{
  "id": 11265148,
  "title": "Crystals thinner than human hair can move or partly dissolve when exposed to chloroform",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/crystals-thinner-than-human-hair-can-move-or-partly-dissolve-when",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-01T19:40:48.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Phys.org",
    "slug": "phys-org",
    "url": "https://phys.org/news/2026-10-crystals-thinner-human-hair-dissolve.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Scientists have discovered that incredibly thin crystals, thinner than a single human hair, can undergo remarkable transformations when exposed to chloroform. The crystals, which are composed of rhenium complex molecules, display unique properties that make them suitable for advanced technology applications. Researchers at the University of Tokyo and the University of Hyogo used advanced instruments to study these crystals' behavior under chloroform vapor exposure.\n\nUsing high-resolution microscopy and X-ray diffraction, the researchers observed that the crystals absorbed chloroform and underwent significant changes in their molecular structure. In some instances, over 10,000 molecules within the crystal moved cooperatively, leading to a phase transition that altered the crystal's structure. This movement was attributed to changes in the crystal's volume and recrystallization processes.\n\nOne notable observation was deliquescence, a phenomenon where the crystal absorbed so much chloroform that parts of it dissolved. This discovery sheds light on the complex behaviors of crystals when interacting with volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which have various applications, including pollution detection. The researchers' findings offer potential insights into the fundamental behavior of crystals when absorbing vapor, which could pave the way for developing sophisticated devices such as sensors for VOCs.",
  "summary": "Many of the common materials we encounter in our daily lives are crystalline, including ice, salt and sugar. The crystal structures of some solids are formed from molecules arranged in simple geometric patterns, and these patterns can be changed to give the solids special properties required for high-tech applications. However, changing these connections requires extreme measures, such as high…",
  "key_points": [
    "Thin crystals, thinner than a human hair, exhibit unique properties.",
    "Chloroform exposure causes significant molecular changes in crystals.",
    "Deliquescence observed, parts of crystals dissolve in chloroform vapor."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}