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Strength of hair inspires new materials for body armor

Researchers at UC San Diego discovered that hair behaves differently depending on stretching speed, with faster stretches making it stronger. The team found a unique structural transformation allowing hair to withstand high stress without breaking.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalMaterials Science and Engineering C·DateJan 17, 2017

A breakthrough in the study of how things break, bend and deform

Researchers at Drexel University have made a breakthrough in the study of how things break, bend and deform. They discovered that layered materials form internal buckles, or ripples, as they deform under stress, dubbed 'ripplocation'. This new paradigm explains non-linear elastic behavior within the constraints of dislocation theory.

SourceDrexel University·JournalScientific Reports·DateOct 4, 2016

Record-breaking steel could be used for body armor, shields for satellites

Researchers developed a record-breaking steel alloy that can withstand impact without deforming permanently, with an elastic limit of 11.76 giga-Pascals. The material's unique structure allows it to be both hard and non-brittle, making it suitable for various applications.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalScientific Reports·DateApr 5, 2016
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Material may offer cheaper alternative to smart windows

MIT scientists have developed a theory to predict transparency in materials, which could lead to cheaper smart window alternatives. The researchers created a polymer structure that changes transparency when stretched or inflated, and their equation accurately predicts the amount of light transmitted through the material.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalAdvanced Optical Materials·DateJan 21, 2016

From nanocrystals to earthquakes, solid materials share similar failure characteristics

Researchers discovered that solid materials, including nanocrystals and the Earth's crust, share similar deformation properties due to slip-avalanches. This study enables the transfer of results across different scales and materials, providing new tools for predicting material deformation and hazard prevention.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering·JournalScientific Reports·DateNov 17, 2015

JCU team finds 'unprecedented' earthquake evidence in Africa

Researchers used innovative methods to examine the ground around Mbeya in Tanzania, finding evidence of fluidisation and massive ground deformation. This discovery could be used to model how structures might be affected by future earthquakes, providing a valuable tool for hazard assessment.

SourceJames Cook University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJun 15, 2015
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.

Safely on the road in electric cars

The Visio.M consortium presents a safety package for compact electric vehicles, providing a safe compartment and passenger protection through advanced materials and sensor systems. The integrated safety concept uses radar and camera sensors to recognize critical situations and activate protective measures.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·DateSep 22, 2014

New analytical technology reveals 'nanomechanical' surface traits

Researchers developed a new technique to measure nanomechanical properties of microstructures undergoing stress and heating, revealing insights for improving microelectronics and battery designs. The technology uses laser-based Raman spectroscopy to study surface stresses and their impact on mechanical properties.

SourcePurdue University·JournalJournal of Applied Physics·DateAug 28, 2014

The thin-crusted US Sierra Nevada Mountains: Where did the Earth go?

Researchers used seismograms collected in the Sierra Nevada EarthScope field experiment to image the earth under the range. Their results reveal that the entire eastern Sierra overlies low-velocity upper mantle and lacks dense, quartz-poor lower crust. This suggests that a long strip of dense rock fell away to the west and south, causi...

SourceGeological Society of America·JournalGeosphere·DateApr 28, 2014

Researchers uncover secrets of a mollusk's unique bioceramic armor

Researchers at MIT analyzed the shells of a sea creature to determine why they are exceptionally tough and optically clear. The shells' unique properties emerge from a specialized nanostructure that allows optical clarity, as well as efficient energy dissipation and localized deformation.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Materials·DateMar 30, 2014

Towards tailor-made adhesives

French scientists studied soft adhesive materials' inner structure and response to traction during the debonding process. Their findings aim to improve models of adhesive performance by understanding energy dissipation and material deformation.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal E·DateFeb 5, 2014
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.

Geologists simulate deep earthquakes in the laboratory

Geologists have confirmed that a high-pressure failure mechanism is the trigger for deep earthquakes occurring at depths below 400 kilometers. The research team simulated deep earthquakes in a laboratory and found that fractures nucleate at the onset of olivine to spinel transition.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalScience·DateSep 19, 2013

Hardness, in depth

Researchers have developed a new machine that measures a material's hardness with unprecedented accuracy. The Precision Nanoindentation Platform (PNP) can test properties beyond the reach of previous devices, including viscoelastic creep.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalReview of Scientific Instruments·DateJul 30, 2013
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.

Enzyme's structure reveals basis for head, sex organ deformities

The molecular structural basis for severe head deformities and ambiguous sex organs in babies born with Antley-Bixler syndrome has been revealed, suggesting that riboflavin therapy may reverse enzyme defects. The study also found that the enzyme NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase plays a crucial role in human syndromes.

SourceUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 19, 2011

Rutgers researchers identify materials that may deliver more 'bounce'

Researchers at Rutgers University have identified a class of high-strength metal alloys with potential to improve the performance of engines, medical imaging equipment, security systems, and other applications. These nanostructured metals can convert electrical and magnetic energy into movement or vice-versa.

SourceRutgers University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMar 9, 2011
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.

Formation of the Gulf of Corinth rift, Greece

Researchers used high-resolution seismic data to analyze fault evolution across the Gulf of Corinth rift, revealing patterns of basin subsidence and fault activity. The study provides new insights into early rift history and the development of faults associated with the rift, shedding light on seafloor spreading mechanisms.

SourceNational Oceanography Centre, UK·JournalBasin Research·DateDec 21, 2009

Small faults in southeast Spain reduce earthquake risk of larger ones

Scientists discover that smaller tectonic structures near larger faults in southeast Spain partially offset the risk of earthquakes, reducing seismic activity. By studying fossils and geological data, researchers found that these small faults help relax energy associated with plate convergence.

SourceSpanish Foundation for Science and Technology·JournalJournal of Quaternary Science·DateNov 25, 2009
Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.

University of Miami engineer designs stretchable electronics with a twist

The new mechanical design accommodates extreme bending and straining without reduction in electronic performance, enabling applications such as smart surgical gloves and eye cameras. The design uses semiconductor nanomaterials to offer high stretchability and twistability, making it suitable for various complex shapes.

SourceUniversity of Miami·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 21, 2009

New year brings new hope to children born with cleft lip, palate

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons is hosting medical mission trips in Central and South America to provide reconstructive surgery to children born with cleft lip and palate. The trips aim to not only repair the physical condition but also restore their lives by educating local physicians.

SourceAmerican Society of Plastic Surgeons·DateJan 7, 2009

Engineering nanoparticles for maximum strength

Researchers create hollow spherical nanospheres that can withstand extreme stress and deform without losing strength, approaching the theoretical ideal shear strength. The spheres' geometry is engineered to reduce stresses at specific regions, allowing them to transfer stress more efficiently.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalNature Materials·DateOct 20, 2008

Nearly unbreakable

Researchers at Max Planck Institute found that bone stretches more than its fibers and mineral composition, allowing it to sustain large strains without breaking. The hierarchical structure of bone leads to a hierarchical deformation, with soft layers absorbing most of the strain, protecting the mineral phase from excessive loads.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 14, 2006
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.

From mirror to mist: Cracking the secret of fracture instabilities

Scientists from Max Planck Institute and MIT perform atom-by-atom investigations, gaining insight into dynamic fracture instabilities. They propose a new model that explains how material properties affect crack propagation, with implications for understanding fracture in various materials and scales.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature·DateJan 20, 2006

New technique shows promise for improved straightening of crooked nose

A new technique using high-density porous polyethylene grafts has shown substantial improvement in straightening the middle third of the nose, even in cases with previous rhinoplasty. The procedure is safe, effective, and reliable, providing long-term stability and reducing future scar contracture or trauma.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalArchives of Facial Plastic Surgery·DateMar 21, 2005
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.

Brittle fracture mechanism breaks the sound barrier

Scientists discover conditions for cracks to propagate supersonically in brittle solids, challenging classical theories on fracture speed. Hyperelasticity governs dynamic fracture under extreme deformation, with a characteristic length scale near the crack tip.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature·DateNov 14, 2003

Carnegie Mellon mathematics professor wins Agostinelli Prize

Professor Morton Gurtin's research extends continuum mechanics to study structural materials at nanoscale length scales, advancing theories of deformation and fracture process. He has been an active collaborator with Italian school of continuum mechanics researchers since many years.

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·DateJul 25, 2001

Triggering Of Volcanic Eruptions

Researchers at Carnegie Institution's Department of Terrestrial Magnetism discovered a statistically significant correlation between large magnitude earthquakes (M7.0+) and volcanic eruptions separated by up to 750 km, suggesting potential predictive capabilities for monitoring small deformations in active volcanoes.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalNature·DateOct 28, 1998
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.

Single Crystals Move More With High Voltage

Researchers have discovered that relaxor ferroelectrics can deform 10 times more under high voltage, making them ideal for medical ultrasound devices and potentially leading to breakthroughs in piezoelectric technology

SourcePenn State·DateMay 13, 1997

Earthquakes Illuminate Mantle Under Tibet

Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery about the structure of the Earth's mantle beneath Tibet, finding that it is not horizontal but oriented in three dimensions. This new understanding could improve models of plate tectonics and provide insights into the evolution of continents.

SourcePenn State·DateDec 17, 1996