Close Menu
NERDBOT
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
    Subscribe
    NERDBOT
    • News
      • Reviews
    • Movies & TV
    • Comics
    • Gaming
    • Collectibles
    • Science & Tech
    • Culture
    • Nerd Voices
    • About Us
      • Join the Team at Nerdbot
    NERDBOT
    Home»Science»Scientists Make LEGO Cool, Literally at 0 Kelvin
    Science

    Scientists Make LEGO Cool, Literally at 0 Kelvin

    Kurt BrozBy Kurt BrozDecember 30, 20192 Mins Read
    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

    Researchers are Lancaster University cooled a LEGO brick down to almost absolute zero, or the hypothetical thermal minimum a real object could reach.

    For those that don’t know, absolute zero is 0 Kelvin, or about -273 degrees C / -460 degrees F. In other words, it’s a brisk Ohio January day or Hoth at night when Luke would’ve froze to death. That’s cold, but aside from being cold, why make a LEGO one of the coldest objects on earth?

    Image: The crazy device, complete with LEGO, found in the published paper.

    Well, researchers were interested in whether LEGO bricks would make a good insulator. As it turns out, the interlocking mechanism that makes them fun (and also dangerous to step on) gives LEGO a good ability to insulate. ABS plastic or something similar could save money on creating new and better insulated devices and save some money. As a bonus, they might be made quickly through 3D printing.

    “Our results are significant because we found that the clamping arrangement between the LEGO ® blocks causes the LEGO ® structures to behave as an extremely good thermal insulator at cryogenic temperatures. This is very desirable for construction materials used for the design of future scientific equipment like dilution refrigerators.”

    -Dr. Dmitry Zmeev, Lancaster University

    The paper is available for free to read at Nature here: LEGO Block Structures as a Sub-Kelvin Thermal Insulator.

    Cover image: Josh Chawner (left) and Dmitry Zmeev (right) with cold LEGOs Photo: Lancaster University

    Do You Want to Know More?

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleNeil Innes, Monty Python Song Writer Dead at 75
    Next Article This Yoda Bookend Will “Force” Your Books to Stay in Place
    Kurt Broz
    • Instagram

    THE Kurt Broz is not just a personality for Nerdbot, but he's also the editor-in-chief and a real live scientist! Born on the snowy shores of Lake Erie in good ol' Cleveland, Ohio, Kurt Broz has been there and back again, now residing in sunny Southern California. You can find THE Kurt Broz in cosplay, buying comics, hiking, and even writing for Nerdbot and WLFK Productions. He may be a child of the 80's but he is certainly a man of the world.

    Related Posts

    Space Shuttle Discovery in orbit

    Smithsonian, Texas Fight for Ownership of Space Shuttle Discovery

    July 9, 2025

    Scientists Are Dropping Millions of Mosquitos to Save Hawaiian Bird Population

    June 17, 2025

    5 Easy Ways to Make Your Website Template Look Custom-Made

    June 8, 2025

    Metal Strength Testing Methods: From Tension to Impact

    May 1, 2025

    How Often Should You Calibrate Your Tensile Testing Equipment?

    May 1, 2025

    OSPF Basics for CCNA: LSA Types, Areas, and Metrics

    April 16, 2025
    • Latest
    • News
    • Movies
    • TV
    • Reviews

    What is Shopify, and How Does Shopify Work? 

    July 11, 2025
    Mobile App Development

    Designing an App Walkthrough That Encourages Feature Adoption Naturally

    July 11, 2025

    The Blend of Pop Culture and Holiday Decor

    July 11, 2025

    Why Digital Product Story Systems Are Key to Sustainable Growth

    July 11, 2025

    “Superman” Big, Beautiful Mess Bursting With Color, Hope [Review]

    July 11, 2025

    Empowering the Next Generation: Abu Dhabi Celebrates Its First Charter School Graduates

    July 11, 2025

    Gamification of Entertainment: How are new Technologies changing Indoor Game Activities?

    July 10, 2025

    Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne Farewell Concert Raises $190 Million

    July 9, 2025

    “Superman” Big, Beautiful Mess Bursting With Color, Hope [Review]

    July 11, 2025

    Two-Part “Aladdin” Horror Film Set for 2026 Release

    July 10, 2025

    First Trailer for Millennium’s “Red Sonja” Hits

    July 10, 2025

    Cameras Are Rolling on “Dune Part 3”

    July 8, 2025

    “Outlander” Prequel Series “Blood of My Blood” Gets Trailer

    July 10, 2025

    Netflix “Monster” Season 4 May Focus on Lizzie Borden

    July 8, 2025

    CD Projekt Red Confirm “Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2” with Teaser

    July 5, 2025

    “South Park” Creators Call Paramount-Skydance Merger ‘S***show’

    July 4, 2025

    “Superman” Big, Beautiful Mess Bursting With Color, Hope [Review]

    July 11, 2025

    James Gunn’s “Superman” Brings Updated Meaning to the Man of Steel [Spoiler-Free Review]

    July 8, 2025

    The F11PRO 2 Drone – Pro-Level Performance Meets Sleek Design

    July 3, 2025
    "M3GAN," 2025

    “M3GAN 2.0” A Sequel That Forgets to Have Fun [Review]

    June 29, 2025
    Check Out Our Latest
      • Product Reviews
      • Reviews
      • SDCC 2021
      • SDCC 2022
    Related Posts

    None found

    NERDBOT
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
    Nerdbot is owned and operated by Nerds! If you have an idea for a story or a cool project send us a holler on [email protected]

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.