Scientists make ‘impossible material'

[seeder]

Scientists accidentally make ‘impossible material’ Upsalite - the world’s most efficient water absorber

Human error solves problem of how to produce world’s most efficient water absorber more cheaply

It is so difficult to make that the researchers who first discovered it called it the “impossible material”.

Now a century later, a team of Swedish scientists have done the impossible by producing the substance known as Upsalite by accident – after leaving their equipment running over the weekend.

The breakthrough has far-reaching commercial applications, as Upsalite (named after the University of Uppsala, where the scientists are based) is the world’s most efficient water absorber, with potential to be used for the removal of moisture in drug creation and high-tech electronics to cleaning up huge oil spills

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/scientists-accidentally-make-impossible-material-upsalite--the-worlds-most-efficient-water-absorber-8760118.html

[Space Commander Travis]

That's how all the greatest scientific disoveries are made. Wasn't it louis Pasteur* who left a bottle of milk out while he went on holiday, and found this penicillin stuff inside it when he got back, and the microwave oven was invented when someone experimenting with some sort of Radar thing found that it had melted a bar of chocolate he had in his pocket. Something like that anyway.

* possibly Alexander Fleming

[seeder]

That's how all the greatest scientific disoveries are made. Wasn't it louis Pasteur* who left a bottle of milk out while he went on holiday, and found this penicillin stuff inside it when he got back, and the microwave oven was invented when someone experimenting with some sort of Radar thing found that it had melted a bar of chocolate he had in his pocket. Something like that anyway.

* possibly Alexander Fleming

absolutely. In fact if my father is to be believed, even I was created by accident

[Eldorado]

I can't help but wonder what else our illustrious scientists have created by accident; stuff that they'd rather not shout about.

(lol)

Edited August 16, 2013 by Eldorado

[brlesq1]

I'm sure there are lots of things.

[seeder]

I can't help but wonder what else our illustrious scientists have created by accident; stuff that they'd rather not shout about.

(lol)

Flubber?

[bassai26]

why is that always to be by accident...

[NatureBoff]

Scientists accidentally make ‘impossible material’ Upsalite - the world’s most efficient water absorber

Human error solves problem of how to produce world’s most efficient water absorber more cheaply

It is so difficult to make that the researchers who first discovered it called it the “impossible material”.

Now a century later, a team of Swedish scientists have done the impossible by producing the substance known as Upsalite by accident – after leaving their equipment running over the weekend.

The breakthrough has far-reaching commercial applications, as Upsalite (named after the University of Uppsala, where the scientists are based) is the world’s most efficient water absorber, with potential to be used for the removal of moisture in drug creation and high-tech electronics to cleaning up huge oil spills

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/scientists-accidentally-make-impossible-material-upsalite--the-worlds-most-efficient-water-absorber-8760118.html

I wonder whether the science of the "impossible" has anything to do with the absorption of milk by the elephant-god statues in India? Hindu milk miracle

[Taun]

Nylon (and plastic in general I believe) were discovered (twice) by accident... The first time the "inventor" just poured it down the drain, not realizing what he was discovered... the second time it was

discovered in a Dupont Lab and the rest is history...

If anyone has ever watched the brilliant TV show "Connections" they will see that many inventions were either total accidents, or serandipitous (sp?) discoveries that were not looked for...

@ Eldo:

I was definitly made "by accident" as my dad told me (many times while 'correcting my wayward ways') "I sure didn't plan someone who would do (fill in the blank) on purpose!"

Edited August 16, 2013 by Taun

[Aggie]

Quinine (to treat Malaria) was also synthezised by accident.

I think it's great that they will be able to use it to clean oil spills. But, as my profession involves very elderly patients, maybe I should suggest to use it in incontinence pads that could make so many people's lives easier.

[seeder]

I wonder whether the science of the "impossible" has anything to do with the absorption of milk by the elephant-god statues in India? Hindu milk miracle

cant you ever stay on one topic without trying to divert it to other un-connected things?

[NatureBoff]

cant you ever stay on one topic without trying to divert it to other un-connected things?

Lol. The soapstone used for easy carving could have the same kind of structure as Upsalite. It's a good possibility imv.

[FurthurBB]

That's how all the greatest scientific disoveries are made. Wasn't it louis Pasteur* who left a bottle of milk out while he went on holiday, and found this penicillin stuff inside it when he got back, and the microwave oven was invented when someone experimenting with some sort of Radar thing found that it had melted a bar of chocolate he had in his pocket. Something like that anyway.

* possibly Alexander Fleming

Not to mention DNA fingerprinting. It was an experiment gone very wrong that led to the discovery of minisatellites that allowed for DNA fingerprinting. Oh, it was fleming and it wasn't a bottle of milk. He was growing bacteria and left it unattended for several days and when he came back all the samples were contaminated with mold and the bacteria were dead.

Edited August 17, 2013 by FurthurBB

[FurthurBB]

Nylon (and plastic in general I believe) were discovered (twice) by accident... The first time the "inventor" just poured it down the drain, not realizing what he was discovered... the second time it was

discovered in a Dupont Lab and the rest is history...

If anyone has ever watched the brilliant TV show "Connections" they will see that many inventions were either total accidents, or serandipitous (sp?) discoveries that were not looked for...

@ Eldo:

I was definitly made "by accident" as my dad told me (many times while 'correcting my wayward ways') "I sure didn't plan someone who would do (fill in the blank) on purpose!"

Teflon was kind of invented by accident. They were not looking for a nonstick coating, they were trying to create something else, but I cannot remember what.

[FurthurBB]

Quinine (to treat Malaria) was also synthezised by accident.

I think it's great that they will be able to use it to clean oil spills. But, as my profession involves very elderly patients, maybe I should suggest to use it in incontinence pads that could make so many people's lives easier.

Quinine is naturally occuring and was used by peruvians long before it was synthesized in a lab. It was no accident to synthesize it either. It was already used to treat malaria, but the US government during WWII was worried about not having enough or not being able to acquire enough to treat soldiers who came down with malaria so they pushed for chemists to find a way and they did. Although, it is not ecconomical to synthesize it over acquiring it from the natural source.