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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Ultra-white ceramic cools buildings with record-high 99.6% reflectivity
November 12, 2023Scientists have demonstrated a new ultra-white ceramic material that drastically cools buildings, with record-high sunlight and heat reflectivity. The beetle-inspired material gets its ability from its nanostructure and should be easy to mass produce. -
Lasers allow fine-tuning of 3D-printed metals without "heating & beating"
November 06, 2023A team of researchers led by the University of Cambridge has developed a new technique that uses high-energy lasers to fine tune the properties of 3D-printed metal without compromising the complex shapes it forms. -
Impressive new plastic self-heals, can be recycled and feeds marine life
November 05, 2023Japanese scientists have developed a new type of plastic that can easily break down on demand into its base components. In seawater it starts to break down into food for marine life, and just to top it off, it can self-heal and remember past shapes. -
Shape-shifting fiber responds to heat, could produce morphing fabrics
October 26, 2023Researchers have created a low-cost fiber that contracts in response to heat, resuming its shape when the heat is removed. Compatible with existing textile-producing machinery, the shape-shifting fiber could have a myriad of uses. -
World's most water-repellent surface surprises its own inventors
October 24, 2023Scientists have developed what they call the most water-repellent surface ever. By giving it a liquid-like coating that defies usual designs, water will roll off the surface at angles 500 times shallower than other superhydrophobic materials. -
Material made of live glowing algae could be used in stress sensors
October 23, 2023Whether they're in machines, buildings or aircraft, it's always helpful to know if components are undergoing mechanical stress. A new material could quickly and easily let inspection personnel know, utilizing integrated glowing algae. -
Bizarre new electronic state discovered in five-layer graphene
October 18, 2023Everybody’s favorite wonder material, graphene, continues to surprise. MIT physicists have discovered yet another brand new electronic state hiding in this overachieving little material – something they give the bizarre name of “ferro-valleytricity.” -
Novel spider-inspired surface material stays dry for months underwater
October 04, 2023Inspired by a water-dwelling spider, researchers have created a novel surface material that stays dry for months underwater. They say the surface is easy to produce, scalable, and has a wide range of practical applications. -
Wood waste transformed into transparent, anti-fog coating
September 26, 2023Researchers have turned lignin into nanoparticles that can create a transparent coating with antifog properties or a colorful antireflective surface, transforming this abundant waste product into a useful material with diverse applications. -
Watery material makes windows selectively block light and/or heat
September 25, 2023Windows are pretty basic necessities for letting in light and heat, but you don’t always want both at once. Now engineers at North Carolina State University have developed a new material that allows windows to easily switch between three modes. -
Novel nanoribbons could improve battery & solar cell efficiency
September 22, 2023Researchers have alloyed arsenic with phosphorus to create single-atom-thick ribbons that are highly conductive, making them ideal candidates for use in next-generation batteries, solar cells and quantum computers. -
Bionic silkworms with spider genes spin fibers 6x tougher than Kevlar
September 20, 2023For the first time, scientists have successfully produced full-length spider silk fibers using genetically modified silkworms. This silk has the potential to provide a scalable, sustainable and better-quality alternative to current synthetic fibers. -
Revolutionary "true zero carbon" cement uses electrolysis, not furnaces
September 18, 2023Sublime Cement says it's ready to start scaling on the "world's cleanest cement," which meets industry performance standards relying on room-temperature electrolyzers in place of fossil-fueled furnaces, using a variety of zero-carbon input materials. -
Plant-based glue bonds even better when placed underwater
September 12, 2023Getting glue to stick in dry conditions is relatively easy, but having it maintain a bond underwater is much more difficult. That said, a new bio-based glue not only works underwater, it actually gets stronger when immersed. -
Solar-heated nanowires de-ice surfaces with almost 100% efficiency
August 28, 2023Ice build-up can pose a problem for roads, aircraft, wind turbines and power lines, among many other things. Now scientists have developed a new structure made of copper nanowires that can passively de-ice surfaces with an efficacy of close to 100%.
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