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Modern ceramics help advance technology

Researchers explored the critical role of piezoelectric materials in advancing technology, leading to breakthroughs in cell phone technology and ultrahigh resolution ink-jet printing heads. The study highlights the potential applications of PZT thin film materials for various devices, including motion sensors and optical mirrors.

Ceramic, heal thyself

Researchers found that oxygen atoms in yttria-stabilized zirconia can heal radiation-induced damage by moving into pre-existing vacancies. This self-healing behavior could lead to the development of radiation-resistant materials, improving durability and reducing replacement costs. The simulation results also suggest that this ceramic ...

Findings could improve fuel cell efficiency

Researchers at Duke University have developed a ceramic membrane that allows fuel cells to operate at low humidity and higher temperatures, potentially improving efficiency. This new membrane could address current limitations in fuel cell technology and attract investment for its commercialization.

Fake diamonds help jet engines take the heat

Researchers at Ohio State University are developing a technology to coat turbine blades with zirconium dioxide, also known as synthetic diamond, to combat high-temperature corrosion. The coating converts corrosive particles into a protective outer layer, renewing itself constantly.

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

Ceramic hybrid needles take the sting out of shots

Researchers developed ceramic hybrid needles using two-photon polymerization, creating microneedles resistant to breakage. The new technology enables efficient drug delivery and minimizes trauma during injections.

Hidden order found in a quantum spin liquid

Researchers have discovered a hidden magnetic order in a ceramic material that extends over chains of 100 atoms, with potential applications in quantum computing and information processing. The team found that the magnetic excitations can propagate long distances at low temperatures, but can be disrupted by defects or heat.

Decapitation and rebirth

A newly excavated headless skeleton from Nasca, Peru provides important new data on ancient decapitation practices. The analysis suggests that decapitation was part of powerful rituals aimed at ensuring fertility and the continuation of life and rebirth of the community.

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.

Oldest writing in the New World discovered in Veracruz, Mexico

A team of archaeologists has uncovered a previously unknown system of writing on a stone block in Veracruz, Mexico, believed to be the earliest in the New World. The Cascajal block dates back to around 900 BCE and features a distinct script with poetic couplets, challenging existing knowledge of Mesoamerican civilization.

Circuit board materials may like it hot (or not)

NIST and DuPont researchers have developed a nondestructive method for measuring how temperature affects the electrical properties of common circuit board materials, including ceramic, polymer, and glass. The technique enables faster, less expensive, and easier testing, as well as improved performance in designing circuits and substrates.

Scientists reveal how a novel ceramic achieves directional conduction

A novel ceramic oxide of manganese has been found to function as a self-assembled layered integrated circuit, conducting electricity only in certain directions. This opens up the possibility of constructing thin metal layers insulated from other layers, enabling more efficient and powerful devices.

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.

Researchers develop alternate method to dispose nuclear liquid waste

Researchers have developed a new method to dispose of nuclear liquid waste by solidifying and stabilizing high alkali, low-activity radioactive waste using hydroceramic materials. The resulting hydroceramic can tie up minor radioactive components in its zeolitic structure, providing a viable alternative for the Department of Energy.

Archaeologists: Ancient brewery tended by elite, female brewmasters

Archaeologists uncover 1,000-year-old brewery with metal shawl pins suggesting wealthy female brewmasters, challenging historical perceptions of Incan society. The discovery sheds light on a potential antecedent to Incan customs and highlights the growing evidence of women's authority in pre-Incan Andean societies.

Ceramic/metal interface fracture toughness

Researchers evaluated the fracture toughness of Si3N4/S45C joints with interface cracks of different lengths. The specimen with a 4mm crack exhibited higher apparent fracture toughness due to reduced residual stress. Fracture propagation directions varied depending on crack length.

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.

Breakthrough in micro-device fabrication combines biology and synthetic chemistry

Researchers have developed new approaches to produce micro-devices with complex shapes and properties, opening up opportunities for biomedical, computing, environmental cleanup, defense, and other applications. The study uses biologically derived structures that can be chemically modified without changing their shape or fine features.

New understanding of human sacrifice in early Peru

A recent archaeological comparison of genetic traits indicates that Moche sacrificial victims were not local elite, but rather warriors captured from nearby valleys. This finding suggests territorial conflict and competition among Moche populations in each valley.

Georgia Tech chemical discovery could revolutionize polymer fuel cells

Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology have pinpointed a chemical called triazole that can allow polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells to operate at much higher temperatures without moisture. This discovery could make polymer fuel cells cheaper and more practical for use in cars, laptops, and cell phones.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

Study may expand applied benefits of super-hard ceramics

Researchers have provided unprecedented insight into the properties of super-hard ceramic materials, which exhibit unusual pliability and potential applications in fields like aerospace and medical implants. The study's findings could lead to the development of stronger materials with improved ductility and control over their properties.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

X-rays shine light on high-intensity gas lamps

Researchers at NIST developed an X-ray technique to analyze high-intensity gas discharge lamps, revealing the spatial distribution of mercury atoms. This understanding improves lamp design and energy efficiency, saving $10 billion annually in U.S. electricity consumption.

