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Home » Space/Science

Hoberman Fullerenes? March 30, 2012 6:09 pm Vitruvius

I was cruising around Wikipedia just now (because it’s Spring Break and I’m bored) when I found something interesting.

According to this article, Hoberman Spheres are polyhedrons that can be contracted and unfolded to different sizes. A little while before that, I had re-reviewed the article on Fullerenes, which as we all know are compact molecules of carbon in a polygon form. I noticed the two were similar in appearance, and that got the gears in my head spinning, to the point where I asked myself this.

Could you get a Fullerene molecule to behave like a Hoberman Sphere?

I know that carbon is famous for it’s intensely rigid atomic bonds, but I also know that there are circumstances under which molecular bonds flex, extend, or shrink. Could this occur in Fullerenes?

And yes, this is probably a stupid question, but I know jack diddly squat when it comes to these things.

  • Judging from the lack of responses, I'm thinking this was a stupid question after all. by VelociraptorBlade 2012-04-01 15:29:03
    • I doubt it was stupid, I just don't have any answers except that I believe the strength of carbon materials ... by bowser 2012-04-01 16:14:15
      • Actually, it was an excellent question. by TB 2012-04-01 16:12:18

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