Iowa State University

Adding “two-faced” nanoparticles could improve paints and coatings. With one face that attracts water and another that repels it, the particles arranged themselves in a flat layer on a painted surface and could make for paint with unusual properties.

Rubber and metal are usually thought to sit at opposite ends of the stiffness spectrum, but a new composite material developed at Iowa State University could switch from the flexibility of the former to the stiffness of the latter after being bent, twisted or squeezed.

​​It's not just airplane wings that need to stay ice-free in the winter – it's also pretty darn important that the runways not be icy, either. With that in mind, an Iowa State University team has developed a new type of electrically-conductive concrete that melts snow and ice.

"Transient electronics" are designed to degrade in the presence of environmental triggers such as heat, light or moisture, once they've served their purpose. Now, scientists have created a battery for such devices, that falls apart along with them when exposed to water.​

Researchers have produced novel micro-sized particles filled with liquid metal that retains its liquid state at room temperature and are able to meld with each other.

Engineers at Iowa State University may have gotten one step closer to the ability to make objects invisible with the development of what they are calling a flexible, stretchable and tunable meta-skin that can suppress radar detection.

When Vincent was found abandoned as a kitten, he had no hind legs below what would be considered his shinbones. But thanks to the kindness of strangers, some titanium implants​ and the skills of a veterinary orthopedic surgeon, Vincent can now walk on all fours.

Following three years of research that included input from NASA, tests on more than 100 different fabrics and suit designs, and body scans of more than 400 elite swimmers, Speedo has launched its fastest swimsuit to date.