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Scientists Create Material With Only 2 Dimensions!

by Thomas
27 replies
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This is interesting:

Scientists create world's thinnest material - Telegraph

Okay, it's not actually 2-dimensional but, at 1 atom thick, is as close to 2-D as you can get in our 3-D (or is that 4-D) world!

Tommy.
  • Profile picture of the author myob
    This is fantastic. I heard of this before where this material can eventually be used to replace electronic circuits; for example in hand-held super computers, and for phones smaller than a coin.
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  • Profile picture of the author specialistk
    Thats pretty nuts, didn't even think that it was possible.
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    • Profile picture of the author Mike Wright
      "
      They report that free graphene is not perfectly flat but instead crumpled and this 'waviness' may be responsible for the unexpected stability of these extremely thin carbon membranes."

      A sort of corrugated carbonboard ?????
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      • Profile picture of the author Thomas
        Originally Posted by Mike Wright View Post

        "
        They report that free graphene is not perfectly flat but instead crumpled and this 'waviness' may be responsible for the unexpected stability of these extremely thin carbon membranes."

        A sort of corrugated carbonboard ?????
        Just the thing for packing my groceries in.
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      • Profile picture of the author HeySal
        Originally Posted by Mike Wright View Post

        "
        They report that free graphene is not perfectly flat but instead crumpled and this 'waviness' may be responsible for the unexpected stability of these extremely thin carbon membranes."

        A sort of corrugated carbonboard ?????

        Um....are you sure you aren't THAT Mike Wright?
        Signature

        Sal
        When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
        Beyond the Path

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        • Profile picture of the author Mike Wright
          Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

          Um....are you sure you aren't THAT Mike Wright?
          LOL Sal,
          there can be only one
          My 315th wife has bought me a new
          sword for xmas ... the old one wore out
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          • Profile picture of the author HeySal
            Originally Posted by Mike Wright View Post

            LOL Sal,
            there can be only one
            My 315th wife has bought me a new
            sword for xmas ... the old one wore out
            Ah. See now....had I not been multi-dimensional, I'd not have caught the similarities.

            So exactly how flat does something have to be to be 2 dimensional? My first grade teacher was wrong - a sheet of paper doesn't cut it at all by these terms. Is being encompassed by the third with no observability of it qualify?

            That was nice of your sweetie to notice that nick in your blade that the cartilage in Tycho Brahe's nose left. Unfortunate you hadn't kept it sharper.
            Signature

            Sal
            When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
            Beyond the Path

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  • Profile picture of the author Thomas Wilkinson
    Why would I want a phone as small as a coin.
    The one I have is lost half the time and even
    when its not I have to get my glasses out to
    see the numbers and my chubby little fingers
    always misdial at least once.

    Tom
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    When you hear someone telling you what YOU can't do, they are usually talking about what THEY can't do.
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    • Profile picture of the author myob
      Originally Posted by Thomas Wilkinson View Post

      Why would I want a phone as small as a coin.
      The one I have is lost half the time and even
      when its not I have to get my glasses out to
      see the numbers and my chubby little fingers
      always misdial at least once.

      Tom
      It will be operated by voice commands. Unless you stutter, you won't have a problem. I forgot where I read about, it but it is being developed by ATT, and you wear it like a watch.
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  • Profile picture of the author artwebster
    Never heard of the Mobius strip? That doesn't take a scientist to create.

    Take a strip of material and make a loop with a single twist in it and make sure the ends are equally wide so there is no obvious junction.

    This strip/loop has only one side and only one edge - and it can be as big as you like.

    One side and one edge doesn't even qualify for 2D!!!
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    You might not like what I say - but I believe it.
    Build it, make money, then build some more
    Some old school smarts would help - and here's to Rob Toth for his help. Bloody good stuff, even the freebies!

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    • Profile picture of the author Thomas
      Originally Posted by artwebster View Post

      Never heard of the Mobius strip?

      One side and one edge doesn't even qualify for 2D!!!
      A mobius strip has width, thickness (of the material) and length... THREE DIMENSIONS!
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      • Profile picture of the author artwebster
        Sorry Thomas,

        Since the mobius strip only has one side it cannot have thickness and since it is a loop, it has no measurable length - only an approximate circumference.
        Signature

        You might not like what I say - but I believe it.
        Build it, make money, then build some more
        Some old school smarts would help - and here's to Rob Toth for his help. Bloody good stuff, even the freebies!

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        • Profile picture of the author Thomas
          Originally Posted by artwebster View Post

          Sorry Thomas,

          Since the mobius strip only has one side it cannot have thickness and since it is a loop, it has no measurable length - only an approximate circumference.
          The material from which is it constructed is X atoms thick.

          That material is also X mm (or cm. or in. or whatever) from one side to the other.

          And put a mark somewhere on it and keep going with your measuring tape until you arrive back at the mark. That's the length, which is twice the length of the material used to construct it.

          See.

          Elementary, my dear Arty.
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          • Profile picture of the author artwebster
            Originally Posted by Thomas View Post

            The material from which is it constructed is X atoms thick.

            That material is also X mm (or cm. or in. or whatever) from one side to the other.

            And put a mark somewhere on it and keep going with your measuring tape until you arrive back at the mark. That's the length, which is twice the length of the material used to construct it.

            See.

