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Kogakuin University and IIT (ISM) Dhanbad launch collaborative research on next-generation multifunctional glass-ceramic materials for energy applications

Researchers from Kogakuin University and IIT (ISM) Dhanbad collaborate to develop advanced glass-ceramic materials for energy storage and conversion. The joint effort aims to deepen understanding of Narpsio-V materials' structure-property relationships and optimize their performance.

Intrinsic high elasticity in pristine glass via melt-quenching

Researchers develop transparent oxide glass with Young's modulus exceeding 130 GPa without chemical strengthening, opening new industrial opportunities for applications in electronic devices and optical components. The innovative material can be produced using scalable industrial techniques.

SourceNational Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology·JournalJournal of the Ceramic Society of Japan·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 27, 2026

Scientists unlock new way to engineer next generation glass

Researchers fine-tune a new type of glass made from metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) that efficiently trap gases like CO2 and hydrogen. The discovery provides a new design framework for making customized MOF glasses with tailored properties, enabling applications in gas separation, chemical storage, and advanced coatings.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalNature Chemistry·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 4, 2026

Finding order in disorder: A new mechanism that amplifies transverse electron transport

A study by researchers at Pohang University of Science & Technology discovered that engineered disorder can amplify transverse electron transport in magnetic materials. The findings suggest that deliberately using disorder in materials design could lead to new opportunities in spintronics and thermoelectric energy-conversion technologies.

SourcePohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMar 24, 2026

What really controls dynamics in glasses

The study reveals that bonding heterogeneity, rather than geometric similarity, governs relaxation dynamics in glasses. By incorporating electronic structure and chemical interactions, researchers establish a new physical framework for understanding structure-relaxation coupling in glasses.

SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 15, 2026

New coating for glass promises energy-saving windows

Researchers at Rice University developed a new glass coating that forms a thin, tough layer that reflects heat and resists scratches and moisture. The coating improves energy savings by 2.9% compared to existing alternatives, making it a promising solution for cities with cold winters.

SourceRice University·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateJul 10, 2025

Making the physics of glass more transparent

Koun Shirai bridges conventional physics and nonequilibrium materials to provide robust thermodynamic description of glasses. He redefines equilibrium as energy extraction impact, allowing tools of thermodynamics to apply to glasses.

SourceOsaka University·JournalFoundations·TypeObservational study·DateApr 6, 2025

UH researchers making clean water more accessible

Researchers at the University of Houston have developed a new membrane that allows water to flow eight times faster while maintaining high salt rejection rates. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient and cost-effective desalination systems, lowering costs and increasing access to clean water.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·DateFeb 26, 2025

Cooperative motion by atoms protects glass from fracturing

A new discovery by researchers at Tohoku University reveals that the movement of atoms and molecules within glass can relax internal stress, making the material more resistant to fractures. The breakthrough has wide-ranging implications for industries such as consumer electronics, construction, and automotive manufacturing.

SourceTohoku University·JournalActa Materialia·DateDec 2, 2024

Building roots in glass, a bio-inspired approach to creating 3D microvascular networks using plants and fungi

Researchers at Kyushu University develop a novel technique for building complex 3D microfluidic networks using plant roots and fungal hyphae in silica nanoparticles. This bio-inspired method enables the creation of intricate biological structures, opening new opportunities for research in plant and fungal biology.

SourceKyushu University·JournalScientific Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 19, 2024

A stiff material that stops vibrations and noise

Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a material that combines stiffness and damping properties, making it suitable for various applications. The new composite material features layers of stiff materials connected by ultra-thin rubber-like layers, resulting in excellent vibration-damping performance.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalComposites Part B Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 10, 2024

An optical lens that senses gas

A research team from the University of Jena developed a micro-lens with an intelligent behavior that changes in response to gas molecules. The lens is made of hybrid glass and consists of a three-dimensional lattice with cavities that accommodate gas molecules, affecting its optical properties.

SourceFriedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 26, 2024

Direct observation of a glass hardening process

A research team observed partial crystallization of a glass and developed a model explaining the crystal nucleation mechanisms within a glass at different spatial scales. The team used multiscale structural analysis mainly using synchrotron X-rays, revealing nanosized crystal nuclei forming within Zr-rich regions of the glass.

SourceNational Institute for Materials Science, Japan·JournalNPG Asia Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 19, 2024

Alternative materials to plastics for packaging are not always more sustainable

A recent study analyzed 53 peer-reviewed Life Cycle Assessment studies and found that conventional plastics are not always the least environmentally friendly choice. Bioplastics emerge as a viable alternative for climate change and fossil resource depletion, but other environmental impact categories show some disadvantages. The analysi...

SourcePolitecnico di Milano·JournalWaste Management & Research The Journal for a Sustainable Circular Economy·TypeMeta-analysis·DateMay 16, 2024

1,000 times smaller than a grain of sand—glass sensors 3D-printed on optical fiber

Researchers have developed a method to 3D print silica glass micro-optics on the tips of optic fibers, creating structures 1,000 times smaller than a grain of sand. This breakthrough enables more sensitive remote sensors for environment and healthcare applications, as well as innovations in pharmaceuticals and chemicals.

SourceKTH, Royal Institute of Technology·JournalACS Nano·TypeObservational study·DateMay 15, 2024

Control of temperature dependent viscosity for manufacturing of Bi-doped active fiber

Researchers developed a novel temperature-dependent viscosity mediated strategy to control Bi dopant deactivation during fiber drawing. A borate glass system with faster viscosity changing rate was created, resulting in the first demonstration of on-off gain in a Bi-doped borate fiber system.

SourceInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·JournalInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·DateApr 16, 2024

Using ‘time travel’ to think about technology from the perspective of future generations

A study by Osaka University found that thinking about sustainability from the perspective of imaginary future generations yields new insights into technological innovation and societal trends. Participants in workshops ranked indicators differently after adopting this perspective, perceiving technology's feasibility more accurately.

SourceOsaka University·JournalTechnological Forecasting and Social Change·TypeCase study·DateMar 19, 2024

Rice lab finds better way to handle hard-to-recycle material

Rice University researchers have developed a new, energy-efficient process to upcycle glass fiber-reinforced plastic (GFRP) into silicon carbide, widely used in semiconductors and sandpaper. The method involves heating the mixture of GFRP and carbon to extremely high temperatures, transforming it into conductive silicon carbide.

SourceRice University·JournalNature Sustainability·DateFeb 29, 2024

Glass packaging with a mix of thermoelectric in the vias

Researchers have developed a thermal management technique for photonic packages using glass substrates and thermoelectric vias, enabling precise temperature control. The technology, termed SimTEC, combines through glass vias partially filled with copper and thermoelectric materials to reduce thermal resistance between chips.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalJournal of Optical Microsystems·DateJan 10, 2024

Discovery of structural regularity hidden in silica glass

Researchers discovered a mixture of ring shapes unique to glass and those resembling crystals, with specific areas showing degree of order or regularity despite apparent disorder. The findings contribute to understanding phase-transitions and provide mathematical descriptions for controlling material structures and properties.

SourceTohoku University·JournalCommunications Materials·DateNov 21, 2023

Strength is in this glass's DNA

Researchers fabricate a pure form of glass and coat specialized pieces of DNA with it to create a material stronger than steel but incredibly lightweight. This novel technology has inspired innovative applications in drug delivery, electronics, and more.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalCell Reports Physical Science·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 27, 2023