Scientists in Germany have developed car windscreens that can de-ice in cold
weather without an inbuilt heating element. Bernd Szyszka of the Fraunhofer
Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films in Braunschweig put glass
sheets in a vacuum chamber with a plate made from a zinc-aluminium alloy.
Heating the alloy ejected metal atoms which embedded themselves in the glass
sheet. This makes the glass electrically conductive but still transparent. When
a current passes through the glass it heats it up, melting any frost.
To continue reading, today with our introductory offers
Advertisement
More from Â鶹´«Ã½
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Life
New-to-science spider builds trap that flings ants into the air
News
Health
How menopause radically changes the brain – and what happens after
Features
Mind
‘Fusogenic’ neurosurgery let paralysed pigs walk again – are we next?
Comment
Environment
A promising natural technique to remove CO2 could backfire
News
Popular articles
Trending Â鶹´«Ã½ articles
1
A quantum state that lasts forever may finally be within our grasp
2
We've found a mysterious substance on Titan and Pluto
3
People training new AI models admit they just get chatbots to do it
4
New-to-science spider builds trap that flings ants into the air
5
Faecal transplant makes the brains of old mice act young again
6
Has the answer to life's origins been hiding in our cells all along?
7
Can prebiotics, probiotics or postbiotics help your ageing microbiome?
8
Most portable air conditioners suck – but there's an easy fix
9
‘Fusogenic’ neurosurgery let paralysed pigs walk again – are we next?
10
This doctor is on the hunt for people with first-rate faeces
