Articles tagged with Fibers
Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a versatile platform to offer contraception and prevent HIV using electrically spun cloth with nanometer-sized fibers. The fabric can dissolve to release drugs, providing immediate or sustained protection against unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
Researchers have created synthetic fibers from protein-based raw materials, including those found in hagfish slime, to replace petroleum-based synthetics. The new fibers offer a sustainable alternative for the textile industry.
New studies support the idea that certain higher-fibre diets can be well-tolerated and promote healthy gut environments, which may contribute to overall gut health. The soluble corn fibre has been found to increase beneficial bacteria in the gut and change the gut environment, enabling greater calcium absorption.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a material called HiCap that can extract valuable and precious dissolved metals from water. The material effectively removes toxic metals from water and has been shown to outperform current best adsorbents in terms of capacity, speed and selectivity.
Researchers at Clemson University have developed optical fibers using highly purified silica and sapphire, pushing the limits of current fiber technology. The goal is to create stronger and more durable fiber material for telecommunications and high-energy applications.
Researchers at MIT and Harvard have developed a soft, peristalsis-driven robot that can inch along surfaces using segments of artificial muscle made from nickel-titanium alloy. The robot, named Meshworm, is remarkably resilient, surviving multiple blows with a hammer without sustaining damage.
Researchers at UCF have discovered a non-chemical method to create identical nanoparticles of any size in large quantities. The technique relies on heat to break molten fibers into spherical droplets, resulting in particles that can hold multiple types of materials locked in place.
A new video article demonstrates a standardized procedure for harvesting and processing synthetic spider silk from bacteria, improving fiber strength and scalability. The technique has potential industrial applications in industries where spider silk's properties are valuable.
Researchers at Penn State developed a process to spin starch into fine strands for use in bandages and other medical dressings. The biodegradable bandages would degrade into glucose, eliminating the need for painful removal.
Fiber intake among the global population is extremely low, posing serious long-term public health implications. New research supports the role of soluble corn fiber in enhancing calcium absorption in adolescents, promoting gut fermentation, and improving digestion, while also addressing challenges related to bloating and tolerance.
Researchers have developed nanocrystal-coated glass fibers that can generate electricity when exposed to heat, potentially recovering 10% of the energy wasted in US industries. The technology also enables solid-state cooling without compressors or refrigerants, making it suitable for use in garments and industrial applications.
Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a method to produce customized carbon fibers from polyethylene, with potential applications in filtration, catalysis, and energy harvesting. The process allows for tailoring of surface contour and filament diameter, enabling the creation of fibers with unique properties.
Researchers at Princeton University discovered that the size of liquid drops affects how they spread along flexible fibers, with certain sizes maximizing wetting and others hindering it. This knowledge can improve industrial applications such as oil slick cleanup, bird rescue, and microfabrication.
Harvard researchers develop a new technique inspired by pop-up books and origami to mass-produce microrobots and electromechanical devices. The method uses layered and folding processes to create complex structures with flexible hinges.
Researchers created an integrated electronic component directly into optical fibers, bypassing the need to integrate fiber-optics onto a chip. This breakthrough enables high-speed optoelectronic function and has potential applications in telecommunications and hybrid technologies.
A team of international experts has described the detailed structure of cellulose fibres in wood, crucial for developing strong, sustainable composite materials and second generation biofuels. The research reveals that enzymes can bind to specific surface areas on the cellulose fibres, making it easier to break down into glucose.
Scientists have developed a new material made from chitosan that effectively captures influenza viruses before they can infect people. This breakthrough could lead to improved vaccinations and anti-influenza medications.
Automakers are embracing carbon fiber composites to reduce weight and improve mileage in electric and hybrid vehicles. The material is 50% lighter than steel and 30% lighter than aluminum, despite concerns about high cost.
Researchers at Brown University found that carbon nanotubes enter cells tip-first and at a 90-degree angle, often causing repeated inflammation. The team's study suggests that understanding how nanomaterials interact with cells is crucial for designing products that help cells rather than harm them.
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.
Scientists at Rice University and Texas A&M have developed a method to pattern active proteins into bio-friendly fibers. The new work simplifies the process of making materials with fully functional proteins, opening up possibilities for chemical catalysts, biosensors, tissue engineering, and more.
