Changing weather patterns, like dry-wet and freeze-thaw cycles, significantly impact the release of harmful chemicals known as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) from soils at e-waste recycling sites. Tiny soil particles, called colloids, play a crucial role in moving these pollutants.
Tag: Colloids
Microspheres Quiver When Shocked
A challenging frontier in science and engineering is controlling matter outside of thermodynamic equilibrium to build material systems with capabilities that rival those of living organisms. Research on active colloids aims to create micro- and nanoscale “particles” that swim through viscous fluids like primitive microorganisms. When these self-propelled particles come together, they can organize and move like schools of fish to perform robotic functions, such as navigating complex environments and delivering “cargo” to targeted locations.