Nematic phases

Nematic phases are a state of matter observed in liquid crystals where the molecules are elongated and aligned in the same direction, but lack positional order. Imagine a group of pencils all pointing in the same direction but not arranged in a regular grid. This alignment affects how the material interacts with light, making nematic liquid crystals useful in display technology like screens. Their unique combination of fluidity and order allows them to change properties under external stimuli, such as electric fields, enabling controlled manipulation of light and color in devices.