Herschel writes: > This is like the question "Why is water liquid, and not gas, on Earth ?" but it exists in all three common phases on earth ! ;) > > I think the molecular properties that make a substance opaque or > transparent may be better understood by looking at the way liquid > crystal shutters and displays work. By applying an electrical charge to > an otherwise opaque panel we can reorganize the structure and make it > transmit light. LCD's use polarizing screens, and the liquid crystals are polarized in such a way as to be perpendicular to the polarizing screen, blocking all light. under normal conditions the liquid crystals transmit light whether polarised or non-polarized.. effectively they are an electronic shutter :)
