Findings could have implications for our understanding of distant, water-rich planets. Researchers from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas have discovered a new form of…
A challenge in materials design is that in both natural and manmade materials, volume sometimes decreases, or increases, with increasing temperature. While there are mechanical…
Inspired by the human ear, a new acoustic fabric converts audible sounds into electrical signals. Having trouble hearing? Just turn up your shirt. That’s the…
Superconductors – metals in which electricity flows without resistance – hold promise as the defining material of the near future, according to physicist Brad Ramshaw,…
Organic, carbon-based, materials already see widespread use in displays today, but they are also promising materials for new solar cells. However, tailoring their properties is…
Atom by atom: new silicon computer chip technique opens up quantum computing construction possibilities. Quantum computers could be constructed cheaply and reliably using a new…
X-ray laser experiments show that intense light distorts the structure of a thermoelectric material in a unique way, opening a new avenue for controlling the…
University of Houston Researchers Exploring the Bounds of Room-Temperature Superconductivity. In the simplest terms, superconductivity between two or more objects means zero wasted electricity. It…
A method for stabilizing the interfaces in solid-state lithium-ion batteries opens new possibilities. In the endless quest to pack more energy into batteries without increasing…
University of Pittsburgh Engineers Create Insect-Inspired Robots That Can Monitor Hard-to-Reach Spots. These ancient creatures can squeeze through the tiniest cracks, fit snugly into tight…
A novel and better approach at detecting non-uniformities in the optical properties of two-dimensional materials could potentially open the door to new uses for these…
Membrane filters don’t require much energy to purify water, making them popular for wastewater treatment. To keep these materials in tip-top condition, they’re commonly cleaned…
Discovery shows for the first time that multiferroic properties can exist in a two-dimensional material; could lead to more efficient magnetic memory devices. MIT physicists…
The material could replace rare metals and lead to more economical production of carbon-neutral fuels. An electrochemical mechanism that splits apart water molecules to produce…
Improvements in the material that converts X-rays into light, for medical or industrial images, could allow a tenfold signal enhancement. Scintillators are materials that emit…
The animal kingdom is full of creatures with active camouflage. What looks like a drab pile of sand and rocks might actually be a brightly…
The material could pave the way for sustainable plastics. The strongest part of a tree lies not in its trunk or its sprawling roots, but…
Imagine a small autonomous vehicle that could drive over land, stop, and flatten itself into a quadcopter. The rotors start spinning, and the vehicle flies…
