Bluesky Facebook Reddit Email

New method allows for greater variation in band gap tunability

Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a novel method to control the electronic band gap in complex oxide materials without altering their composition. This can lead to better performance in electro-optical devices and new energy-generation materials.

Chemists control structure to unlock magnetization and polarization simultaneously

Researchers at the University of Liverpool have successfully controlled a material's structure to generate both magnetisation and electrical polarisation, two contradictory properties. This breakthrough has significant implications for low-energy information technology applications, such as efficient information storage and logic devices.

A repulsive material

Researchers develop new hydrogel with electrostatic repulsion properties, inspired by articular cartilage and maglev trains. The material easily deforms under shear forces but resists compressive forces.

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.

Composite materials can be designed in a supercomputer 'virtual lab'

Researchers developed a 'virtual lab' to study nanocomposites, allowing for prediction of material properties based on chemical composition and processing conditions. The simulations revealed how polymers and clay particles interact, enabling the development of improved composite materials.

UH professor honored for materials research, STEM outreach

Yuliya Gorb received a $420,000 NSF CAREER Award for her research on complex composite materials and an after-school program for high school girls. The award aims to promote STEM education and careers in mathematics, science, and engineering.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

New Milky Way maps help solve stubborn interstellar material mystery

A team of astronomers has created new maps of the interstellar medium in the Milky Way, revealing clues about the composition and distribution of mysterious complex molecules. The findings could provide insights into how stars form and the conditions that lead to their creation.

Learning how things fall apart

Researchers at MIT have developed a method to study bonding failures in materials, revealing the crucial role of moisture in setting the stage for failure. The findings could lead to the design of more durable composites and prediction of their strength under specific conditions.

Faster dental treatment with new photoactive molecule

Researchers at Vienna University of Technology have developed a new Germanium-based photo initiator that hardens dental fillings faster. This innovation increases the hardening depth from 2 mm to 4 mm, making dental treatment more efficient.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

Repeated self-healing now possible in composite materials

Researchers at the Beckman Institute developed a vascular network system that heals fiber-reinforced composites autonomously through polymerization of healing chemistries. This technology overcomes long-standing challenges in composite materials, enabling repeated self-healing and increasing structural reliability.

A new material for solar panels could make them cheaper, more efficient

Researchers have created a new ceramic material that can harness energy from visible and infrared light, not just ultraviolet light. The material has shown significant improvement over today's classic ferroelectric material, absorbing six times more energy and transferring a photocurrent 50 times denser.

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

Morphing material has mighty potential

Researchers develop composite material that can change shape in response to temperature, enabling applications such as dynamic scaffolds and implantable materials. The material's reversible properties make it suitable for biomedical applications where shape changes need to be repeated.

Citrus fruit inspires a new energy-absorbing metal structure

Researchers have developed a novel aluminum hybrid with enhanced impact resistance, mimicking the strength of pomelo fruit peels. The composite exhibits superior tensile strength and ductility, making it suitable for safety materials in various industries.

A step closer to composite-based electronics

A new study demonstrates that electrical resistivity in composite materials follows a staircase-like pattern with increasing conducting particle concentration. The findings, published in European Physical Journal B, use percolation theory to explain the discrete series of resistances observed.

Overcoming brittleness: New insights into bulk metallic glass

Researchers have discovered a new class of bulk metallic glasses that exhibit enhanced fatigue endurance, thanks to a unique staircase-like fracture mechanism. This breakthrough paves the way for widespread adoption in industries such as smartphones, biomedical implants and aerospace engineering.

Monitoring material changes in the hostile environment of a fusion reactor

Researchers at MIT's Plasma Science and Fusion Center have developed a novel diagnostic instrument that can remotely map the composition of material surfaces inside a magnetic fusion device. This new approach promises to provide scientists with insights into the dynamic interaction between fusing plasma and its surrounding materials.

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.

Mixing nanoparticles to make multifunctional materials

Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory have created a method for combining different types of nanoparticles to produce large-scale composite materials. By using DNA-based assembly methods, they can control and optimize the properties of newly formed materials.

Shining a little light changes metal into semiconductor

Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have created a new class of materials that change their electronic properties when exposed to light. The composite material combines gold nanorods and zinc oxide, leading to improved performance in solar cells and potential applications for sensitive sensors.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Butterfly wings + carbon nanotubes = new 'nanobiocomposite' material

Researchers have developed a nanobiocomposite material by combining the natural properties of Morpho butterfly wings with carbon nanotubes, showing promise for wearable electronic devices and sustainable energy applications. The new hybrid material exhibits high electrical conductivity and self-cleaning capabilities.

Researchers unravel secrets of mussels' clinginess

Researchers have unraveled the secrets of mussels' clinginess, discovering that their byssus threads can withstand impact forces nine times greater than stretching in one direction. The unique distribution of stiffness along the threads enables them to absorb nutrients while minimizing damage from waves.

Controlling friction by tuning van der Waals forces

Scientists have found that the thickness of sub-surface layers affects frictional forces between two materials, allowing for new ways to control friction. By carefully designing layer structures, friction can be reduced by up to 30%.

