Articles tagged with Materials Engineering
Scientists have developed active liquid crystal systems that can exhibit autonomous behavior, self-regulate, and detect pathogens. These systems show high sensitivity to environmental stimuli, making them potentially programmable for various applications.
A novel technique using an ancient inorganic salt-based material has been developed to pinpoint and illuminate bone damage, potentially leading to more efficient X-ray diagnostics and treatment. The new method could also be used for advanced applications such as bioimaging and optogenetics.
A University of Delaware professor is developing new, resilient adhesives for concrete structures by mimicking mussel adhesion. The goal is to improve the durability of concrete in harsh environments and support sustainable growth, enabling prefabricated construction and additive manufacturing.
Researchers have developed innovative sustainable materials mimicking the texture and look of cowhide leather without using livestock or synthetic chemicals. Plant-based materials, mushroom leather, fish skin, and cell-culture leather are gaining attention among manufacturers.
Researchers at the University of Trento have discovered that dandelion clocks can trap air when submerged in water, leading to the development of new materials that could be used in underwater operations. The discovery was made by students and professors who were inspired by a observation made by a high school student.
Scientists at Cornell University have successfully created a material structure that simultaneously exhibits superconductivity and the quantum Hall effect. This breakthrough could enable the development of more efficient electronics, such as data centers cooled to extremely low temperatures.
A team of engineers has created a new material by infusing 3D printer ink with chloroplasts from spinach. This living material can be strengthened up to six times its original strength through photosynthesis and exhibits self-repairing properties.
Scientists have developed a novel, doped-free hole-transporting layer for perovskite solar cells, achieving 21% power conversion efficiency and improved durability in humid air. The new material outperforms reference materials and protects the perovskite organic cell from degradation.
Researchers developed a multi-fidelity graph network approach to predict material properties with improved accuracy, enabling predictions for disordered materials. The new method reduced mean absolute errors by 22-45% compared to traditional approaches.
Researchers found that damping-like torque, previously thought to be small, can dominate spin reorientation in antiferromagnetic materials. This discovery could lead to efficient spin manipulation and ultrafast switching in spintronics devices.
Researchers discovered the precise construction of moths wings that enable extraordinary ultrasound-absorptive properties, creating a resonant absorber 100 times thinner than sound wavelength. This breakthrough inspires the design of ultra-thin sound absorbers for homes and offices.
The University of Arizona is among lead institutions in a $100 million consortium to study flight at five times the speed of sound. Over 60 member universities will work with government agencies and industry to accelerate research and technology for hypersonic flight.
Researchers derived an analytical model of optical activity in black phosphorous under an external magnetic field, discovering tunable phenomena. The findings show optical activity conforming to that previously observed in chiral metamaterials and have applications in polarization optics, stereochemistry, and molecular biology.
Researchers have discovered a method to convert diamond into a metal-like conductor by applying mechanical strain. This process, known as metallizing diamond nanoneedles, could lead to the development of new electronics and quantum sensing technologies.
University of Pittsburgh professors Nathan Youngblood and Feng Xiong receive $380,000 to study phase-change materials for high-speed computing and optical storage applications. The project aims to overcome the challenges in electrically-controlled optical memory devices.
The National Association of Science Writers has honored the winners of the 2020 Excellence in Institutional Writing Awards for their exceptional science writing. Miles Hatfield from NASA won in the long-form category with 'A Shot in the Dark: Chasing the Aurora From the World's Northernmost Rocket Range.' Marshall from the University o...
Researchers at UArizona are working with a $115 million federal program to develop a quantum computer and sensors for discoveries about dark matter. The center aims to overcome qubit decoherence, enabling more powerful computing and sensing applications.
The study shows that Janus particles can be used to improve the performance of paints and coatings, making them more water-repellent and better adhering. The researchers found that the particles self-stratify into layers on the surface, creating a unique combination of properties.
