'World Smallest Steam Engine' by Max Planck Institute Germany

German scientists from the Max Planck Institute succeeded in creating a world's smallest steam engine by using a laser and a small colloid balls. The researchers modeled the constrained model steam engine by Robert Stirling nearly 200 years ago.

But the difference, the researchers homemade engine system has a size that is much more than the mini's Stirling engine. If Stirling using traditional methods to move the piston with gas, then the researchers took advantage of the modulated laser. With a variety of different intensity, the laser is on the colloidal sphere that floats on the surface of the water will move the ball, such as the movement of gas at Stirling's engine.

To move the piston in the engine in the opposite direction, the researchers used another laser placed outside. Second laser is useful for increasing the water temperature where the ball was colloidal. By using a second laser alternately quickly, then the machine will produce a movement which in turn release heat energy.

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