Researchers at NIMS have discovered a phenomenon where droplets on a single solid surface exhibit both 'sticky' and 'repellent' states simultaneously. By controlling the number of hydrogen bonds between the solid surface and oil, they can create a universal surface design principle that causes this phenomenon.
SourceNational Institute for Materials Science, Japan·JournalAdvanced Materials Interfaces·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 20, 2026
Researchers developed a memory technology that stores data using almost no electricity by controlling spin states through temperature changes. The approach reduces energy consumption by up to 66 times compared to existing methods, making it suitable for low-power memory technologies.
SourcePohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateMay 13, 2026
Researchers developed new photon avalanching nanoparticles that exhibit high nonlinearities, overcoming challenges in realizing intrinsic optical bistability at the nanoscale. The breakthrough paves the way for fabricating optical memory and transistors on a nanometer scale comparable to current microelectronics.
SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalNature Photonics·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 26, 2025
Multistable mechanical metamaterials can switch between multiple stable configurations under external loading, making them reusable and efficient for quick action. Their unique properties make them promising for various engineering applications, including energy absorption, soft actuators/robots, and wave control.
SourceInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·JournalInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·DateOct 10, 2023
Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach
Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.
A team of researchers has discovered a way to harness random telegraph noises in semiconductors, generating high-amplitude signals and manifesting inherent quantum states. By introducing vanadium into tungsten diselenide, they created a device that can switch between two stable states using voltage polarity.
SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalNature Electronics·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 10, 2023
The researchers proposed a type of ultra-tunable bistable structure with programmable energy barriers and trigger forces. The structures can be customized for various robotic applications, demonstrating superior performances in high-speed locomotion, adaptive sensing, and fast grasping.
SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalCell Reports Physical Science·DateApr 22, 2023
Researchers at Arizona State University have designed a drone with an inflatable frame that can absorb impact forces and provide collision resilience. The drone's stiffness is tunable, allowing it to physically interact with its surroundings and accomplish tasks like perching, which involves controlled collisions.
SourceArizona State University·JournalSoft Robotics·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 20, 2023
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have created soft robots that can transition from walking to swimming, crawling to rolling, or jumping. The robots use highly dynamic bistable soft actuators made of shape-memory alloy springs that react to electrical currents, allowing for varied locomotion and adaptability.
SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalAdvanced Materials Technologies·DateMar 14, 2023
Researchers at NC State University have created an energy-efficient soft robot that can swim more than four times faster than previous models. The 'butterfly bots' use bistable wings for propulsion and achieve speeds of up to 3.74 body lengths per second.
SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 18, 2022
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.
Researchers at NC State University have developed a ring-shaped soft robot capable of crawling across surfaces when exposed to elevated temperatures or infrared light. The 'ringbots' are made of liquid crystal elastomers in the shape of looped ribbon, resembling a bracelet, and can pull a small payload across various environments.
SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalAdvanced Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 15, 2022
Researchers at ICIQ have demonstrated that single molecules can retain properties even when the stimulus disappears, breaking previous expectations. This discovery has significant implications for molecular data storage and could lead to new possibilities for storing multifunctional information.
SourceInstitute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ)·JournalChem·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 26, 2022
Researchers at Harvard University have developed inflatable actuators that can bend, twist, and move in complex ways using origami-inspired designs. The actuator's bistable origami blocks allow it to perform up to eight different motions with a single pressure source.
SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateJul 15, 2022
Researchers from the University of Liège have developed a Bistable Recurrent Cell (BRC) that enables recurrent networks to learn temporal relationships over 1000 time steps, surpassing classical methods' limitations. This breakthrough could improve AI's ability to process time-series data and predict future events.
SourceUniversity of Liège·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJun 8, 2021
New strategies aim to achieve ideal bistable electrochromic systems for green displays. Researchers explore various approaches, including material design optimization, indirect EC systems, and device structure improvements. The goal is to overcome technical bottlenecks and enable widespread adoption of sustainable displays.
SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS·DateFeb 23, 2021
Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station
Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.
Purdue University scientists have created a patterned sheet of domes that can store energy in its skin, enabling strong mechanical tasks and programmable data processing. The technology has potential applications in flexible robotics and mechanical computing, where energy storage and efficient processing are crucial.
SourcePurdue University·JournalAdvanced Science·DateDec 2, 2020
Researchers from IKBFU and the University of Oviedo tested a new Preisach model for analyzing magnetic interactions in ferromagnetic microwires. The study found that real-life conditions can affect the applicability of the method, highlighting its limitations.
