Crack

As useful a material as glass is, being prone to cracking or shattering is a major downside. McGill University scientists have developed a new type of glass inspired by the mollusk shell that’s stronger and tougher, while retaining good transparency.

Ceramic materials are strong and can stand up to heat very well, but they’re notoriously fragile. Now, researchers at Texas A&M have uncovered a previously unknown self-healing mechanism in a certain type of ceramic, which works at room temperature.

A huge iceberg, roughly twice the size of New York City, is set to soon break off from the Brunt Ice Shelf in Antarctica. With two large cracks due to meet within the next few months, a research station has already been relocated as scientists watch the rifting event enter its “final phase.”