An easier way to make a topological insulator for advanced electronics

Physicists at U-M create topological insulators by doping bismuth telluride with thallium, enabling control over electrical conductivity and unique surface properties. The new approach reveals the properties of the surface states, opening doors to applications in quantum computing and Majorana fermions.

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.

Newly discovered flux in the Earth may solve missing-mantle mystery

Researchers at MIT have identified a hidden reservoir of lead-laden rocks in the Earth's mantle, which would make the planet's composition more similar to meteorites. This discovery could help explain the Earth's origins and provide insights into its evolution through history.

Printing artificial bone

Researchers at MIT develop approach to print synthetic materials with fracture behavior similar to natural bone, using computer-optimized designs and 3-D printing. The new material exhibits a fracture resistance of up to 22 times larger than its strongest constituent material.

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.

UNL team's discovery yields supertough, strong nanofibers

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln materials engineers developed exceptionally thin polyacrilonitrile nanofibers that are both strong and tough. This breakthrough could lead to lighter, safer products in various fields, including aerospace and body armor.

New material gets itself into shape

Scientists have created a composite material that can bend and twist in response to external stimuli like temperature or moisture. This programmable plasticity enables the material to take on various shapes, making it suitable for applications such as self-shaping ceramic parts and biodegradable implants.

Light yet safe contender for city streets

The Visio.M project aims to develop a safe and efficient electric vehicle with a lightweight carbon fiber body structure. The design incorporates innovative materials and technologies, such as a monocoque chassis and ultra-lightweight gears, while maintaining the highest level of safety protection.

Cork the key to unlocking the potential of graphene

Researchers have successfully formed graphene into useful three-dimensional structures by mirroring the structure of cork, enabling record-breaking strength and elasticity. The breakthrough, published in Nature Communications, has opened up new avenues for investigations of graphene's potential applications.

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.

Predicting material fatigue

Scientists have created a novel concept for self-reporting materials that utilize zinc oxide tetrapod crystals to detect internal damages in composite materials. The resulting composite material exhibits improved strength and emits light when exposed to UV light, providing a visual warning of potential failure.

Tiny pores in graphene could give rise to membranes

Researchers have found that graphene membranes contain tiny pores, allowing small molecules to pass through while blocking larger ones. This discovery opens up new possibilities for creating membranes that can filter microscopic contaminants from water or separate specific types of molecules from biological samples.

New techniques stretch carbon nanotubes, make stronger composites

Scientists from NC State University have developed a method to align carbon nanotubes in composite materials, resulting in significantly improved tensile strength, stiffness, and thermal conductivity. The new technique enables the creation of ultrastrong and multifunctional composites suitable for aerospace and sports applications.

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.

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.

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.

Infrared technology for measuring the effect of fire on materials

Researchers developed an infrared-based method to measure material temperatures in the presence of flames, providing a clear picture of thermal behavior. This technique has applications in the aeronautical industry and can be applied in other sectors where fire resistance is crucial.

Researchers link patterns seen in spider silk, melodies

Researchers at MIT have created an analogy between the physical structure of spider silk and the sonic structure of a melody, showing that the structure of each relates to its function in an equivalent way. The study reveals that structural patterns are directly related to functional properties such as lightweight strength and sonic te...

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.

Nanotubes key to microscopic mechanics

Carbon nanotubes have been used to increase the electrical conductivity of silicon nitride by 13 orders of magnitude, enabling the production of intricate micro-components without compromising production time or integrity. The resulting nanocomposite materials offer improved wear resistance and preservation of mechanical properties.

Researchers discover material with graphene-like properties

Scientists have developed a material that exhibits physical properties similar to graphene, including superconductivity and magnetic behavior. The discovery was made by combining ultra-high magnetic fields with the unique composition of SrMnBi2, which allows for easy doping with foreign atoms.

Frustration inspires new form of graphene

Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a new form of graphene that resists aggregation, thanks to its crumpled shape. The material retains its surface area and remains pure, making it more useful for applications requiring large amounts of the material.

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.

Researchers build a tougher, lighter wind turbine blade

Researchers have developed a new wind turbine blade material that is lighter, tougher, and more durable than current materials. The polyurethane reinforced with carbon nanotubes outperforms existing resins for wind blades applications.

New composite material may restore damaged soft tissue

Researchers developed a liquid composite material that can restore damaged soft tissue relatively safely and durably. The material, composed of biological and synthetic molecules, was tested in rats and humans, showing promise in facial reconstruction, particularly for soldiers' blast injuries.

Graphene nanocomposite a bridge to better batteries

Berkeley Lab researchers have created a graphene and tin nanoscale composite material for high-capacity energy storage. The new material, dubbed a 'sandwich' structure, bolsters battery performance and enables quick charging and repeated cycling without degradation.

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.

Vascular composites enable dynamic structural materials

Researchers at University of Illinois developed vascularized structural composites that are lightweight, strong and multifunctional. They achieved this by circulating fluids through tiny channels, creating materials that can regulate temperature, chemistry, conductivity and electromagnetism.