A groundbreaking discovery at the University of Massachusetts Amherst has unveiled a new type of liquid that behaves in surprising ways, challenging long-held principles of thermodynamics.
Researchers, led by graduate student Anthony Raykh, found that a mixture of oil, water, and magnetized nickel particles can form a specific shape—a curvaceous urn—that consistently reappears even after vigorous shaking.
Inspired by the emulsification process that allows oil and water to mix, like in salad dressing, Raykh replaced traditional ingredients with magnetized particles to explore new material behaviors.
“When I shook the mixture, it unexpectedly formed this beautiful urn shape—and it kept doing it, no matter how hard I tried to disrupt it,” said Raykh.
The interplay between quantum theory and thermodynamics
Researchers sought help from experts at UMass Amherst, including Thomas Russell and David Hoagland, both polymer science professors. They joined forces with colleagues from Tufts and Syracuse universities, combining experiments and computer simulations.
The team discovered that the particles’ strong magnetism increased the tension at the boundary between oil and water, a complete reversal of what typically happens.
This unique tension causes the liquid mixture to self-organize into an elegant, urn-like shape. “When you see something that defies expectations, you must explore it,” said Russell.
Though the practical applications of this discovery are not yet clear, it opens new doors in soft-matter physics and material science. Researchers are excited about how this mysterious state of matter could influence future technologies.
Journal Reference:
- Raykh, A., Paulsen, J.D., McGlasson, A. et al. Shape-recovering liquids. Nat. Phys. (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41567-025-02865-1
Source: Tech Explorist
