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Hybrid ‘super foam’: tunable, lightweight and ultra-durable

Researchers at Texas A&M University and DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory developed a hybrid foam with a 3D-printed plastic skeleton, offering tunable, lightweight and ultra-durable properties. The composite combines ordinary foam with plastic struts, allowing it to absorb more energy and withstand greater forces.

A new super metal stands strong, no matter the temperature

Researchers at POSTECH developed a nickel-based high-entropy alloy that maintains strength and ductility across a wide temperature range from -196°C to 600°C. This stability is attributed to the presence of nanoscale precipitates, which inhibit deformation and accommodate stress through consistent slip behavior.

Ultra-high-speed machining: unveiling material removal mechanisms

A new study explores ultra-high-speed machining, revealing that high-performance materials pose challenges such as low efficiency and rapid tool wear. The researchers identify three typical material removal mechanisms: ductile-mode, brittle-mode, and extrusion removal, with the latter having a broader range of applicability.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Boom, crackle, pop: Sounds of Earth’s crust

Researchers at MIT have discovered that the sounds produced by rocks under different pressures can reveal their depth and strength, helping scientists identify unstable regions below the surface. This new method could aid in drilling for geothermal energy and understanding the Earth's crust.

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.

New research explores durability of 2D hybrid materials

Researchers investigated the fatigue behavior of 2D hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites (HOIPs), discovering they can survive over one billion cycles, outperforming most polymers under similar loading conditions. The study provides insights into designing and engineering these materials for long-term mechanical durability.

What if ceramics were ductile?

Researchers have discovered a way to create ductile ceramics that can exhibit ultimate strength of up to 11 GPa, potentially leading to improved energy efficiency and reduced material usage. However, further studies are needed to scale up the process and apply it to larger materials.

How Imperfections can actually improve alloys

Using transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) and twinning-induced plasticity (TWIP), researchers design metastable alloys that can overcome the strength-ductility trade-off. The resulting materials are self-strengthening, making them suitable for applications such as earthquake construction, naval ships, and aerospace.

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.

Tracking real-time atomic movement between crystal grains in metals

Scientists at Georgia Institute of Technology observe unprecedented atomic processes that dictate mechanical behavior in metals. They develop novel methods to visualize grain boundary sliding, revealing previously unknown movements and accommodating transferred atoms through adjusting grain boundary structures.

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.

Nanotwinned titanium forges path to sustainable manufacturing

Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have discovered a new path forward for processing titanium. Cryo-forging at ultra-low temperatures produces extra-strong nanotwinned titanium with improved strength and ductility. The material maintains its structure and properties at extreme temperatures, demonstrating its versatility.

Tiny but mighty precipitates toughen a structural alloy

Scientists introduced tiny precipitates into an alloy, tuning their size and spacing to enhance both strength and ductility. This approach allows for the creation of lightweight, strong materials that can withstand catastrophic deformation without breaking.

New articles for Geosphere posted online in May

Researchers analyzed detrital-zircon data from sandstones in the Ouachita orogen, revealing a mix of sediment dispersal pathways from multiple provenances. In Scotland, the Moine thrust zone hosted highly alkaline syenite intrusions with high-temperature contact metamorphic aureoles.

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.

Designing new alloys for additive manufacturing

Researchers aim to develop new alloys that can be additively manufactured to produce strong yet ductile structures. By understanding the underlying mechanisms of grain refinement in complex concentrated alloys, they hope to create materials suitable for various engineering applications, including space exploration.

Breathing easier with a better tracheal stent

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have successfully used a new, biodegradable magnesium-alloy stent to treat pediatric laryngotracheal stenosis. The stent showed promising results in both lab testing and rabbit models, with low degradation rates and no adverse problems.

Scientists to discover the unique ductile properties of aluminum

Researchers from Peter the Great St.Petersburg Polytechnic University produced a metal with increased ductility, three times higher than specified in standard. This discovery can change component design and improve material performance for industries like Aerospace.

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.

Discovery of grain-boundary disordered nanolayers in intermetallic alloys​

Researchers have discovered a way to resolve the conflict between high strength and ductility in intermetallic alloys by introducing disordered nanoscale layers at grain boundaries. These nanolayers improve the alloy's strength with excellent thermal stability at high temperatures, opening up new possibilities for designing structural ...

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.

A new manufacturing process for aluminum alloys

Researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have developed a single-step manufacturing process to produce nanostructured rods and tubes directly from high-performance aluminum alloy powder. The process, called ShAPE, achieves significant improvements in product ductility while eliminating multiple steps required in conventiona...

Predicting the properties of a new class of glasses

Researchers at Penn State used modeling methods to predict properties of ZIF glasses, combining transparency and metallic glass nonbrittle quality, with potential applications in gas storage and energy, promising breakthroughs in transparent and bendable glass

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.

Investigating mechanisms of nanoplasticity

Researchers, including Prof. Dr. Satyam Suwas and Prof. Dr. Werner Skrotzki, investigate nanoplasticity to balance material strength and ductility. Their collaboration aims to understand fundamental nature of nanocrystalline materials and their applications in various industries.

