Bluesky Facebook Reddit Email

Getting glued in the sea

Researchers at Hokkaido University developed adhesives inspired by mussels that utilize electrostatic interactions to stick to negatively charged surfaces in saltwater. The adhesiveness was largely thanks to the interaction between positively charged residues on the polymers and the negatively charged surfaces.

New 3D printing technique for biomaterials

Researchers at the University of Birmingham have developed a new 3D printing technique called Suspended Layer Additive Manufacturing (SLAM) that can create soft biomaterials for repairing body defects. The technique uses a polymer-based hydrogel with self-healing properties, allowing for precise detail and support without sagging.

Dealing a therapeutic counterblow to traumatic brain injury

Researchers develop a novel therapy to protect neurons and stimulate regrowth of blood vessels in damaged tissue. In preclinical trials, rats injected with the hydrogel retained more functioning neurons and formed new blood cells at the injury site.

Researchers develop thermo-responsive protein hydrogel

A NYU Tandon-led team created a biocompatible protein-based drug delivery system that can survive in the body for over two weeks and provide sustained medication release. The thermo-responsive protein hydrogel exhibits properties similar to synthetic hydrogels but is more desirable for use in biomedicine.

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.

A chameleon-inspired smart skin changes color in the sun

Researchers create strain-accommodating smart skin that changes color in response to heat and sunlight, mimicking chameleon skin. The new material uses arrays of photonic crystals embedded in hydrogels to achieve color changes without buckling.

Chameleon inspires 'smart skin' that changes color in the sun

Researchers at Emory University have created a flexible smart skin that changes color in response to heat and sunlight without altering its size. This innovation uses photonic crystals to mimic the chameleon's natural ability, opening doors for applications in camouflage, chemical sensing, and anti-counterfeiting.

High-tech gel aids delivery of drugs

Researchers have developed a hydrogel-based carrier that can deliver siRNAs directly to tumors, overcoming the challenge of rapid degradation and limited cellular entry. This innovative technology has the potential to improve the effectiveness of siRNA-based cancer treatments and enable more efficient delivery of biologics.

Peptide hydrogels could help heal traumatic brain injuries

Researchers have developed a self-assembling peptide hydrogel that increases blood vessel regrowth and neuronal survival in rats with traumatic brain injuries. The treatment also improves the survival of brain cells and shows signs of new blood vessel formation.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

New hydrogels show promise in treating bone defects

Researchers from UCLA School of Dentistry developed a new hydrogel that promotes tissue repair and regeneration, inducing stem cell migration to enhance bone healing. The clay-enhanced hydrogel has a more porous structure, improving its ability to deliver cells to defective areas.

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.

Researchers: Eggshells can help grow, heal bones

Researchers at UMass Lowell have discovered that eggshell particles can increase bone cells' ability to grow and harden, potentially resulting in faster healing. The technique uses crushed eggshells in a hydrogel mixture to support bone growth, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional methods.

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

Snail-inspired superglue

Researchers created a hydrogel-based adhesive inspired by snails' mucus, combining strength and reversibility. The PHEMA gel achieves adhesive strengths comparable to superglues, with 'shape adaptation and memory' properties.

3D printed tissues and organs without the scaffolding

Researchers have developed a process for 3D printing biological tissues without scaffolds using stem cells in a hydrogel bead bath. The printed cells form stable connections and mature into functional tissues, offering potential applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Molecular bait can help hydrogels heal wounds

Researchers have created a new type of hydrogel that can grow new tissue to heal wounds, eliminating the need for external growth factors. The hydrogels are made with biomolecules anchored in crosslinkers and can be mixed at room temperature.

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

Texas A&M research team develops bioinks to print therapeutics in 3D

A Texas A&M research team has developed a new class of hydrogel bioinks loaded with therapeutic proteins, which can be used for precise deposition of protein therapeutics in 3D. The bioink formulation has unique shear-thinning properties that allow it to stay in place after injection, making it suitable for 3D bioprinting applications.

Uncovering microgel mysteries

A team of scientists at Shinshu University used a newly customized tool to study hydrogel microspheres, observing structural differences that were previously unexplained. The study reveals that the method of production greatly affects the structure and behavior of thermoresponsive microgels.

GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

Producing tissue and organs through lithography

Researchers are developing a top-down lithography method to create complex tissues and their anatomical microstructures. This approach uses light sheet illumination and special hydrogels to form branched chain structures that serve as a matrix for cell colonization.

Ultra-thin superlattices from gold nanoparticles for nanophotonics

Scientists have developed a technique to produce highly ordered particle layers using tiny gold particles encapsulated in soft polymer beads. The resulting ultrathin superlattices exhibit collective resonances when excited by light, enabling potential applications in optoelectronics and nanophotonics.

Will MSC micropellets outperform single cells for cartilage regeneration?

A study directly compares chondrogenic induction by hydrogels containing MSCs as either single cell suspensions or 100-500-cell micropellets. The results show that micropellet-encapsulated MSCs outperform single cells in cartilage regeneration, providing guidance for future cartilage engineering efforts.

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.

