[X] My Assistant

[ngunn]

From 'Science Daily':

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/...90825163726.htm

[marsbug]

Exploring the exact mechanisms of adhesion at work with titan materials and under titan conditions would be fascinating. On earth most surface properties are actually determined by the layers of surface contaminants, of which water and organics are among the most common. Actuall direct contact between two materials will often result in an instant bond- hence why frictional forces tend to be so much higher in a vacuum. Low temperatures and direct contact will result in instant cold welds between asperities, or can result in much lower adhesion as the cold changes the properties of surface contaminants. So exactly how things work in titans ultra cold, organic-materials-and-cryo-liquids environment is compelling science. The biggest mystery is why things look so much like earth, and if that continues down to the finest scales?

Surface science is important to almost every industry, so we might learn some new tricks from titan?