CERE Seminar by Georgios Kontogeorgis
"Smart Water – Impressions from a recent book and more"
Abstract:
Water is earth’s most important substance and at the same time the least understood one. Despite its significance, many of water’s mysteries and anomalous behaviors have as yet not been well understood. In some cases, they are not understood at all. In other cases, prevailing explanations may not be the correct ones. This summer I have read the latest book of professor Gerald H. Pollack on “The Fourth Phase of Water”. In this book presents professor Pollack an inspiring, convincing (maybe true?) theory which can explain much of water’s behavior and associated phenomena. Professor Pollack’s theory challenges many of the established theories regarding water and colloid & surface science e.g. DLVO theory and offers alternative explanations for numerous everyday and engineering phenomena/challenges e.g. for the density maximum of water at 4 oC, the capillary rise, the freezing of warm water, why pure and salt water do not easily mix and for the optimum ethanol-water ratio for making vodka. And for much more.
With the “polywater” and “water memory” myths (are they really myths?) being still remembered, one may be tempted to dismiss any new attempt to understand water, which deviates from the traditional thinking. Still, prof. Pollack’s electrical theory is exciting to say the least!
In this presentation, I will present the new theory and illustrate how it claims to explain some of the special features of water. I will also present my point of view and compare the new theory with prevailing theories in this field. Then I will discuss in the same context some of the limitations or challenges of existing thermodynamic theories for water. And maybe give a hint or two on what should or could be done to provide some answers.