Want to petrify wood without waiting a few million years? Try this

Researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have successfully petrified wood in days, replicating the natural process that occurs over millions of years. The team used a novel method involving acid and silica to create a silicon carbide ceramic that retains the wood's architecture.

Scientists find atomic clues to tougher ceramics

Researchers at Berkeley Lab have produced atomic-resolution images of silicon nitride ceramics, revealing the exact location of rare-earth atoms and their effect on toughness. This discovery could lead to tailoring grain boundaries for optimum mechanical properties.

Tiny tools carve glass

Researchers create miniature drills and end mills using microelectro discharge machining to produce smooth, curly chips of glass or ceramic. The process can take as long as an hour to produce one dimple a half millimeter in diameter, but is faster than photolithography.

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.

Ceramics data enters a new phase

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released a new collection of critically evaluated phase diagrams, improving search capabilities and reducing design errors. The ACerS-NIST collaboration saves research time and money by providing reliable data.

Study gives lowdown on high-temperature superconductivity

The study identifies three key factors: tunnelling, competing order, and charge imbalance. By understanding these mechanisms, scientists can develop superconducting materials with higher critical temperatures, leading to significant implications for industries like medical imaging and electrical power transmission.

Advice for designing reliable nanomaterials

Designing nanomaterials requires careful consideration of interatomic force laws and scaling dimensions. At the nanoscale, tiny cracks require more load to spread, increasing the risk of catastrophic failure. Ceramic materials are particularly affected due to their high strength, hardness, and light weight.

Ceramics reinforced with nanotubes

The new material has up to five times the fracture toughness of conventional alumina, making it more forgiving under dynamic loads. It also exhibits high electrical conductivity ten trillion times greater than pure alumina, with interesting thermal properties that make it suitable for thermal barrier coatings.

Rutgers scientist sees evidence of 'onions' in space

A Rutgers scientist has found evidence of 'onions' in space, which are tiny but intricate components of nanotechnology. The discovery confirms that carbon onions are responsible for the way light is absorbed by dust in deep space.

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.

Porous ceramic can sort proteins magnetically

Researchers at Cornell University have developed a method to incorporate iron oxide particles into porous ceramic structures, enabling size exclusion and magnetic interactions. This enables the separation of single proteins from thousands found in blood serum, with potential applications in catalytic conversion.

Researchers solve ballistic mystery in ceramic armor

Researchers from Johns Hopkins University and the U.S. Army Research Laboratory discovered that higher-energy impacts cause boron carbide to transform into a more fragile glassy form. This transformation has implications for the development of improved armor materials.

Ceramic hip implants provide alternative for younger patients

Researchers have found that ceramic-to-ceramic hip implants are more durable than metal-on-polyethylene replacements, with a 4,000-fold increase in durability. A large-scale clinical trial showed no postoperative bearing fractures or particles flaking off, indicating potential benefits for younger patients.

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

Aluminum shows strange behavior; research solves old mystery

Research at Ohio State University solves a decades-old mystery about aluminum's behavior, revealing it may exhibit directional bonding and superior strength to copper under large shear strains. The findings have significant implications for nanotechnology and the development of tiny devices.

Technologists develop robust soot filter for diesel engine

A new soot filter for diesel engines has been developed, featuring a series of perforated ceramic foams that can absorb large quantities of ash before becoming blocked. The filter's design is based on studies of diesel particle structure and fractal geometry.

Unusual ceramics could expand possibilities for superconductors

Researchers at Ohio State University have found that certain ceramic materials, called cuprates, can switch between two types of superconductivity under specific circumstances. This discovery could settle a long-standing controversy among scientists and potentially lead to the development of buckyball-like superconductivity in ceramics.

New model to help engineers improve heat-resistant coatings

A new computational model developed at Purdue University accurately predicts the performance of thermal-barrier coatings, allowing designers to predict the properties of various mixtures. The model has been shown to be over 90% accurate and promises to save time and money by ruling out ineffective mixtures.

Ultrasound cleans ceramic filters: Could aid water treatment

Researchers at Ohio State University have developed an ultrasonic cleaning technique that can clean ceramic membrane filters without the need for harsh chemicals. The method uses sound waves to form and collapse bubbles, releasing heat and energy that flushes away contaminants.

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.

Flexible ceramic material is a 'plumber's nightmare'

Researchers at Cornell University have created a flexible ceramic material with a cubic bicontinuous structure, which conforms to century-old mathematical predictions. The material has properties that are not just the sum of polymers and ceramic, but something new, offering promise for efficient battery electrolytes and fuel cells.

Strontium titanate - a deformable ceramic

Researchers discovered strontium titanate deforms plastically at low stresses and temperatures, contrary to its brittle nature. Detailed analysis reveals the existence of different dislocation core structures, suggesting potential applications in forming or enhancing ceramic properties.

Moldable, 'tunable' magnets make their debut in February 25Sciencepaper

Researchers from the University of Toronto have developed a new class of magnetically tunable, shaped ceramics. By adjusting temperature in a pyrolysis chamber, they can create ferromagnetic nanoclusters and tune the material's magnetism. This breakthrough has potential applications in data storage, anti-static coatings, and other fields.

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.