New property found in unusual crystalline materials

Scientists have found a new mechanism of deformation at the boundaries of coherent twin crystal boundaries, which can increase material strength while preserving ductility. This discovery could lead to designing strong nanostructures and devices that respond to specific stress levels.

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.

Lightweight steel production breakthrough: Brittle phases controlled

Researchers at WMG, University of Warwick have developed a new processing route to control brittle stages during steel production. This breakthrough allows for the creation of low-density steels with maximum strength and durability, making them suitable for safer, greener, more fuel-efficient cars.

Strength and ductility for alloys

Researchers have developed a new type of metallic material that is both extremely strong and ductile. This breakthrough solves the long-standing problem of choosing between these two properties in steels.

Overall stability analysis of improved buckling restrained braces

The improved buckling restrained braces (IBRBs) feature contact rings between inner and outer tubes for lateral constraint, resulting in better behavior. Numerical simulations agree with test results, demonstrating the program's feasibility in analyzing overall stability strength capacity.

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.

Researchers find way to make metals stronger without sacrificing ductility

Researchers at North Carolina State University and Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a technique to make titanium stronger while maintaining its ductility. The new material combines ultrafine-grained strength with coarse-grain ductility, enabling the creation of strong yet flexible materials for vehicle manufacturing.

Nano-mechanical study offers new assessment of silicon for next-gen batteries

Researchers have reported surprisingly high damage tolerance in electrochemically-lithiated silicon materials, suggesting all-silicon anodes may be commercially viable. The study found that above a certain concentration of lithium, the material becomes more tolerant to damage, making it possible to design durable silicon-based batteries.

Seeing tiny twins

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have made a groundbreaking discovery in the study of nanomaterials, revealing that tiny tungsten crystals can exhibit deformation twinning, which affects their strength and function. This phenomenon has significant implications for the development of nanostructured metals and alloys.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

A metallic alloy that is tough and ductile at cryogenic temperatures

Researchers have created a high-entropy alloy that exhibits exceptional damage tolerance, tensile strength and fracture toughness values, even improving its properties at cryogenic temperatures. The alloy's unique nano-twinning phenomenon contributes to its remarkable mechanical behavior.

Inspired by nature, researchers create tougher metal materials

Scientists have developed a method to create stronger and more ductile metal materials by adjusting the internal structure, similar to bone and bamboo. This technique can be customized for various applications, including improving industrial steel's strength and ductility.

A new twist makes for better steel, researchers find

Researchers at Brown University have discovered a method to fortify steel by twisting it, allowing for improved strength while maintaining ductility. This breakthrough could lead to the development of new steel alloys for high-strength applications such as axles on high-speed trains.

In probing mysteries of glass, researchers find a key to toughness

Researchers identified a critical fictive temperature (CFT) that determines glass ductility, suggesting any glass can be made ductile or brittle by adjusting cooling rates. The study applies to all glasses, not just metallic glasses, and has implications for designing ductile glasses.

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.

£6 million ($9.58 million) to develop a new generation of composites

A £6 million research programme aims to create new generation of high performance fibre reinforced polymer composites, capable of sustaining large deformations without breaking. The materials will provide greater reliability, safety and design flexibility, with the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 15%.

UNC Charlotte researchers awarded national award for industrial innovation

A research team from UNC Charlotte and Y-12 National Security Complex developed a method to eliminate long, dangerous strips of metal (chips) in machining ductile materials. The 'Modulated Tool-Path (MTP) Chip Breaking System' produces user-selectable chip lengths and workpiece finishes, preventing injuries and reducing costs.

Salt block unexpectedly stretches in Sandia experiments

Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories discovered that a block of salt can stretch rather than shatter, defying its brittle nature. This finding has potential implications for desalination efforts and understanding sea salt aerosols, which affect cloud nucleation, smog formation, and asthma triggers.

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.

Removing a hydrogen fuel-cell roadblock

The team is developing materials with similar properties to palladium, but cheaper and more readily available, to improve the efficiency of hydrogen fuel cells. The goal is to find a substitute for platinum, which is currently used as a catalyst in PEMs containing platinum.

MIT model could aid design of nanomaterials

Researchers developed a new computer modeling approach to study material behavior under stress, offering insights into designing materials with optimal balance between strength and ductility. The model reveals that twin boundaries play a critical role in the strength and ductility of metals.

Ductile intermetallic compounds discovered

Researchers at Ames Laboratory have identified 12 fully ordered, completely stoichiometric intermetallic compounds with remarkable ductility. These materials exhibit higher ASTM fracture toughness values comparable to commercial aircraft aluminum alloys.

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.

Researchers produce strong copper that retains ductility

Johns Hopkins researchers create ultra-strong copper that retains its ductility by manipulating the metal's microstructure through a process involving liquid nitrogen, rolling, and controlled heating. The resulting material exhibits enhanced strength without sacrificing flexibility.