Note 3 - Significant Transactions (Details Textual) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands						1 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2020	Feb. 16, 2017 USD ($) ft²	Mar. 10, 2016 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Dec. 06, 2013	Jan. 31, 2012	Jan. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Oct. 26, 2016 USD ($) $ / shares shares
Area of Land | ft²		41,000
Liquidmetal Golf [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Parent					79.00%
Eontec [Member]
Purchase Price for Machinery and Equipment | $							$ 780
Warrants in Connection with the 2016 Purchase Agreement [Member]
Class of Warrant or Right, Number of Securities Called by Warrants or Rights			10,066,809
Class of Warrant or Right, Exercise Price of Warrants or Rights | $ / shares								$ 0.07
Warrants and Rights Outstanding, Term								10 years
Warrants in Connection with the 2016 Purchase Agreement [Member] | Vest on March 10, 2016 [Member]
Class of Warrant or Right, Number of Securities Called by Warrants or Rights			2,609,913
Warrants in Connection with the 2016 Purchase Agreement [Member] | Vest on October 26, 2016 [Member]
Class of Warrant or Right, Number of Securities Called by Warrants or Rights								7,456,896
The 2016 Purchase Agreement [Member]
Common Stock Purchase Agreement, Number of Shares Authorized to Issue and Sell to Investors			405,000,000
Common Stock Purchase Agreement, Value of Shares Authorized to Issue and Sell to Investors | $			$ 63,400
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues			105,000,000
Stock Issued During Period, Value, New Issues | $			$ 8,400
Sale of Stock, Price Per Share | $ / shares			$ 0.08
Common Stock Purchase Agreement, Purchase Price per Share, After Satisfaction of Certain Conditions | $ / shares								$ 0.15
Common Stock Purchase Agreement, the Other Purchase Price per Share, No Later than 90 Days after Satisfaction of Certain Conditions | $ / shares								$ 0.25
Common Stock Purchase Agreement, Value of Shares Authorized to Be Purchased No Later than 90 Days after Satisfaction of Certain Conditions | $								$ 55,000
The 2016 Purchase Agreement [Member] | Common Stock, Purchase Price per Share of $0.15 [Member]
Common Stock Purchase Agreement, Remaining Number of Shares to be Purchased, After the Satisfaction of Certain Conditions								200,000,000
The 2016 Purchase Agreement [Member] | Common Stock, Purchase Price per Share of $0.25 [ Member]
Common Stock Purchase Agreement, Remaining Number of Shares to be Purchased, After the Satisfaction of Certain Conditions								100,000,000
Valencia Circle, LLC [Member]
Payments to Acquire Buildings | $		$ 7,818
A Commercial Tenant [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Lease Agreement, Percentage of Facility						80.00%
Eutectix [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Business Development Agreement, Royalty Percentage	6.00%					6.00%
Business Development Agreement, Term	5 years
Engel [Member]
Supply and License Agreement, Term					5 years
Exclusive License Agreement, Term				10 years