Articles tagged with Materials Engineering
Comprehensive exploration of living organisms, biological systems, and life processes across all scales from molecules to ecosystems. Encompasses cutting-edge research in biology, genetics, molecular biology, ecology, biochemistry, microbiology, botany, zoology, evolutionary biology, genomics, and biotechnology. Investigates cellular mechanisms, organism development, genetic inheritance, biodiversity conservation, metabolic processes, protein synthesis, DNA sequencing, CRISPR gene editing, stem cell research, and the fundamental principles governing all forms of life on Earth.
Comprehensive medical research, clinical studies, and healthcare sciences focused on disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Encompasses clinical medicine, public health, pharmacology, epidemiology, medical specialties, disease mechanisms, therapeutic interventions, healthcare innovation, precision medicine, telemedicine, medical devices, drug development, clinical trials, patient care, mental health, nutrition science, health policy, and the application of medical science to improve human health, wellbeing, and quality of life across diverse populations.
Comprehensive investigation of human society, behavior, relationships, and social structures through systematic research and analysis. Encompasses psychology, sociology, anthropology, economics, political science, linguistics, education, demography, communications, and social research methodologies. Examines human cognition, social interactions, cultural phenomena, economic systems, political institutions, language and communication, educational processes, population dynamics, and the complex social, cultural, economic, and political forces shaping human societies, communities, and civilizations throughout history and across the contemporary world.
Fundamental study of the non-living natural world, matter, energy, and physical phenomena governing the universe. Encompasses physics, chemistry, earth sciences, atmospheric sciences, oceanography, materials science, and the investigation of physical laws, chemical reactions, geological processes, climate systems, and planetary dynamics. Explores everything from subatomic particles and quantum mechanics to planetary systems and cosmic phenomena, including energy transformations, molecular interactions, elemental properties, weather patterns, tectonic activity, and the fundamental forces and principles underlying the physical nature of reality.
Practical application of scientific knowledge and engineering principles to solve real-world problems and develop innovative technologies. Encompasses all engineering disciplines, technology development, computer science, artificial intelligence, environmental sciences, agriculture, materials applications, energy systems, and industrial innovation. Bridges theoretical research with tangible solutions for infrastructure, manufacturing, computing, communications, transportation, construction, sustainable development, and emerging technologies that advance human capabilities, improve quality of life, and address societal challenges through scientific innovation and technological progress.
Study of the practice, culture, infrastructure, and social dimensions of science itself. Addresses how science is conducted, organized, communicated, and integrated into society. Encompasses research funding mechanisms, scientific publishing systems, peer review processes, academic ethics, science policy, research institutions, scientific collaboration networks, science education, career development, research programs, scientific methods, science communication, and the sociology of scientific discovery. Examines the human, institutional, and cultural aspects of scientific enterprise, knowledge production, and the translation of research into societal benefit.
Comprehensive study of the universe beyond Earth, encompassing celestial objects, cosmic phenomena, and space exploration. Includes astronomy, astrophysics, planetary science, cosmology, space physics, astrobiology, and space technology. Investigates stars, galaxies, planets, moons, asteroids, comets, black holes, nebulae, exoplanets, dark matter, dark energy, cosmic microwave background, stellar evolution, planetary formation, space weather, solar system dynamics, the search for extraterrestrial life, and humanity's efforts to explore, understand, and unlock the mysteries of the cosmos through observation, theory, and space missions.
Comprehensive examination of tools, techniques, methodologies, and approaches used across scientific disciplines to conduct research, collect data, and analyze results. Encompasses experimental procedures, analytical methods, measurement techniques, instrumentation, imaging technologies, spectroscopic methods, laboratory protocols, observational studies, statistical analysis, computational methods, data visualization, quality control, and methodological innovations. Addresses the practical techniques and theoretical frameworks enabling scientists to investigate phenomena, test hypotheses, gather evidence, ensure reproducibility, and generate reliable knowledge through systematic, rigorous investigation across all areas of scientific inquiry.
Study of abstract structures, patterns, quantities, relationships, and logical reasoning through pure and applied mathematical disciplines. Encompasses algebra, calculus, geometry, topology, number theory, analysis, discrete mathematics, mathematical logic, set theory, probability, statistics, and computational mathematics. Investigates mathematical structures, theorems, proofs, algorithms, functions, equations, and the rigorous logical frameworks underlying quantitative reasoning. Provides the foundational language and tools for all scientific fields, enabling precise description of natural phenomena, modeling of complex systems, and the development of technologies across physics, engineering, computer science, economics, and all quantitative sciences.
