Materials
Whether it's the latest wonder material, such as graphene, or uncovering the secrets to the longevity of ancient Roman concrete, material science is the reason so much of our technology is more than the sum of its parts.
Latest News
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"Super-hard" metals forged in new nanoparticle manufacturing process
Researchers at Brown University have developed a new way to make super-hard metals, up to four times harder than usual. The team made nanoparticle “building blocks” that could be fused together under pressure, thanks to a chemical treatment. -
Wrinkled graphene sheets offer a shortcut for water purification
Scientists at Brown University have demonstrated a promising new water purification technology that takes advantage of the tiny gaps in stacked sheets of graphene to filter out contaminants with great efficiency. -
Sponge-like aerogel turns airborne vapor into drinkable water
A research team from the National University of Singapore has developed a promising aerogel that turns airborne water molecules into drinkable liquid, without needing a power source or having any moving parts. -
Mushroom-inspired fastener is kinder and gentler than Velcro
The hooks in so-called "hook-and-loop" fastening materials (such as Velcro) are usually quite stiff, meaning they may damage other materials as they're pulled apart from them. Such is not the case, however, with a new mushroom-inspired alternative. -
Ancient Roman concrete mineral found strengthening nuclear reactor walls
Researchers have found that the concrete walls in a decommissioned power plant in Japan have not only kept their strength over the decades but have actually gotten stronger with use, thanks to a rare mineral also found in ancient Roman concrete. -
New catalyst converts common plastic waste into fuels and wax
As useful as plastics are in our everyday life, they’re difficult to recycle, with most ending up in landfill or the environment. Now, researchers in Japan have used a novel catalyst to recycle a common plastic into useful products like fuel and wax. -
Liquid glass discovered as new state of matter
Mundane as it may seem, glass is a surprisingly mysterious material. Now scientists at the University of Konstanz have identified a new state of matter called liquid glass, which has some unusual properties. -
Safety coating causes heat-damaged ropes to change color
When a rope is heated – either by friction or by fire – it may lose its structural integrity, subsequently breaking when put under load. A new surface coating, however, could cause ropes to change color if they've been overheated, providing a warning to users. -
Super-absorbent film may lead to sweat-powered wearable electronics
Sweat is important for keeping us cool, but too much of it isn’t very pleasant either. Now, researchers at NUS have developed a new film that can quickly absorb sweat – and better still, potentially use the moisture to power wearable electronics. -
Crumpled films offer fast and durable anti-counterfeiting technology
Scientists at the National University of Singapore (NUS) have developed a new anti-counterfeiting technology based on Physically Unclonable Function patterns they say can better ensure the authenticity of high-value products. -
Paper-folding art reduced to the nanoscale in engineering breakthrough
The Japanese folding paper art form of kirigami has a lot of potential for engineering. Scientists have taken this technique down to the nanoscale for the first time, opening up new possibilities in applications ranging from robotics to aerospace. -
Magnetically-activated epoxy bonds fast using a fraction of the energy
Ordinarily, epoxies are cured by exposure to either heat or ultraviolet light. Both have their drawbacks, which are nicely avoided by a new epoxy that hardens when passed through a magnetic field to produce a similar bond using a fraction of the energy.