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Little ANTs: researchers build the world’s tiniest engine
- kens 11y agoThere's an even smaller engine: the journal Science published a paper a couple weeks ago [1] about a single-atom heat engine. It uses a laser-cooling beam for the cold reservoir and electric field noise for the hot reservoir, and powers an oscillator. [1] http://science.sciencemag.org/content/352/6283/325 http://science.sciencemag.org/content/352/6283/325
- Retric 11y agoI don't think that qualifies as an engine or even tiny it needs both the ion trap and whatever's generating the laser is not that small. Sort of like building a tiny lava lamp while ignoring the lamp.
- sageikosa 11y agoMore of a motor. Doesn't generate its own power, but does have the capacity to provide motive power.
- rimunroe 11y agoI don't believe there is much of a distinction between the two. Engines and motors both convert energy to mechanical energy. I don't see this as any different from supplying fuel to a car engine.
- fasteo 11y agoOff topic, but when I read about nano engines, mitochondria come to my mind. A nano power generator that has been working millions of years to power humanity. This video[1] is a wonderful visual explanation. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XI8m6o0gXDY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XI8m6o0gXDY
- biot 11y agoFeynman would have loved to see this. Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_McLellan_(nanotechnology) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_McLellan_(nanotechnolo... Feynman was quoted as saying he was disappointed with the winning motor as he had hoped it would spur new fabrication methods, for which this motor certainly qualifies!