Scientists have developed stronger, lighter, and more sustainable automotive plastics by harnessing the power of plant-based nano-cellulose fibers. These innovative materials are set to revolutionize car production, reducing weight and improving fuel efficiency.
Researchers have uncovered the key to spider silk's incredible strength and toughness, revealing a serial arrangement of crystalline and amorphous subunits that outperforms random structures. This breakthrough may lead to the design of artificial silk fibers with similar properties.
Researchers deciphered the molecular structure behind spider silk's remarkable mechanical properties, discovering that soft amorphous subunits contribute to its elasticity and crystalline subunits determine its maximal toughness. The study's findings may aid in designing artificial silk fibers with improved performance.
Scientists use atom-probe tomography to map millions of individual atoms in a sea creature's tooth, revealing organic/inorganic interfaces. This breakthrough opens up possibilities for tracking fluoride in teeth and cancer, osteoporosis drugs in bone, and designing new materials with improved properties.
Researchers developed a new high-performance fiber with superior strength and toughness, surpassing Kevlar. The fiber was created by combining carbon nanotubes with a polymer and testing its properties using in-situ electron microscopy.
Researchers in Spain and Scotland created bricks with wool fibres that are 37% stronger than conventional bricks, reducing environmental impact. The new material is made from clay, alginate, and sheep's wool, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional construction materials.
Dr. Chen and colleagues aim to understand fiber cell development and identify genes important for cotton fiber production, with potential applications to biofuels and sustainable textiles.
Swine researchers found that fiber in distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) is poorly utilized by pigs, with less than 50% digestibility. Soluble fiber, like pectins and oligosaccharides, is easily fermentable, but insoluble fibers are harder to digest.
Researchers at MIT have developed fibers that can detect and produce sound, opening up new possibilities for wearable microphones and biological sensors. The fibers use a piezoelectric material to convert vibrations into electrical signals, allowing for high-resolution sensing applications.
Researchers at Harvard University have created a new method for fabricating tiny nanofibers using rotary jet spinning, which offers more control and greater yield than traditional electrospinning. The device has potential applications in biocompatible materials, air filters, artificial organs, and tissue regeneration.
Scientists have discovered that a molecular switch in spider silk controls fiber assembly, enabling the creation of highly stable and elastic fibers. The breakthrough opens the way towards biomimetic production of ultra-strong fibers with applications in various industries.
Researchers have gained new insight into protein fiber assembly, providing a potential route to temporal control of fibers with future applications in biotechnology and nanoscale science and medicine. By manipulating conditions, they were able to demonstrate the ability to manipulate fibrous structures with some precision.
Researchers at UC Berkeley developed energy-scavenging nanofibers that can harness body movements to power hand-held electronics. The fibers have piezoelectric properties and high efficiency rates, enabling the creation of wearable 'smart clothes' with no perceptible change in comfort for users.
Researchers at Rice University have made a breakthrough in industrial-scale nanotube processing, creating a method to produce pure carbon-nanotube fibers that could lead to advances in materials science and nanoelectronics. The process uses chlorosulfonic acid as a solvent, enabling the efficient production of high-quality nanotubes.
Researchers at Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft have developed a functionally-integrated bicycle seat post made from carbon fiber composite materials, offering noticeable ride comfort and reduced weight. The innovative seat post uses laminated springs to absorb shocks, providing a smoother ride for cyclists.
Researchers at NC State University have developed a sustainable solution to the global period poverty issue by creating affordable sanitary pads from locally sourced, organic materials. The pads will be sold at a lower cost than existing brands, making them accessible to millions of women in impoverished countries.
Researchers found ancient flax fibers in a Georgia cave dated to around 34,000 years ago, providing evidence of an early human invention. The discovery suggests that early humans used these fibers for clothing, ropes, and baskets to aid survival and mobility in harsh conditions.
Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a mixed-fiber material combining chitosan from crustacean shells with industrial polyester for use in nerve repair. The material shows promise for repairing severed nerves and could be used in other biomedical applications.
Researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory have discovered a potential weakness in the cell walls of certain plant materials, making them vulnerable to enzymatic attack. This insight could lead to an economical and viable process for producing biofuels from biomass.
Researchers are developing nanofiber-based probes for medical diagnostics, which may save time and money compared to traditional methods. The probes, 10 times smaller in diameter than a human hair, can extract tiny samples from biological fluids.
