The container-free material science laboratory cabinet allows scientists to study heat-resistant materials under extreme temperatures, capture "hardcore data" that ground-based experiments could never obtain, thereby paving the way for the design of new heat-resistant materials.
For the past four years, the container-free material science laboratory cabinet aboard the Tianhe core module of the Tiangong space station, has conducted experiments on tungsten alloy, niobium alloy, and other heat-resistant materials capable of withstanding the searing flames of rocket engines, as well as some new materials.
Now, this laboratory has heated tungsten alloy to over 3,000 C – nearly half the temperature of the sun's surface. This extraordinary achievement reflects breakthroughs in two key technologies.
On Earth, molten metal under gravity either sticks to containers like syrup or separates into layers of different densities separating into layers like oil and water – making it impossible to form a uniform alloy.
But in the microgravity environment of space, surface tension shapes molten metal into a sphere. The experiment cabinet then uses electrostatic forces to hold the metal steadily, suspending it in midair. It is completely free from container contact - neither contaminated nor disturbed – achieving true "container-free".
Secondly, the experiment cabinet's dual-wavelength laser system combining semiconductor laser and a carbon dioxide laser, combined with a high-power 300-watt output, melts tungsten alloy, a metal with an extremely high melting point, into a liquid sphere.
The coordination of these two key technologies allows scientists to observe the behavior of heat-resistant materials at extreme temperatures, for example, how tungsten alloy flows when melted and how it crystallizes when cooled. Such "hardcore data", which ground-based experiments could never capture, are paving the way for the design of new heat-resistant materials in China.
In the future, these materials could become the "armor" of spacecraft, able to withstand the blazing flames during atmospheric reentry. They could also serve as the "heart" of rocket engines, operating stably under extreme heat. Each breakthrough takes humanity one step closer to realizing its dream of voyaging to the stars and the vast oceans of space.
A Premier League match that lived up to its pre-match hype, the English champions went two-nil up but were outplayed by 10-men Newcastle and eventually threw away the lead to draw 2-2, only for a 16-year-old teenager to snatch a Liverpool victory deep into stoppage time!
Fuelled by the fervent home crowd, the Magpies dominated the first half. But the Reds rode out the storm and Ryan Gravenberch's faultlessly drilled shot from 25 yards went in off the post in the 35th minute for just his second ever Premier League goal. Hugo Ekitike doubled the lead just 20 seconds into the second half when the French forward superbly held up the ball, then smartly finished from the edge of the box.
It should have been plain sailing from there, but Liverpool still struggled and Newcastle levelled in the 57th and 88th minutes.
With 11 minutes added time, Rio Ngumoha came off the bench and got the boss out of jail with an incredible 100th-minute winner, superbly curling home a composed finish, to give Liverpool a priceless 3-2 triumph.
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