Materials

Bioplastics are already a more eco-friendly alternative to their petroleum-based counterparts. Now, scientists have created a clear bioplastic film that not only blocks harmful UV radiation, but that is also more airtight than traditional plastics.

Rust may be generally unwelcome, but scientists at North Carolina State University are using it to develop a new radiation shielding that is lighter and cheaper than conventional materials. It promises weight savings of at least 30 percent.

Although some people may like a good frothy head on their beer, the foaming of liquids is considered problematic in many fields. A new MIT-designed material could help, as it keeps such foam from forming.

Scientists at MIT are now reporting an exciting advance in the realm of solid-state lithium batteries, demonstrating a new type of architecture that overcomes some limitations of current designs and could lead to smartphones that last for days.

Clean water is all around us – it's floating around in the air most of the time. Of course, it’s not particularly drinkable in that form, but now researchers have found materials that can collect huge amounts of water from the air.

Scientists in Australia have developed a new type of electronic material that is touch-responsive and just a fraction of the thickness of current smartphone screens, which could see it one day find use in next-generation mobile devices.

Scientists at Rice University are reporting a big breakthrough in the area of graphene production, demonstrating a new processing technique that can convert a wide range of trash products into “flash graphene” in a cheap and efficient manner.

Researchers have incorporated living microbes into 3D printed objects. The resin material is embedded with chemical “instructions” that tell a layer of microbes to fluoresce in particular colors, producing a stunning array of patterns and designs.

Different materials can play different roles when it comes to trapping and dissipating heat. But could one material have it both ways? A new breakthrough suggests that it could, made by scientists who believe heat needn’t just be a one way street.

Although nobody wants a hot smartphone, there's no way that the things could ever incorporate tiny cooling fans. Some day, though, they may stay frosty through the use of a material that absorbs and releases water.

Scientists at Texas A&M University have figured out a way to supercharge boron carbide armor's already impressive stopping abilities, adding a little silicon to the mix so that it can withstand bullets traveling at even higher speeds.

We've already heard about experimental self-healing concrete, that can repair cracks within itself. Now, scientists have gone a step further, utilizing bacteria to create building materials that can be grown on-site – and that regenerate when broken.