Researchers found that long, thin multi-walled carbon nanotubes behave like asbestos fibers when inhaled, posing a risk of mesothelioma. The study suggests steps should be taken to prevent inhalation and regulate their use.
A study of workers exposed to Libby vermiculite found high prevalence of scarring and thickening of the chest wall membrane 25 years after exposure. Even low levels of exposure were associated with significant health risks.
A new study has revealed in high definition how a blood protein gives blood clots their elasticity. Fibrinogen molecules form elastic fibers that seal the vessel, with cells like platelets filling the gaps. The protein's flexibility can be enhanced or altered by changing calcium levels or pH.
Researchers have developed a shirt that harnesses energy from the wearer's motion to power portable devices, generating up to 80 milliwatts of power per square meter of fabric. The technology, called the piezoelectric effect, converts mechanical stress into electrical energy.
Researchers at UC Berkeley developed an adhesive that masters the gecko's grip-and-release trait, with a strong hold that gets stronger with use. The material uses tiny plastic fibers to establish traction, making it suitable for climbing equipment and medical devices.
Researchers separate TV, phone and internet signals using a technique called MGDM, which transmits each signal through a separate group of light rays. This technology has the potential to increase fibre network capacity and transmit information without disruption.
Scientists at Washington University in St. Louis have created a more efficient method for producing butanol from lignocellulosic biomass, offering a promising solution to the world's energy needs. The new technique uses a mixed culture of microbes to convert plant biomass into butyrate, which is then converted into butanol.
Researchers have visualized cold-sensing fibers led by the gatekeeper protein TRPM8, revealing a single pathway for detecting various types of cold. The study provides evidence that TRPM8 is involved in several cold-sensing mechanisms, including pain and sensation.
Researchers at MIT have developed a simple process to manufacture materials that strongly repel oils, which could be used in aviation, space travel, and hazardous waste cleanup. The material's unique microfiber structure allows it to cushion droplets of liquid, preventing them from wetting the surface.
Researchers at University of Cincinnati developed a novel composite catalyst and optimal synthesis conditions to grow extremely long aligned carbon nanotube arrays. The longest array reached 18 mm in length, opening doors to potential applications in nanomedicine, aerospace and electronics.
Researchers created microscopic 'nanolamps' using electrospinning, a technique that produces extremely small fibers made of ruthenium and polyethylene oxide. The fibers emit orange light when excited by low voltage, making them useful for applications in sensing, microscopy, and flat-panel displays.
Researchers have developed a new method to form tiny, uniform metal crystals with novel chemical and physical properties. These crystals, grown on acid-treated cellulose fibers from cotton, show promise as components in biosensors, biological imaging, drug delivery, and catalytic converters.
Researchers at JILA propose using fibers to transfer ultra-stable time and frequency signals, offering improved accuracy over traditional GPS methods. This technology could enable synchronization of components in advanced X-ray sources and link geographically distributed radio telescopes to produce a giant telescope's power.
Researchers at University of California - San Diego have developed fiber-reinforced polymer composites that quadruple the toughness of dental composites. Braided polyethylene fibers performed best, increasing toughness by up to 433% compared to the composite alone.
Researchers at the University of Delaware have developed a method to detect defects in composite materials using a network of carbon nanotubes. The discovery has significant implications for predicting the lifespan of composite materials and ensuring their safety in various applications, including commercial airliners.
Researchers at Cornell University have developed microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) using carbon fibers, which can bend and vibrate billions of times without breaking. The new display technology has the potential to be incredibly cheap and small enough to be built into cell phones.
Montana State University has developed a massive database of wind turbine material tests, spanning over 17 years and involving 150 different composite materials. The MSU/DOE Fatigue Database for Composite Materials is now one of the world's largest open-access libraries on wind energy research.
Researchers at UC Berkeley developed a method to create nanofibers in a controlled manner, overcoming the chaotic process of conventional electrospinning. By reducing the distance between the ejector and collection points, they achieved directed and precise deposition of fibers with diameters ranging from 50 to 500 nanometers.
Researchers at Virginia Tech create sub-micron fibers from natural compounds, exhibiting porous nonwoven structure. Potential applications include drug delivery and patches for horses, showcasing the synergy of electrospinning and self-organizing molecules.