DOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

PNNL researchers saw for the first time a phenomenon that was theorized more than 20 years ago. Shown here is a PNNL illustration of the phenomenon, 'solvent cavitation under solvo-phobic confinement,' which PNNL researchers saw occur with carbon-rich nanorods they mistakenly created. PNNL's viewing of the phenomenon involved liquid spontaneously evaporating after being confined within tiny spaces in between touching nanorods. Image from S. Nune et al, Nature Nanotechnology, 2016.

Weird, Water-Oozing Material

The discovery could lead to low-energy water harvesting and purification for the developing world, and fabric that automatically pulls sweat away from the body.