Researchers at Texas A¸M University have formulated a new recipe to prevent weaknesses in modern-day armor. By adding a tiny amount of silicon to boron carbide, they discovered that bullet-resistant gear could be made substantially more resilient to high-speed impacts.
Scientists have combined multiple measurements of quantum materials into one, discovering a new way to measure their behavior. This breakthrough allows for the control and manipulation of these materials for possible applications in technology such as quantum computing.
Researchers have developed ternary organic solar cells with non-fullerene electron acceptors or polymer donors, improving spectral response and photon-harvesting capabilities. The addition of these third components enhances energy and charge transfer, leading to increased efficiency and potentially semi-transparent solar cells.
A team of scientists at the University of Freiburg has created a microfluidic chip that recognizes small RNA fragments, enabling faster and more precise disease diagnosis. The CRISPR biosensor can detect increased levels of miRNA in blood samples from patients with brain tumors.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota's DAMSL and WTL labs created temperature-responsive textiles using shape memory alloys, enabling self-fitting garments with adjustable fit and conformance to irregular body shapes. The technology has significant implications for medical, aerospace, and commercial applications.
Masashi Watanabe, a Lehigh University professor, is recognized by the Microanalysis Society for his research on materials characterization using various electron microscopy approaches. He has developed innovative techniques such as the zeta-factor method and multivariate statistical analysis.
The National Association of Science Writers awarded prizes in seven categories, including She Has Her Mother's Laugh by Carl Zimmer, In the Land of Quakes by Michelle Donahue, Scientists think Alabama's sewage problem has caused a tropical parasite by Arielle Duhaime-Ross, and Surrendering to Rising Seas by Jen Schwartz. Winners receiv...
The National Association of Science Writers has honored the winners of its 2019 Excellence in Institutional Writing Awards, recognizing exceptional science writing produced on behalf of an institution. The awards ceremony took place during the ScienceWriters2019 meeting, with $2,000 cash prizes awarded to the top winners.
Researchers developed a new model that shows rubbing two objects together produces static electricity by bending tiny deformations on the surface of materials. This phenomenon, called flexoelectricity, arises from the separation of charge in an insulator due to deformations such as bending.
Caleb Kemere and his team will investigate how sleep reorganizes information in the brain, aiming to identify critical time windows and neuronal activities involved in storing and stabilizing memories. The researchers hope to gain a better understanding of how sleep impacts lives, including its impact on memory consolidation.
Engineers at Duke University have developed a method to extract color images from a single exposure of scattered light. The technique uses a coded aperture and prism to separate spectral bands, allowing for the reconstruction of nuanced colors in images.
A team of engineers at Washington University in St. Louis has found a more stable, less toxic semiconductor for solar applications, made up of potassium, barium, tellurium, bismuth and oxygen (KBaTeBiO6). The new compound has a band gap of 1.88 eV, which is close to the halide perovskites, making it promising for solar cell applications.
A research team led by Prof. Rho developed a simultaneous inverse design of metamaterials using deep learning, allowing for arbitrary photonic structure designs and significant reduction in design time.
Researchers at University of Wisconsin-Madison have developed a method to create pieces of 'smart' glass that can recognize images using optics and artificial intelligence. The glass uses tiny bubbles and impurities to bend light in specific ways, enabling real-time image recognition without power or sensors.
The US Department of Energy is investing $32 million in the Midwest Integrated Center for Computational Materials (MICCoM) to develop open-source software for designing new materials. The center aims to predict and interpret properties of functional materials for energy conversion and quantum information sciences.
Researchers found that engineering education lacks intercultural communication training, which can hinder global collaboration. A constructivist view of culture is proposed as a more effective approach.
Blossom, a handcrafted open-source robot platform, is designed to be simple, expressive, and inexpensive, allowing users to customize it with various materials like wood and wool. The robot's mechanical design enables flexible gestures, making it suitable for teaching children about robotics and human-robot interaction.
Researchers at the University of Tokyo have created a material that can significantly extend battery life and increase capacity. The oxygen redox-layered oxide (Na2RuO3) material, when used in lithium-ion batteries, enables self-repair due to its stronger coulombic attraction force, reducing degradation from charge and discharge cycles.
Researchers at the University of Washington developed a method to synthesize nanodiamonds with intentional doping, enabling useful traits for medical research, computation, and beyond. The team used high-pressure and temperature to dope nanodiamonds with silicon, argon, and other elements.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed a new class of coatings that sheds ice from even large surfaces with just the force of a light breeze. The coatings introduce a second strategy, low interfacial toughness, which encourages cracks to form between ice and the surface.