SourceImmanuel Kant Baltic Federal University·JournalJournal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials·DateApr 23, 2020
Parametric oscillators can be made to resonate when driven by high and low frequencies, a discovery that could improve our understanding of nonlinear systems in various fields. This is achieved through the tuning of the high-frequency driving force to match the low frequency, causing the system to exhibit resonance.
SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateFeb 25, 2020
Researchers developed a mechanical linkage containing bistable joints that can transform into stable, locked curves through state-transitioning wave propagation. The approach enables the creation of deployable 3D structures of arbitrary shapes with potential for larger-scale applications.
SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 10, 2020
Hyperbolic paraboloid origami has been found to exhibit structural bistability, allowing it to find a resting equilibrium in two different states. By tuning the folds of concentric squares, researchers can create structures with multiple stable configurations, enabling new applications in robotics and electronics.
SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 17, 2019
Apple iPhone 17 Pro
Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.
By using stimuli-responsive materials and geometric principles, researchers have designed structures that can determine their response to the environment through physical and chemical changes. These 'embodied logic' systems can switch between multiple configurations in response to pre-determined environmental cues, enabling complex mec...
SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 15, 2019
Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a new propulsion concept that exploits water temperature for swimming robots, eliminating the need for engines or power supplies. The robots use bistable propulsion elements triggered by shape memory polymer strips to propel forward.
SourceETH Zurich·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 5, 2018
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.
SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 15, 2018
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.
A US-based research team has demonstrated optical and electrical bistability for switching in a single transistor, offering potential solutions to the bandwidth limitations of electronic computers. The study showcases the control of transistor laser electrical and optical bistabilities by base current and collector voltage.
SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalJournal of Applied Physics·DateSep 18, 2017
A recent study finds that large areas of the Amazon forest are less susceptible to a tipping point into savannah, contrary to previous research. The key factor was controlling for seasonality and removing data points from human-influenced areas, revealing a more resilient ecosystem.
SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 30, 2017
Engineers have created a transistor that can form an optical-electric switch, enabling faster processing speeds. The device can communicate without interference, overcoming the bottleneck formed by electronic data transmission.
SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalJournal of Applied Physics·DateMay 9, 2017
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.
Soft materials can store and release elastic energy using bistable beams, allowing for signal propagation without dissipation. The developed system enables transmission of mechanical signals through long distances in autonomous soft systems.
SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 8, 2016
Scientists at Southeast University propose a scheme to control optical steady behavior in GaAs quantum well structures via nonradiation coherence. The study reveals multi-stability and optical bistability, with the ability to convert between these states by adjusting phase differences in polarized electric fields.
SourceWorld Scientific·JournalModern Physics Letters B·DateJun 18, 2014
Researchers developed a way to simplify modeling of 'bistable' systems, involving two evolving species with different timescales. This new approach can accurately predict population dynamics and time to extinction in predator-prey models.
SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalThe Journal of Chemical Physics·DateMay 6, 2014
Researchers found that handedness plays a key role in controlling the Vestibular-Ocular Reflex (VOR), a primitive reflex involving eye movement. The study suggests that higher-order brain functions govern this reflex, contradicting previous assumptions of its low-level control.
GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter
GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.
The study proposes a novel molecular mechanism for detecting chromosome alignment on the mitotic spindle, preventing errors in cell division. The checkpoint mechanism ensures irreversible progression through the cell cycle, blocking further progress until problems are corrected.
SourceVirginia Tech·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 23, 2011
The study reveals that the switch is bistable, maintaining its on state even without external signals, and provides clues for novel drug targets for cancer and other diseases. The findings have implications for understanding cell fate decisions and the process of cell death.
SourceDuke University Medical Center·JournalNature Cell Biology·DateMar 23, 2008
A team of UCLA and Caltech chemists has demonstrated a large-scale, ultra-dense memory device using reconfigurable molecular switches. The device stores information using bistable rotaxane molecules, which can be switched at very modest voltages.
SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalNature·DateJan 24, 2007
Scientists at Northwestern University have created a novel carbon nanotube-based nanoelectromechanical switch that exhibits bistability based on current tunneling. The device has the potential to revolutionize memory chips and electronic sensing devices.
Researchers have reported rapid progress in molecular electronics, with logic gates, memory circuits, and rectifiers demonstrated to work. The UCLA/Caltech team has achieved significant advancements in harnessing molecule-based switches for electronic circuitry.
SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalScience·DateDec 16, 2004
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CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.
Researchers at UCR have developed an organic compound that exhibits bistability in all three physical channels: optical, electrical, and magnetic. This multifunctional material has the potential to be used in advanced electronic devices.
SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalScience·DateMay 23, 2002