Chemistry: Crystal Versatility

A big picture window that turns opaque at the flick of a switch, giving those inside instant shade and absolute privacy. A wall clock, no thicker than a pane of safety glass, that flashes the hour without any tick or hum. A small screen that records the face of a telephone caller even when no one is home to pick up the receiver. Such items may seem like excerpts from a catalogue of 21st century technology, but RCA scientists say that they are already within reach. And they are only a small sampling of the practical new uses that are...

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