Technical University of Hamburg

The organized gangs of bacteria known as biofilms are notoriously difficult to dispatch, so researchers figured it might be best to stop them from growing in the first place. They focussed their attention on the communication mechanism inside the colony.

Aerographite is now officially the world's lightest solid material, beating out metallic microlattice and aerogel.

Scientists have created a metallic material that can switch back and forth between strong and soft states.