Researchers at DOE's Ames Laboratory developed a new microscopy approach to image gel nanocomposites in their natural state, providing insights into their assembly and properties. The technique allows for the observation of nanoparticles within gels, which shows promise in creating materials with unique optical properties.
A new method for measuring semiconductor material quality has been developed, enabling the characterization of materials at scales much smaller than current technologies. This will accelerate the discovery and investigation of 2D, micro- and nanoscale materials.
A new proximity capacitance imaging sensor has been developed with high sensitivity and resolution, detecting sweat pores between finger ridges. This advancement aims to improve security in various fields such as authentication and life sciences.
Materials known as phase-switching liquids, or PSLs, can delay ice and frost formation for a long time, promising a new generation of anti-icing materials. PSLs are solids at low temperatures and can trap heat, delaying the formation of frost even under high humidity conditions.
The contact angle method, used for over two centuries, is being called into question due to its dependence on camera accuracy and subjective decisions. Newer methods that measure adhesion or friction forces are proposed as a solution, offering lower errors and more relevant physical terms.
Researchers are developing a new material that delivers drugs directly to damaged heart tissue, preserving the structural support network and preventing further damage. The gel will slowly release the drugs over four weeks, promoting blood vessel creation and enzyme inhibition.
A team of researchers has developed a strategy to produce renewable lubricant base oils from non-food biomass and fatty acids, offering a more efficient and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional lubricants. The new method uses catalysis to synthesize the base-oils with tunable properties, making them suitable for a wide r...
Researchers analyzed impasto layers in three of Rembrandt's paintings and found a rare lead mineral called plumbonacrite, which was not previously known to occur in historic paint layers. The study suggests that Rembrandt used a unique paint recipe.
Researchers discovered plumbonacrite, a rare ingredient in historic paint layers, responsible for Rembrandt's unique impasto effect. The study uses advanced X-ray techniques to analyze tiny fragments from masterpieces and provides a path for long-term preservation and conservation.
Marzari's group develops open-source solutions to link proprietary IBM technologies with AI models, identifying promising materials for further study. The project enables automatic calculation of material properties on demand, highlighting outliers worthy of experimental characterization.
Aalto University scientists develop gradient metasurfaces that can appear 'bright' at one direction and 'dark' for the opposite direction, breaking conventional symmetric responses of mirrors. This innovation uses evanescent fields engineering to engineer contrast ratios in angle spectrum.
Researchers create a rubbery, shape-shifting material that can morph into complex shapes at room temperature and change back when heated. The material shows promise for soft robots and biomedical applications requiring pre-programmed shapes at body temperature.
Scientists developed a hybrid biosensor scaffold material based on cellulose matrices labeled with pH- and calcium-sensitive fluorescent proteins. This allows visualization of cell growth and metabolism in engineered tissues by microscopy. The study was published in Acta Biomaterialia and has promising prospects for regenerative medicine.
Researchers at Duke University have developed a new technique to reconstruct sequence of diffuse images from one long photographic exposure. By using a coded aperture, they can extract individual frames from a single, scattered exposure, overcoming limitations such as motion and constant scattering medium.
Kyungsuk Yum and his doctoral student Amirali Nojoomi developed a process to program 2-D hydrogels for space- and time-controlled swelling and shrinking, enabling the formation of complex 3-D shapes and motions. The technology has potential applications in bioinspired soft robotics and artificial muscles.
UCLA engineers have developed a new computational tool that accurately models how magnetic materials interact with incoming radio signals at the nanoscale. This allows for the design of next-generation communications devices with improved data transport capabilities and reduced noise interference.
The Center for the Science of Synthesis Across Scales (CSSAS) brings together researchers to understand how molecular interactions control assembly and create new materials with revolutionary properties. The research focuses on protein-based building blocks, inorganic nanoparticles, and hierarchical synthesis.
Researchers at IBBR have engineered three mouse cell lines to produce nonproprietary versions of the NISTmAb, a well-characterized monoclonal antibody used in biopharmaceutical development. The new cell lines will provide a standardized model for monoclonal antibody biomanufacturing and enable innovation in mAb therapeutics.
Researchers found that urban areas stayed warmer than surrounding suburbs and country during a 2014 cold wave, with temperature differences greatest at night. The study suggests that heat released from buildings can help cities reduce heating demand and make being outdoors more tolerable during extreme cold.
