Scientists Create World's Smallest Steam Engine

First time accepted submitter Virtucon writes "German physicists say they've built a heat engine measuring only a few micrometers across which works as well as a normal-sized version — although it sputters, they admit. Researchers at the University of Stuttgart and the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems say that the engine does basically work, meaning there's nothing, in principle, to prevent the construction of highly efficient, small heat engines."

New Train scale soon to follow

[Tekfactory]

What was it Sheldon said on big bang theory, half the size, twice the fun.

Sputtering

[PopeAlien]

"although it sputters, they admit."

Isn't that exactly what a steam engine is supposed to do?

Next up

[ExploHD]

They'll be building a minature train that will span an entire millimeter and haul milligrams of freight

World Smallest Information Graphic....

[malakai]

http://img.tgdaily.net/sites/default/files/stock/450teaser/science/smallest_engine.jpg [tgdaily.net]
I mean, come on.

Re:Next up

[joocemann]

The mexican cartels gotta innovate. Thousands of micro trains hauling micrograms of coke across the border in microtunnels!

you can't stop what people want.