Levitated Sample (IMAGE) Washington University in St. Louis Caption A solid sample hovers in space in NASA's electrostatic levitation chamber. Similar chambers built at Washington University in St. Louis are containerless containers that allow scientists to study materials undergoing phase transitions in the absence of contamination that might alter how the material behaved. Credit Jan Rogers/NASA Marshall Spaceflight Center Usage Restrictions Please credit the photo. License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.