New Atlas

Electronics Audio available

Smallest pixels ever created have a heart of gold

Michael Irving May 12, 2019

Researchers at Cambridge University have managed to create the smallest pixels in the world, about a million times tinier than those in a phone. These new pixels could be used in huge, flexible displays that are relatively easy to manufacture and cheaper to run.

The smallest pixels ever created are made with a gold grain coated in an active polymer ...

Materials Audio available

Polymer uses "dumbbells" to glow when it's stressed

Ben Coxworth April 24, 2019

It's always helpful if materials let you know when they're under stress, so that changes can be made before catastrophic failures occur. A new polymer is designed to provide such a warning, as it glows when stretched.

The polymer fluoresces under ultraviolet light, when stretched

Materials

Light-activated wrap designed to fix concrete structures

Ben Coxworth April 8, 2019

Utilizing tape to repair concrete structures may seem like some hillbilly fix-it joke, but in fact that's just what fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) sheets are used for. Now, scientists have developed a better FRP, that halves the number of people and amount of time required for application.

A bare cracked concrete pillar (left), and one reinforced with FasRaP

Materials

Hybrid fiber combines strength of metal and elasticity of rubber

Ben Coxworth February 25, 2019

Metal fibers are strong, but can't be stretched very far. Rubber fibers are stretchy, but they're not very strong. Well, scientists have combined the selling points of both materials into one type of hybrid fiber. It could be used in applications such as soft robotics.

A sample of the fiber is stretched in the lab – the silver sections are the ...

Environment Audio available

Recycled tires may help concrete take the heat

Ben Coxworth February 20, 2019

Although concrete doesn't burn, it can "spall" when subjected to extreme heat – this means that surface layers of the material break off, potentially causing structures made of it to collapse. According to a new study, however, fibers obtained from discarded tires can help keep that from happening.

Along with using polymer fibers from tires to help release moisture from hot concrete, the scientists ...

Materials Audio available

Muscle-inspired materials that get stronger after stretching

David Szondy February 3, 2019

Scientists have found a way to create materials that actually get stronger the more you use them. By mimicking the mechanism that allows living muscles to grow and strengthen after exercise, the polymer breaks down under mechanical stress, then regrows itself into a stronger configuration.

The new hydrogel mimics muscle tissue by becoming stronger with use

3D Printing Audio available

New 3D-printing tech gets smooth results using light and resin

Ben Coxworth February 1, 2019

Most 3D printers work by either depositing or melting building material in successive layers. Unfortunately, this results in the finished objects looking kind of chunky, as the ridges between layers are visible. A new process, however, uses light to create smooth-edged items out of resin.

A miniature version of the statue "The Thinker," created using the new 3D-printing system

Science

Polymer coating uses tiny bubbles to cool buildings

Ben Coxworth September 28, 2018

In many parts of the world, particularly developing nations, people paint buildings' roofs white in order to reflect sunlight and thus keep those buildings cooler. A new paint-like polymer could make that approach more effective than ever.

The bright-white coating gets put to the test

Robotics

Motorless swimming robot powers ahead as the temperature rises

Michael Irving May 15, 2018

Engineers at Caltech and ETH Zurich have created a swimming robot that’s powered by material deformation. That means that it’s made using materials that change shape in response to temperature swings, and that deformation pushes the device through water.

An artist's impression of the robot that propels itself through water without motors or batteries – ...

Materials

New polymer could make for infinitely-recyclable plastics

Michael Irving April 27, 2018

As useful as it is, plastic isn’t the most environmentally-friendly material. To try to wean us off it, chemists at Colorado State University have now developed a polymer that apparently has all the benefits, but can be easily broken down and recycled over and over.

A sample of the infinitely-recyclable polymer developed at Colorado State University