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AND WE THOUGHT we knew all the shapes in the world, eh? Turns out there was another one hiding in our landline phones ALL along.
Scientists in Harvard have discovered a new shape, the hemihelix – otherwise known as the shape that a landline phone cord makes when it is pulled out of its tight coil. Kind of like this:
Why are they only finding this out now? No one even uses landlines anymore.
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According to Mashable, they’ve decided to call the kink-shape a hemihelix as it is an elongated helix (three-dimensional structure). A hemihelix forms when the direction of the spiral changes every so often along the length.
Think of a stretched-out Slinky toy and you’re close.
Mashable
Mashable
The researchers determined a natural way to create this kink by twisting and turning rubber bands – they say the new shape could lead to improvements in nanodevices like sensors and resonators.
Tip: The plural of hemihelix is “hemihelices”. Don’t get caught out now.
Thursday 26 December, 2024
Thursday 26 December, 2024
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Harvard scientists have found a new shape - it's in your phone cord
AND WE THOUGHT we knew all the shapes in the world, eh? Turns out there was another one hiding in our landline phones ALL along.
Scientists in Harvard have discovered a new shape, the hemihelix – otherwise known as the shape that a landline phone cord makes when it is pulled out of its tight coil. Kind of like this:
Why are they only finding this out now? No one even uses landlines anymore.
According to Mashable, they’ve decided to call the kink-shape a hemihelix as it is an elongated helix (three-dimensional structure). A hemihelix forms when the direction of the spiral changes every so often along the length.
Think of a stretched-out Slinky toy and you’re close.
The researchers determined a natural way to create this kink by twisting and turning rubber bands – they say the new shape could lead to improvements in nanodevices like sensors and resonators.
Tip: The plural of hemihelix is “hemihelices”. Don’t get caught out now.
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get in shape Harvard scientists Helix hemihelix new shape phone cord shape