We are used to struggling with thermostats and air conditioners to maintain a comfortable temperature in our homes and offices. But what if we could control heating and cooling remotely, without having to touch objects or people?
The long-range thermal lens, developed by Chinese scientists from Taiyuan Universitycould be the answer to this question.
A completely new technology
Le thermal active metasurfaces (ATMS) they are the heart of this new technology. By carefully distributing these metasurfaces, scientists were able to create materials with negative thermal conductivity. In practice, the long-range thermal lens allows you to focus heat and cold at a distance of "well" 19,8 millimeters. For now, of course.
Possible applications
This new tech could find use in many sectors.
For example, in the field of electronics, could protect heat-sensitive components, increasing their lifespan and efficiency. In the chemical industry, it would be possible to control the temperature during the reactions without directly interfering with the process. In the end, in the medical field, the long-range thermal lens could improve the accuracy of therapies and diagnostic procedures that require accurate temperature control.
Remote heating and cooling: future developments
Are so many. This technology could also lead to the discovery of new thermal effects, such as “thermal surface polaritons,” thermal superlensing, thermal tunneling, and thermal stealth passing.
implementing the long-range thermal lens could lead to significant improvements in sustainability and energy efficiency. With the ability to control heating and cooling remotely, we could reduce energy consumption and limit greenhouse gas emissions. This technology could also facilitate the creation of comfortable environments in hard-to-reach places, such as confined spaces or remote areas.
We are only at the beginning of this revolution. How do you say? Are you neither hot nor cold? Already. Not yet, friends. Not yet.
