UC Santa Barbara

Imagine harnessing the power of the sun as chemical bonds in molecules. That could unlock a complementary energy storage method for heating to conventional batteries – and we're getting close, thanks to a breakthrough at UCSB.

Since the 1800s, civilization has been fascinated by the idea of capturing lightning in a bottle. Over time, the idea evolved from literal to figurative. Today, we may be seeing a reversal. Scientists may have figured out a way to "bottle the sun."

Could you imagine being able to "feel" the images on your screen? UCSB researchers have made this sci-fi-like idea a reality. They've developed a display where pixels physically rise off the surface when activated by laser light.

While 3D printing is a burgeoning technology, it's limited by the fact that items can only be printed from a single material. A new system still uses just one print resin, but that substance can form into two different solid materials as needed.

Using a temperature-driven "wax motor," researchers have created an adaptive roof tile system that helps keep a room at a comfortable 18 °C (65 °F). It delivers an extraordinary 3.1X reduction in cooling energy consumption, and 2.6X for heating.

If you say “jump” I say “how high?” – and a new robot from UC Santa Barbara says “over 100 ft.” The researchers say that’s higher than anything else has ever jumped, be it robot or animal, thanks to a unique design that multiplies its stored energy.

Scientists at Stanford University and University of California, Santa Barbara have put forward a particularly interesting soft robot design, showing off an inflatable machine that can change shape and roll in controllable directions while untethered.