Materials

Why does the "poop emoji" look the way it does? Physics has the answer: as most animals defecate downward, each new coil falls a shorter distance, naturally forming the familiar tapered swirl.

Batteries are typically the first thing that comes to mind as energy storage. Researchers have now demonstrated a strange yellow liquid energy storage system that “charges” by turning into a black goo and discharges to drive chemical reactions.

It's all too easy to pick up a viral infection in shared spaces – whether from tiny droplets in the air containing these particles, or touching doorknobs and countertops. A new material with nanospikes could pierce these viruses and keep us safe.

Solar panels can grossly detract from the look of many buildings and roofs. A new type of coating can add colors and intricate patterns to these panels, allowing them to blend in beautifully – without affecting efficiency by more than 5%.

In the packaging war between paper and plastic, plastic has remained indispensable in one vital aspect: sealing. Until now, reliable paper seals have required adhesives or plastic layers. Scientists may have found a way to eliminate both.

Scientists have been working on enhancing concrete to store energy. That includes researchers at MIT, who found a way to combine cement, water, and carbon black to create a 'supercapacitor' for this purpose back in 2023. It's now 10x better at this.

If an object that's composed of two types of material is going to fail, the break will usually occur at the interface where the two meet. A new type of light-activated 3D printing resin addresses that problem, by gradually morphing from hard to soft states within a single object.

A Maryland-based startup is set to begin mass producing Superwood, which is made from regular timber using a densification process, and exhibits strength greater than that of steel.

A reusable formwork design for molding concrete into vaulted floors using sophisticated structural geometry uses 60% less concrete and 90% less steel compared to traditional methods. It's also inexpensive and doesn't require special skills.

From a handheld soldering gun to the 'playbird mansion' and, of course, the marvel of a smartphone microscope, there are some gadgets that we come across that we instantly want – and this wireless ultrasonic cutter is definitely another.

Researchers at MIT have unexpectedly stumbled upon a way to 3D print active electronics – meaning transistors and components for controlling electrical signals – without the use of semiconductors or even special fabrication technology.

While clay is widely used to build basic structures such as huts, we typically don't see it being utilized in large-scale construction projects. That could soon change, however, thanks to a recently developed process known as impact printing.