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Overturning a 200-year belief: New surface design enables two distinct wetting states on a single substrate

Phys · · 543 words · By National Institute
Environmental Sustainability Scientific Innovation Materials Science

Researchers at NIMS have discovered a method to create two distinct wetting states—sticky and repellent—on a single non-textured substrate. This finding challenges a long-held scientific belief regarding interface chemistry and may lead to more durable, environmentally friendly functional surfaces.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://phys.org/news/2026-05-overturning-year-belief-surface-enables.html

analyticsAnalysis

10%
Propaganda Score
confidence: 95%
Low risk. This article shows minimal use of propaganda techniques.

psychologyDetected Techniques

warning
Loaded Language 60% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
warning
Exaggeration / Hyperbole 70% confidence
Overstating facts or claims to create a stronger emotional response.

fact_checkFact-Check Results

9 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

verified Verified 5
info Single Source 3
help Insufficient Evidence 1
verified
“NIMS discovered a phenomenon in which droplets on a single solid surface exhibit both a 'sticky' and 'repellent' state simultaneously.”
VERIFIED
The official NIMS website explicitly states that NIMS discovered a phenomenon where droplets on a single solid surface exhibit both 'sticky' and 'repellent' states simultaneously.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Institute for Materials Research (金属材料研究所, Kinzoku zairyō kenkyūsyo), abbreviated IMR or Kinken (金研, Kinken), is a research institute for materials science in the Tohoku University, Japan. It cons…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institute_for_Materials_Resear…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Materials science in science fiction is the study of how materials science is portrayed in works of science fiction. The accuracy of the materials science portrayed spans a wide range – sometimes it i…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Materials_science_in_science_f…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — National Institute for Materials Science (物質・材料研究機構, Busshitsu-zairyō kenkyū kikō) is an Independent Administrative Institution and one of the largest scientific research centers in Japan.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Institute_for_Materia…
+ 3 more evidence sources
verified
“This is a discovery that overturns interface chemistry scientists' belief held for over 200 years that, on a non-textured surface, the wetting state is uniquely determined by solid/liquid combinations.”
VERIFIED
The official NIMS source confirms that this discovery overturns a belief held for over 200 years regarding wetting states on non-textured surfaces.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — This is a discovery that overturns interface chemistry scientists' belief held for over 200 years that, on a non-textured surface, wetting state is uniquely determined by solid/liquid combinations.
https://www.nims.go.jp/eng/press/2026/04/202604161.html
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web search NEUTRAL — The formula is no mere coincidence.Help fund future projects: https://www.patreon.com/3blue1brownAn equally valuable form of support is to simply share some ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNcFjFmqEc8
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — investigating the survival of SARS-CoV-2 on various surfaces.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5…
info
“This research result was published in Advanced Materials Interfaces on April 2, 2026.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence for claim 2 consists of general definitions of 'research' and does not mention the specific journal 'Advanced Materials Interfaces' or the date April 2, 2026.
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web search NEUTRAL — Research is creative and systematic work undertaken to increase the stock of knowledge. [1] It involves the collection, organization, and analysis of evidence to increase understanding of a topic, cha…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Access 160+ million publication pages and connect with 25+ million researchers. Join for free and gain visibility by uploading your research.
https://www.researchgate.net/
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web search NEUTRAL — 1 day ago · The Open Access journal Research, published in association with CAST, publishes innovative, wide-ranging research in life sciences, physical sciences, engineering and applied science.
https://spj.science.org/journal/research
info
“In 1805, Thomas Young discovered a law that a single wetting state is always determined according to the combination between a solid and a liquid.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The search results for 'Thomas Young' returned irrelevant information about 'Thomas the Tank Engine' and did not provide evidence regarding his laws of wetting from 1805.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Thomas runs on the Fat Controller 's North Western Railway on the Island of Sodor. He became the most popular character in the series, and is the titular protagonist in the accompanying television ser…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Tank_Engine
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web search NEUTRAL — Welcome to the official Thomas & Friends YouTube channel, where parents and kids can find new stories and adventures featuring the No. 1 Blue Tank Engine! Watch Thomas in his very first...
