is submerged in water for months or punctured multiple times.<\/p> “This could allow ships to be made truly unsinkable,” the researchers note in the video, “even if they are severely damaged at sea.”<\/p> READ MORE:<\/strong> Spiders and ants inspire metal that won’t sink<\/a> [University of Rochester]<\/span><\/p> More on unsinkable structures:<\/strong> To Power Villages and Oil Rigs, Russia Sent a Nuclear Reactor on a “Tsunami-Proof” Barge<\/a><\/em><\/p> The post Watch a Piece of Metal Refuse to Sink in Water<\/a> appeared first on Futurism<\/a>.<\/p> See more here: Seeing Double Researchers from the University of Rochester just released a video that looks like an optical illusion. In the clip, they place two seemingly identical metal structures into a glass of water Continue reading Float On<\/h2>
Watch a Piece of Metal Refuse to Sink in Water<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"