Working out makes hydrogels perform more like muscle

Researchers created hydrogels that mimic muscle properties through mechanical training, producing strong, soft, and fatigue-resistant materials for medical implants and engineering applications. The trained hydrogels demonstrate improved tensile strength, soft flexibility, and high water content.

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.

Traffic control of cells

Scientists have created a hydrogel matrix whose stiffness can be reversibly tuned using light, enabling the investigation of how cells respond to dynamic changes in their environment. The matrix has potential applications in cancer immunotherapy and understanding cell migration patterns.

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

Solar-powered moisture harvester collects and cleans water from air

Researchers at UT Austin developed a solar-powered moisture harvester that captures and cleans water from the air using hydrogels. The system can produce up to 50 liters of clean water per kilogram of hydrogel, making it a promising solution for disaster situations, water crises, or poverty-stricken areas.

Lobster's underbelly is as tough as industrial rubber

Researchers discovered the lobster membrane is surprisingly tough and stretchy, making it a potential guide for designing flexible body armor. The membrane's layered structure, similar to plywood, provides exceptional strength and resistance to scratches and cuts, outperforming industrial rubber composites.

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.

New gel for liver cell culture on microchips

Researchers at Linköping University created a hydrogel that mimics the natural environment of cells, allowing for the growth of human liver cells on microchips. This innovation has the potential to simplify early stages of drug development and replace animal experiments.

Self-growing materials that strengthen in response to force

Hokkaido University researchers have developed a strategy to fabricate materials that become stronger in response to mechanical stress. By employing 'double-network hydrogels,' they were able to create soft, yet tough materials that can adapt and strengthen based on surrounding conditions.

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.

A painless adhesive

Researchers have developed an adhesive that can strongly adhere to wet materials like hydrogel and living tissue, and be easily detached with specific frequencies of light. This technology has the potential to enable painless detachment of wound dressings and transdermal drug delivery devices.

Drinking water sucked from the dusty desert air

Researchers at KAUST developed a device that can capture its own weight in water from fresh air and release it when warmed by sunlight. The device uses deliquescent salt and a polymer hydrogel to absorb moisture from the air, which is then released continuously with the help of carbon nanotubes.

A hydrogel that adheres firmly to cartilage and meniscus

Researchers at EPFL have developed a biocompatible hydrogel that naturally adheres to cartilage and the meniscus, eliminating the need for special membranes and sutures. The composite double-network hydrogel has shown superior adhesive properties and is poised to revolutionize treatment for soft tissue injuries.

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.

UNH researchers create a more effective hydrogel for healing wounds

Researchers at the University of New Hampshire have developed a new, macroporous hydrogel that facilitates faster wound healing by allowing cells to migrate into the wound. The injectable formulation also enables slow release of protein drugs, such as platelet-derived growth factor, to aid in the healing process.

UTA researcher creates hydrogels capable of complex movement

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.

Biomaterial could keep tooth alive after root canal (video)

Scientists develop peptide hydrogel that stimulates new blood vessel and dental pulp growth in teeth after root canals. The material aims to preserve more of the existing dental pulp and help grow new tissue, making the procedure less invasive.

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.

This matrix delivers healing stem cells to injured elderly muscles

Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology developed a molecular matrix that effectively delivers muscle satellite cells to injured muscle tissue, promoting healing and protection from immune reactions. The hydrogel therapy has potential to treat muscular dystrophy patients, including those with Duchene muscular dystrophy.

Electronic skin stretched to new limits

A composite hydrogel and MXene material offers unparalleled stretchability, self-healing, and strain sensitivity, opening doors to innovative applications such as wearable electronics, biodegradable patches, and biosensing technologies.

Hydrogel helps restore artworks and reveals hidden inscription

Researchers use hydrogels to safely remove pressure-sensitive tapes from paper artworks without solvents, preserving the underlying artwork. The technique reveals hidden inscriptions like Michelangelo's 'di mano di Michelangelo' on a 16th-century drawing.

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

Highly elastic biodegradable hydrogel for bioprinting of new tissues

Researchers at the University of Texas at Arlington have developed a highly elastic biodegradable hydrogel for bio-printing of materials that mimic natural human soft tissues. The material can generate multiple types of human soft tissues, including skin, skeletal muscles, blood vessels, and heart muscles.

Flare-responsive hydrogel developed to treat arthritis

Scientists at Brigham and Women's Hospital have created a hydrogel that responds to increased disease activity during flares, releasing drugs to alleviate symptoms. The technology has shown promise in preclinical models and could provide a new treatment option for patients with arthritis.

Researchers develop injectable bandage

A team of researchers from Texas A&M University has developed an injectable bandage using a gelling agent commonly used in pastries, which can stop bleeding and promote wound healing. The injectable hydrogels are made with kappa-carrageenan and nanosilicates to form a controlled release of therapeutics.

Water purification breakthrough uses sunlight and 'hydrogels'

Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed a new technology using combined gel-polymer hybrid materials to produce clean drinking water from any source. The system uses ambient solar energy to power evaporation, reducing energy consumption and increasing water volume.