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This self-powered eye tracker harnesses energy from blinking and is as comfortable as everyday glasses

Researchers developed a lightweight, self-powered eye-tracking system that runs off the energy generated through blinking. The system detects eye movements with high precision and can be used to enable people with mobility impairments such as ALS to control wheelchairs or communicate by moving only their eyes.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Reports Physical Science·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 7, 2026

Friction which cools

Researchers at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf found that static friction can cause the cooling of active particles. By studying a swarm of mini-robots, they discovered that collisions between the robots lead to the formation of clusters that are no longer moving, effectively cooling them down.

SourceHeinrich-Heine University Duesseldorf·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 6, 2025

Rolling particles make suspensions more fluid

Researchers at ETH Zurich developed a method to measure frictional forces between single particles in suspensions. By understanding these microscopic interactions, they can optimize suspension flow characteristics and prevent dramatic thickening.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 10, 2025

Researchers make comfortable materials that generate power when worn

Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed wearable technologies that both generate electricity from human movement and improve comfort. They used amphiphiles to create slippery surfaces on fabrics, reducing friction while allowing electrons to be donated, resulting in a material capable of generating up to 300 volts.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 15, 2025

Scientists trigger mini-earthquakes in the lab

Researchers at the Universiteit van Amsterdam triggered mini-earthquakes in a lab by applying a small seismic wave to a granular material. The study shows that these events can be understood using laboratory-scale frictional experiments, and its findings are relevant for understanding remote earthquake triggering in larger faults.

SourceUniversiteit van Amsterdam·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 19, 2024

Physicists explain—and eliminate—unknown force dragging against water droplets on superhydrophobic surfaces

Researchers from Aalto University have identified the previously unidentified physics at play when water droplets move on superhydrophobic surfaces. By adapting a novel force measurement technique, they eliminated the drag-like force and proposed a solution to improve the performance of hydrophobic surfaces.

SourceAalto University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 16, 2024

World’s first real-time wearable human emotion recognition technology developed!

A groundbreaking technology recognizes human emotions in real time, combining verbal and non-verbal expression data for accurate emotional information extraction. The system features a personalized skin-integrated facial interface that enables self-powered, flexible, and transparent emotion recognition.

Grinding coffee with a splash of water reduces static electricity and makes more consistent and intense espresso

Researchers found that adding water to coffee beans before grinding reduces static electricity, resulting in less wasted coffee and cleaner grinders. Grinding with water also produces more consistent and intense espresso. The study's findings have significant economic implications for the $343.2 billion coffee industry.

SourceCell Press·JournalMatter·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 6, 2023

Lehigh University researchers make sand that flows uphill

Lehigh University researchers have discovered that applying magnetic forces to individual 'microroller' particles can spur collective motion, allowing the grains to flow uphill, up walls, and climb stairs. This counterintuitive phenomenon has potential applications in mixing, segregating materials, and microrobotics.

SourceLehigh University·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 20, 2023

Unique image obtained by Brazilian scientists with high-speed camera shows how lightning rods work

Brazilian researchers used a high-speed camera to capture an image of lightning rods trying to connect to nearby buildings, revealing details of the connections. The image shows that even with multiple lightning rods in place, the strike connected to a smokestack on top of one building, highlighting the importance of proper installation.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateMar 13, 2023

Lubricants for stainless steel

Researchers at the University of Sheffield have discovered that epoxy-functionalized nanoparticles can significantly reduce friction on stainless steel surfaces. The nanoparticles adhere strongly to metal surfaces due to chemical adsorption, leading to a notable reduction in friction. This finding has potential implications for next-ge...

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 1, 2023

This new fabric coating could drastically reduce microplastic pollution from washing clothes

Researchers at the University of Toronto have developed a two-layer coating made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) brushes that significantly reduces microfibre shedding from synthetic fabrics. The coating, which can reduce pollution by more than 90%, is environmentally friendly and has been shown to work on various surfaces including gla...

Why chocolate feels so good – it is all down to lubrication

A team of scientists at the University of Leeds has decoded the physical process behind chocolate's sensation in the mouth. They found that fat plays a key role in creating the smooth emulsion, and by understanding this mechanism, they hope to develop healthier luxury chocolates with the same feel and texture.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 12, 2023

Humidity may be the key to super-lubricity 'switch'

Scientists discover that altering environmental conditions, particularly humidity, can enable the control of super-lubricity in materials. By exposing graphene to water vapor and phenol vapor, researchers found a 25-45 times increase in low friction, paving the way for practical applications in MEMS devices.

SourcePenn State·JournalApplied Materials Today·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 11, 2023

Moving water and earth

A new understanding of how particle shape controls grain flow can help engineers plan for downstream impacts of restoring a river or removing a dam. The MIT team's better formula estimates bed load transport by considering a grain's drag and friction, rather than its exact shape.

Soft robots make virtual reality gloves feel more real

Researchers at University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science developed a new electrostatically controlled clutch that enables soft robotic hands to hold 4 pounds, 40 times more than before. The clutch uses a fracture-mechanics-based model to achieve this feat while requiring only 125 volts of electricity.

Advances in research on surface/interface friction behaviors of the metal cutting process

A systematic review of cutting friction behaviors in the metal cutting process reveals its significant impact on tool wear and surface quality. The study contributes to the development of high-quality cutting technology by understanding cutting friction mechanisms, simulation technologies, and anti-friction strategies.

SourceInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·JournalInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·DateNov 28, 2022

New software platform advances understanding of the surface finish of manufactured components

Scientists developed a software platform to analyze surfaces, creating digital twins that predict material properties like adhesion and durability. The contact.engineering platform standardizes procedure and facilitates open science, allowing users to share measurements and collaborate.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalSurface Topography Metrology and Properties·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 19, 2022

Faster friction - less wear

At extremely high speeds, friction decreases wear due to uneven heat distribution on the surface. The outermost layer of metal is damaged while deeper regions remain intact. This effect has implications for high-speed applications such as E-mobility and aircraft.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalApplied Materials Today·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 6, 2022

Barriers to voting matter, but Americans overlook their impact, USC study finds

A USC study of eligible voters in the 2020 election highlights how many Americans overlook external factors like child care constraints and transportation difficulties that affect voter turnout. In contrast, participants cited beliefs as a major driver of turnout, with only 12% mentioning friction.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeSurvey·DateAug 24, 2022

Nanoscale observations simplify how scientists describe earthquake movement

Researchers at the University of Illinois used single calcite crystals with varying surface roughness to simplify the physics of fault movement. The study found that friction can increase or decrease with sliding velocity depending on mineral types and environment, providing a fundamental understanding of rate-and-state equations.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 3, 2022

Ultra-high-rate plasma coating to improve surface function

Researchers at Toyohashi University of Technology developed an ultra-high-rate coating technology for functional hard carbon films using vacuum plasma. The new method achieved a film deposition rate exceeding one order of magnitude faster than existing technologies while maintaining the same degree of film quality.

SourceToyohashi University of Technology (TUT)·JournalJapanese Journal of Applied Physics·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 10, 2022