A UCLA-led energy research center will accelerate research on new types of chemistry and materials for rechargeable batteries, increasing capacity, stability and safety. The center aims to impact intermittent renewable energy sources and electric vehicles.
Researchers have developed a pill that can temporarily coat the intestine to prevent nutrient contact and lower blood sugar spikes in preclinical study. The engineered compound, LuCI, was found to alter nutrient contact and lower blood glucose response after a meal, with benefits lasting only a few hours.
Mesoscience offers broad potential beyond chemical engineering, tackling complex systems in the real world with unprecedented approach. The concept is attracting increasing attention from top scientists worldwide.
Professor Rodney S. Ruoff has been awarded the prestigious James C. McGroddy Prize for New Materials by the American Physical Society for his pioneering contributions to graphene and its derivatives. The award recognizes his achievements in scalable synthesis, materials science, and applications of graphene.
Engineers at Caltech and ETH Zurich developed self-propelled robots that paddle through water using temperature-responsive materials. The devices use a bistable element and polymer strips to activate a switch and propel forward.
A newly improved glass slide turns microscopes into thermometers, allowing scientists to visualize tiny objects while measuring their temperature. The breakthrough, made possible by a new transparent coating, has the potential to streamline scientific research worldwide and enhance industries such as computers and electronics.
Researchers have discovered a new material that can absorb and selectively reemit light, providing a platform to understand how information is stored and processed in valleytronics devices. This breakthrough could enable the development of operational valleytronic devices with increased computing power and data storage density.
Researchers at University of British Columbia Okanagan have developed a new method to improve the strength of rammed earth walls using calcium carbide residue and fly ash as binding agents. The treated walls were found to be 25 times stronger than those without, paving the way for its use in modern construction.
Engineers at U.S. Army Research Laboratory and University of Maryland developed a technique to control composite material behavior using ultraviolet light, enabling new capabilities for rotorcraft design, performance, and maintenance. The method allows materials to become 93%-stiffer and 35%-stronger after UV exposure.
A new 'omniphobic' coating repels liquids, including oil and alcohol, while remaining clear and durable. The coating could be used in various industries, including childcare, refrigeration and power generation, to increase efficiency.
The proposed system, called FabRec, would allow companies to share manufacturing data in a secure and reliable manner, increasing transparency and efficiency in the supply chain. This public network could help small- and medium-scale manufacturers gain access to potential clients, while also promoting accountability and authenticity.
Researchers from Penn State have developed a new sodium-based material that can be used as an electrolyte in solid-state batteries. The material has defects allowing it to transfer ions, making it safer and potentially cheaper than current lithium-ion batteries.
Quadrupole topological insulators are a new phase of electronic matter with unusual properties. The researchers created a workable-scale analogue of QTI using printed circuit boards and measured how much microwave radiation was absorbed by each resonator.
Researchers from Trinity College Dublin have developed new tools to circumvent the reactivity of cubane, a widely used pharma industry molecule. This breakthrough enables the creation of tailored compounds with improved drug efficacy and reduced side effects.
Researchers at Columbia University have developed a flexible spine-like lithium-ion battery with high energy density, stable voltage, and excellent mechanical properties. The battery's design is inspired by the human spine and provides remarkable flexibility and durability, making it a promising candidate for wearable electronics.
The researchers have developed a new device that uses sound waves to produce ultraminiature optical diodes, enabling nonreciprocal devices for photonic integrated circuits. These devices protect laser sources from back reflections and are necessary for routing light signals around optical networks.
Chemically toughened glass is being explored for use in car windshields, providing strength and durability while reducing weight and cost. This new material has potential applications in wearable electronic devices, hurricane-resistant windows, and pharmaceutical vials.
A new machine-learning model can accurately predict protein-drug interactions based on a few reference experiments or simulations, accelerating the screening of candidate molecules thousands of times over. The algorithm can also tackle materials-science problems, revolutionizing materials and chemical modeling.
Researchers at Cornell University create synthetic 'camouflaging skin' that can change texture and pattern like an octopus, enabling dynamic camouflage. The breakthrough has potential applications in fields such as temperature manipulation and biomedical devices.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have developed a new approach to reduce adhesion in small parts, which is expected to improve next-generation microdevices. The study uses nanomaterials to create rough surfaces that prevent tiny objects from sticking together.
Researchers at Columbia University developed a 3D-printable synthetic soft muscle with intrinsic expansion ability, outperforming natural muscle in strain density and lifting capacity. The material can be shaped and reshaped to mimic natural motion, enabling the creation of lifelike robots for various applications.