            Elementary, my dear Arty.
            You would think so, wouldn't you - HOWEVER - thickness is a measure of the distance between one side and another - since there is only one side this measure cannot be made.

            Likewise, length is a measure between two finite points, not an approximation arrived at by arbitrary means. In theory the mobius strip is twice the length of the piece of material it is created from but, since it has no ends, it has no length and since the degree of twist is infinitely variable according to the stresses upon the strip, only an approximation of circumference can be made.
            Signature

            You might not like what I say - but I believe it.
            Build it, make money, then build some more
            Some old school smarts would help - and here's to Rob Toth for his help. Bloody good stuff, even the freebies!

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            • Profile picture of the author Thomas
              Originally Posted by artwebster View Post

              You would think so, wouldn't you - HOWEVER - thickness is a measure of the distance between one side and another - since there is only one side this measure cannot be made.

              Likewise, length is a measure between two finite points, not an approximation arrived at by arbitrary means. In theory the mobius strip is twice the length of the piece of material it is created from but, since it has no ends, it has no length and since the degree of twist is infinitely variable according to the stresses upon the strip, only an approximation of circumference can be made.
              Em... eh... eh...

              Touché, I think...
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          • Profile picture of the author Ken Strong
            Originally Posted by Thomas View Post

            The material from which is it constructed is X atoms thick.

            That material is also X mm (or cm. or in. or whatever) from one side to the other.
            Aha -- I've discovered the fatal flaw in your logic, my dear Mr. Thomas.

            "X" is not a number (unless you're in Rome, which you're not), it is a letter. Therefore your entire equation is vull and noid.
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            • Profile picture of the author Thomas
              Originally Posted by KenStrong View Post

              Aha -- I've discovered the fatal flaw in your logic, my dear Mr. Thomas.

              "X" is not a number (unless you're in Rome, which you're not), it is a letter. Therefore your entire equation is vull and noid.
              Ahhhh... therein lies the confusion.

              Thank you for clearing things up, my dear Mr. Ken.

              Regards,
              Mr. Thomas.
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  • Profile picture of the author valerieSONORA
    Am I the only one scared of Thomas? Seems he either gets some freaky, mad scientists newsletter or is part of some freaky, mad scientists club with all these weird science stories he comes out with. Next thing you know the government will be able to hear your thoughts. They can already see what's in your mind, now they just need to hear what you're thinking. Or can they do that already?
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    He was quite right until he accidentally started up the flux capacitor while operating the shitweasel reactor. He's never been the same since he collected himselves from 5 alternate universes and recompressed into the Tommy we know right here. It's not the 2nd dimensional stuff that really tweaks him now - it's the cravings he gets for 10th dimensional brandy alexanders that his third universal self was getting addicted to that really make him crazy. It's real simple....as long as you keep him away from ice cream he's a pretty normal guy.
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    Sal
    When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
    Beyond the Path

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    • Profile picture of the author Thomas
      Originally Posted by valerieSONORA View Post

      Am I the only one scared of Thomas? Seems he either gets some freaky, mad scientists newsletter or is part of some freaky, mad scientists club with all these weird science stories he comes out with. Next thing you know the government will be able to hear your thoughts. They can already see what's in your mind, now they just need to hear what you're thinking. Or can they do that already?
      You should be afraid: I have a lab.

      Originally Posted by KenStrong View Post

      You should be, Valerie -- he has the ability to make himself three-dimensional at will.
      I once tried 4D too. It wasn't pretty. I prefer to remain in my original 2D form. I even vistied Flatland for Christmas. It's nice there. Shame you can't kick a football around though.

      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      He was quite right until he accidentally started up the flux capacitor while operating the shitweasel reactor. He's never been the same since he collected himselves from 5 alternate universes and recompressed into the Tommy we know right here. It's not the 2nd dimensional stuff that really tweaks him now - it's the cravings he gets for 10th dimensional brandy alexanders that his third universal self was getting addicted to that really make him crazy.
      You swore you wouldn't tell. Expect blacksuited-goons at your door any moment!
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      • Profile picture of the author Thomas
        Originally Posted by Thomas View Post

        Expect blacksuited-goons at you door any moment!
        Well... just as soon as they're back from their Christmas holidays, that is. Damn; the new "Minimum Employee Hoilday Entitlements" legistation here is really killing my ability to be a manacing shadowy figure who can strike fear into the hearts of those who cross him.
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        • Profile picture of the author HeySal
          Originally Posted by Thomas View Post

          Well... just as soon as they're back from their Christmas holidays, that is. Damn; the new "Minimum Employee Hoilday Entitlements" legistation here is really killing my ability to be a manacing shadowy figure who can strike fear into the hearts of those who cross him.
          Oh Good. You startled me -- I needed time to shave my legs and give myself a facial and manicure before they get here. Please don't send any more guys over without advance notice, Tommy. You are soooo wicked.

          I didn't say I'd never tell anyone you messed up with the flux capacitor again -- I just promised not to tell what all of you did in the other dimensions. This snow thing is NOT funny though - you need to go back to that fifth dimensional lab of yours and fix that. Geesh.
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          Sal
          When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
          Beyond the Path

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  • Profile picture of the author gareth
    What I want is "full feild of vision" high resolution 3D glasses.

    They would have to have a concave display screen
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    Gareth M Thomas
    Serial Entrepreneur
    Auckland, New Zealand

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