In Titan UiO: "You are Electric - You give the screen shocks when you touch it."

Master’s student Victoria N. Torgersen has published an article in Titan where she dives into the fascinating world of crystals and their significance in technology!

Victoria wants to communicate that while we all know how to use smartphones, many are unaware of the small yet powerful components that make them work—like quartz. This common crystal has remarkable properties, including piezoelectricity, which generates electric voltage when pressure is applied.

Victoria uses the analogy of playful children to explain how organized atoms in crystals function. When pressure is applied to quartz, it's like a chain reaction among kids, creating tension—just as crystals do when force is exerted. This is what allows us to navigate, purchase tickets, and stay connected with just a swipe on our phones!

Crystals aren't just solids either; the touchscreens we use have liquid crystals that respond to the electrical field from our fingertips. Without these properties, our tech experiences would be much less convenient—think the hassle of using a Walkman and paper maps instead!

She finishes by urging us to take moment to appreciate the amazing abilities made simple, thanks to these tiny little crystals.

This article is a part Victoria's work in MNKOM the scientific communication course for natural sciences at UiO and published in Titan UiO.