A team of scientists has created an engine that reaches temperatures even hotter than the sun’s core. This groundbreaking invention, named a Paul Trap, uses a microscopic particle held in place by electric fields at low pressure. By applying a fluctuating voltage to the electrodes, researchers can significantly elevate the heat generated by this engine.
While it won’t power a vehicle anytime soon, the team from King’s College London believes this engine can deepen our understanding of thermodynamics and protein folding. Their work could open new doors for medical treatments.
The Paul Trap is remarkable because it runs counter to traditional thermodynamics. For instance, it sometimes cools down when it should heat up. This unusual behavior stems from tiny thermal fluctuations that aren’t usually noticeable and can reveal more about the laws of physics at a microscopic level.
Molly Message, a PhD student at King’s, emphasized the importance of engines in understanding the universe. “Studying past engines, like the steam engine, led to key discoveries in thermodynamics,” she said. “Exploring new energy systems might expand our grasp of how the universe works.”
Moreover, the research has implications for protein folding, a crucial process in human health that was the focus of last year’s Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Proper protein folding ensures that our body’s vital processes run smoothly. Dr. Jonathan Pritchett, one of the researchers, explained, “Proteins drive many important functions in the body. Understanding their behavior can help tackle diseases.”
The team hopes to use the Paul Trap as an analog computer to predict protein folding. This would be a significant advancement, as traditional digital simulations struggle with the speed of protein folding. By tracking the motion of the microparticle in the Paul Trap, researchers can model protein behavior more effectively.
This innovative approach allows scientists to sidestep challenges faced in digital modeling. By observing how the microparticle moves, they can derive equations that reveal the complex forces at play in protein folding.
Ultimately, this revolutionary engine may lead to improved engines in real-world applications and further insights into human biology. The intersection of thermodynamics and molecular biology is not just a breakthrough in science; it could redefine our understanding of engines—and life itself.
For more details on this exciting development, you can check the official release from King’s College London and the study published in Physical Review Letters.
Source link
Chemistry, engine, Paul Trap, Sun, Thermodynamics, world’s hottest engine
