Friction: A Biography is a book about this invisible force that impacts every one of us daily and has been shaping human life from the start. From the DNA in our bodies to the formation of planets in the universe, friction is present and that’s what makes it such an intriguing force. However, friction is arguably the most underappreciated force in our lives. This is despite it being a key player in critical civilization advances such as controlling fire, transportation, space exploration, and even healthcare. When the Romans raced chariots, water wasn’t a sufficient lubricant for their axles. They turned to grease, which had the risk of igniting if the frictional heat got too high, so they regularly splashed water on the axles in addition to the grease to keep things cool. This was important for the feet of the drivers, too! At the other end of the spectrum, we had to develop new lubricants to help keep things moving in space. The extreme temperatures, vacuum, and lack of easy maintenance access poses an incredibly challenging set of conditions for machinery moving out there!
When people do think of friction, or hear the word, they typically have a negative perspective on it. After all, friction resists motion. It’s pushing against us, possibly diverting energy from where we want it to go. But friction isn’t necessarily an antagonist, and we do ourselves a disservice by viewing it that way. We can use friction as a tool to reduce energy and emissions in giant industries like transportation and manufacturing. Understanding its influence inside our bodies may help with the development of therapeutics. For example, the ejection velocity of a bacteria may influence the type of infection that results. We may be able to design systems with specific friction to control the ejection, allowing for a “good” bacterium to successfully infect a “bad” one. My book reframes friction into what it is: essential, powerful, and a tool of opportunity for us when we wield it correctly.
Ongoing thread. More from Jennifer R. Vail to follow.