https://www.youtube.com/thomasandfriends/featured
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web search NEUTRAL — Thomas & Friends Games on Toongo bring cheerful tracks, memory puzzles, and musical rides with Thomas, Percy, James, and the whole engine crew.
https://toongo.io/games/thomas-and-friends
info
“the research team discovered a phenomenon in which droplets on the same substrate coexist in two contradicting states—sticky and repellent—in an experiment that casts water droplets onto a non-textured substrate immersed in oil.”
SINGLE SOURCE
While the NIMS source mentions the phenomenon, the specific detail about 'water droplets onto a non-textured substrate immersed in oil' is not explicitly detailed in the provided snippets, though it is implied by the context of the NIMS discovery. The other search results are completely irrelevant.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Login / Register with SCE.com to pay your bills, check your usage, and much more!
https://www.sce.com/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Magnetic fields are created whenever electrical current flows, similar to the way water flows when the nozzle of a hose is opened. Magnetic field strength is measured in units of gauss (G) or more com…
https://www.sce.com/outages-safety/power-safety/family-safet…
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web search NEUTRAL — CIAC Open Enrollment: September 1 - 30, 2025. To start a new claim, you must submit your claim on or before September 30, 2025, to receive a payout of the CA Industry Assistance Credit in April 2026.
https://www.sce.com/business/rates-financing/business-rate-p…
verified
“the droplet state was found to branch into two states—sticky and repellent—by merely changing the order of droplet casting and oil immersion, despite using the same combination of substrate and oil.”
VERIFIED
A web search result explicitly states that droplet states bifurcate between repellent or sticky depending on the order of droplet casting and oil immersion.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — For oils with a specific hydrophobic–hydrophilic balance, droplet states bifurcate between repellent or sticky depending on the order of droplet casting and oil immersion.
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/color-online-System-conf…
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web search NEUTRAL — Tea Tree Oil. This particular oil is also known for its antibacterial properties and can help in soothing the bites and other associated effects. You can stack up some of these oils along with coconut…
https://bedbugsos.ca/blogs/edu/does-coconut-oil-keep-bed-bug…
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web search NEUTRAL — Want to keep your cast iron cookware looking like new? Chef Frank Proto demonstrates and explains everything you need to know to get the best out of your cas...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4zW-C010oc
verified
“the team demonstrated that it is possible to switch from a sticky state to a repellent state by applying an external stimulus.”
VERIFIED
The official NIMS source explicitly mentions 'Switching from a sticky state to a repellent state by applying an external stimulus.'
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — In this video, you will learn how to make a paper dart from a sticky note. It's super easy to fold, and all you need is a Post-it Note!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXqCOg_1tQ8
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The sticky state is formed by first casting a water droplet, and then immersing the substrate in oil. (b) Switching from a sticky state to a repellent state by applying an external stimulus.
https://www.nims.go.jp/eng/press/2026/04/202604161.html
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web search NEUTRAL — Droplets of binary BECs rotating in trap potentials have also been studied [40–44]. Stable vortex droplets can also exist in a dipolar BEC, in which the atomic spins are po-larized in the same directi…
https://arxiv.org/pdf/2605.11670
verified
“the non-textured surface used in this study has remarkably higher mechanical durability compared to conventional microtextured structures.”
VERIFIED
The official NIMS source explicitly states that the non-textured surface used in the study has remarkably higher mechanical durability compared to conventional microtextured structures.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — In addition, the non-textured surface used in this study has remarkably higher mechanical durability compared to conventional microtextured structures.
https://www.nims.go.jp/eng/press/2026/04/202604161.html
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web search NEUTRAL — The bouncing ability of an impinging droplet on textured surfaces can be illustrated from three aspects, namely, the contact time, the ranges of velocities for rebound and the penetrating depth of liq…
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/265474800_Numerical…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Several preliminary studies have explored the use of microtextured surfaces to regulate the friction at the instrument–tissue interface. For instance, Wang et al. [40] fabricated microgrooves and cube…
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41871-026-00301-3
help
“Mizuki Tenjimbayashi et al, Bistable Wetting States on a Smooth Surface, Advanced Materials Interfaces (2026). DOI: 10.1002/admi.70495”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in the search results to verify the specific paper title, authors, or DOI.
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.