David Wetz at UTA is working with the Navy to study dielectric insulation properties of epoxy and additively manufactured materials. The goal is to improve their insulation properties in compact high-voltage systems, potentially reducing overall system size and weight.
A Berkeley Lab-led team has gained insight into bacterial DNA packing, enabling potential control over microbial behavior. Researchers at JBEI have developed synthetic biology tools unlocking complex plant engineering, allowing for more sophisticated traits in plants. High-performance windows with reduced energy consumption will be ins...
Researchers characterized carp scales using X-ray imaging, revealing a toughening mechanism called adaptive reorientation. The study's findings may inspire the design of advanced synthetic materials.
Researchers at Rice University have made a breakthrough in 4D printing by developing a method to print objects that can change shape autonomously. The technique uses liquid crystal polymers to create materials that can morph from one shape to another through temperature, electric current or stress.
Physicist Ming Yi receives a prestigious $1.6 million grant to study correlated quantum materials, aiming to gain fundamental understanding of their electronic phases and control their behavior.
Engineers at the University of Missouri have developed a flexible material that can help buildings withstand multiple waves of energy in earthquakes. The material, which can stretch and form to a particular surface, protects against both longitudinal and shear energy waves.
A new visualization method using atomic force microscopy is developed to determine the distribution of components in battery electrodes, providing insights into optimal composite electrode conditions. The method has potential to improve performance and safety of all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries.
Scientists from Peking University and National Institute for Materials Science create anisotropic fluoride nanocrystals using facet-specific passivation. The approach enables controlled growth of fluorides with complex functionalities and promising applications in flexible antiferromagnetic devices and sensors.
Researchers developed a real-time physics engine for simulating the movements of soft robots, which can be used for autonomous operations. The engine uses the discrete elastic rods (DER) algorithm, allowing for faster-than-real-time simulation of hundreds of movements.
A new study by University of California, Riverside engineers shows that two microscopic bubbles penetrate soft materials better than one, creating long, fine jets with only five pulses. This breakthrough could lead to compact, device-free alternatives for needle-free applications.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine repurposed hospital staff badges to monitor patient mobility, revealing that ambulation is crucial for recovery. The device accurately predicts readmission rates and discharge plans, encouraging clinicians to provide targeted feedback.
Researchers at UNIST have developed flexible and transparent solar cells that can absorb reflected light, increasing their efficiency. The new solar cell structure takes advantage of the theoretical light absorption mechanism to recycle reflected light, enabling it to maintain over 95% initial efficiency even after bending tests.
Researchers from University of Sydney have developed a method to store electricity efficiently using durian and jackfruit waste. The fruits' biomass is converted into super-capacitors that can quickly charge electronic devices, offering a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels.
Scientists have developed a diagnostic technique using electron microscopy to measure the behavior of individual atoms in materials. This allows them to detect and monitor impurities at the atomic level, with potential applications in various fields such as electronics and materials science.
Researchers at Penn State's BEST Center have created a lithium-ion battery that balances high energy density with enhanced safety. The All Climate battery can last up to 1 million miles without compromising its performance.
Researchers at Stanford University have found a way to identify and control colorful defects in hexagonal boron nitride, a material that can emit bright light as a single photon. This breakthrough has the potential to create predictable sources of quantum light, a crucial component for future quantum technologies.
A team of scientists is working on wearable devices that can detect molecules in sweat to monitor patient health status continuously without blood draws. They aim to standardize sample collection methods and develop low-level detection techniques for neuropeptides, allowing for a more holistic understanding of bodily functions.
Researchers are exploring the use of ionic liquids as a more sustainable and efficient way to produce industrial materials like fibers and fuels. The unique properties of these molten salts make them an attractive alternative to traditional solvents, with potential applications in chemical synthesis, biomass refining, and energy storage.
Rutgers engineers create tiny needles inspired by parasites using 4D printing, achieving stronger tissue adhesion and more stable drug delivery. The microneedle outperforms previously reported examples, offering a potential solution to painful injections.
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.