XPost: talk.politics.misc, alt.science, alt.global-warming

https://scitechdaily.com/anti-gravity-transport-of-water-droplets-material-channels-mechanical-energy-in-a-preferred-direction/

A research group led by scientists from the RIKEN Center
for Emergent Matter Science have developed a unique material,
based on nanofillers embedded in a hydrogel, that can channel
mechanical energy in one direction but not the other, acting
in a “nonreciprocal” way. Using the composite material—which
can be constructed at various sizes—the team was able to use
vibrational, up-and-down movements, to make liquid droplets
rise within a material. Using the material could thus make
it possible to use random vibration usefully to move matter
in a preferred direction.

. . .

DAEMONS !!! (Well, Maxwell's anyhow)

This sort of thing was largely considered kinda
impossible. Maxwell hypothesized a "daemon" in
the 1800s that could sort out moving gas molecules
by speed and either allow or forbid them from
entering a second chamber. It was assumed the
energy required to do that would equal or exceed
that gained by storing just the fast (hot) particles
in the first chamber.

That's probably still true ... but for human needs
the absolute energy involved may not be the most
important thing. This technique shows how "waste
energy" - low-level vibrations/heat not usable for
anything else can be channeled to yield a human-
relevant result. Lots of human energy consumption
involves nothing more impressive than just heating
up stuff a bit - and most of that energy expended
winds up as "waste", of too little oomph left to be
of practical use. This approach might be a way to
squeeze more work out of such energy.

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