Gizmodo got an exclusive with
Bill Nye the Science Guy, and I’m totally jealous. The celebrity science nerd penned a “Giz Explains” column about the science of "oleophobia" and how it relates to the new iPhone’s screen.
“The new 3GS iPhone has a coating that helps you leave no, well hardly any, prints–-fingerprints. The glass screen is coated with a polymer, a plastic that human skin oil doesn't adhere to very well. People in the chemical bonding business like to call the finished surface ‘oleophobic.’”
He goes to explain that, etymologically, the word comes from the Greek root meaning “afraid of oil.“ So having an oleophobic screen means it has an aversion to the grease from your fingers or cheeks, which basically clings together instead of smearing on or sticking to the display. To make that work, Apple bonded an organic, oleophobic polymer to the glass so we can all enjoy pristine, fingerprint-free displays.
If you’re a chemistry geek interested in the nitty gritty of how all that works, go ahead and indulge you inner scientist by clicking
here.
[via
Gizmodo]
Adriana Lee - Mobile lifestyle editor / iPhone editor
Adriana Lee, a journalist and admitted gadget freak, has covered everything from business and tech trends to fashion and pop culture. Published in consumer and trade titles, she’s been showing...
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