Binghamton University

Imagine if there were a metallic device that could be transported all squished down, but that would automatically "bloom" out into its useful form when heated. Well, that may soon be possible, thanks to a newly developed liquid metal lattice.

The 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to three scientists for the invention and development of the lithium-ion battery.

​Like many other materials, human skin has a "grain" to it. What's more, cutting across that grain leads to more visible scars than cutting along it. A new device, currently in prototype form, could help surgeons ensure that they're doing the latter.

​When a young person receives an artificial knee joint, they're left in a bit of a quandary – they're expected to stay active, yet too much of the wrong activity may cause the device to wear out prematurely. An experimental new implant could help address that situation.

It’s an unfortunate truth that weapons and explosives in public places are an increasing problem. But many screening technologies are bulky and expensive, and require staff to operate. Now a new study has found a way to tap into a type of signal that’s already ubiquitous in public places – Wi-Fi.

​While landmines in general are pretty awful, the PFM-1 "butterfly" mine is particularly nasty. Because of its mainly plastic construction, the butterfly-shaped device is notoriously difficult to find using metal detectors. Now, however, it turns out that drones can be used to locate the things.

The origin story for modern humans basically goes that Homo Sapiens first arose several hundred thousand years ago in Ethiopia, before migrating out of Africa about 100,000 years ago. Now, a jawbone discovered in a cave in Israel pushes back the date of our African exodus by at least 50,000 years.

​If cracks in concrete can be fixed when they're still tiny, then they can't become large cracks that ultimately cause structures to collapse. It is with this in mind that various types of self-healing concrete have been developed. One of the latest utilizes a type of fungus to do the healing.

​The bacteria-powered batteries of electrical engineer Seokheun Choi have taken on a number of interesting forms. For the first time, he has now woven his innovative fuel cells into a stretchable piece of fabric that could one day power wearable electronics with our body's own bacteria.

​The ultra-fine nature of spider silk has provided inspiration for scientists developing sensitive new types of microphones. Further down the track, these new devices could be put to use in advanced hearing aids and phones that pick up sounds at much lower frequencies.

​Batteries powered by bacteria could prove highly useful in providing spurts of electricity where it isn't readily available. The latest breakthrough in this area calls only on bodily fluids, and was able to power an LED light using a single drop of spit.

​One of the hassles involved with using sunscreen is the fact that it should be reapplied at least once every few hours. That isn't the case, however, with an experimental new coating made from DNA. It actually gets more effective the longer it's left on the skin.