Recently, scientists discovered that electrons can quickly adapt to their environment, much like a quick-change artist. By studying molten salts, they discovered that electrons can switch from one type of behavior to another in a mere fraction of a second. This discovery could have implications for the development of new materials with unique properties.

The behavior of electrons in a material is an important factor when considering the properties of that material. Understanding how electrons interact with their environment could help researchers make materials with higher conductivity, more efficient energy conversion, or other desired properties. However, until recently, it was unknown if electrons could quickly change their behavior in response to their environment.

Researchers from the University of Strasbourg and the Vienna University of Technology have provided the first evidence that electrons can adapt quickly to their environment. By studying molten salts, they discovered that electrons can switch from one type of behavior to another in less than a picosecond (one trillionth of a second). This ability of electrons to quickly switch behavior could be harnessed in the development of new materials with unique properties.

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source: Phys.org