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Emotions from touch

Researchers created a database of 21 textures associated with different emotions, revealing soft surfaces tend to evoke pleasant feelings while rough ones elicit unpleasant sensations. The study also found people with high alexithymia levels experience more intense negative emotions when interacting with certain textures.

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalConsciousness and Cognition·DateJun 3, 2019

Making glass more clear

Researchers have developed an energy renormalization algorithm to predict glass' mechanical behavior at varying temperatures. This approach enables the design of dynamic materials with optimal properties, scaling molecular simulations up by roughly a thousand times.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalScience Advances·DateApr 30, 2019

Researchers use 3D printer to print glass

Researchers have successfully 3D printed chalcogenide glass using a modified 3D printer, enabling the creation of complex optical components and fibers for low-cost sensors, telecommunications components, and biomedical devices. This breakthrough could pave the way for efficient manufacturing of infrared optical components at a low cost.

SourceOptica·JournalOptical Materials Express·DateApr 18, 2019

New family of glass good for lenses

Penn State researchers develop a novel zinc germanosilicate glass with high transparency, UV shielding, and favorable forming properties, making it an ideal material for lens applications. The new glass composition overcomes roadblocks associated with achieving high refractive index, such as crystallization and toxicity.

SourcePenn State·JournalJournal of Non-Crystalline Solids·DateApr 3, 2019

Hollow structures in 3D

Scientists at University of Freiburg create three-dimensional hollow structures in quartz glass using Glassomer process. This breakthrough enables the production of optical waveguides and microfluidic channels, previously difficult to manufacture due to glass's chemical resistance.

SourceUniversity of Freiburg·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 29, 2019

In-depth insights into glass corrosion

Scientists use confocal Raman spectroscopy to study silicate glass corrosion in real time, discovering that silica molecules form aggregates near the surface, forming an opal-like layer. This layer does not provide perfect protection against water, allowing the corrosion process to continue.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalNature Materials·DateFeb 28, 2019

Laser-fabricated crystals in glass are ferroelectric

A team of researchers has demonstrated that laser-generated crystals in glass can be manipulated to control their ferroelectric domain structure. This allows for the creation of new optical devices with high efficiency and low loss links, crucial for future quantum information transfer systems.

SourceLehigh University·JournalMRS Communications·DateJan 29, 2019

Study upends timeline for Iroquoian history

Recent studies have questioned the conventional dating of indigenous sites in Ontario, Canada, with new evidence pointing to a 50-100 year shift in dates. The findings suggest that early contact between indigenous people and Europeans may have occurred later than previously thought.

SourceCornell University·JournalScience Advances·DateDec 7, 2018

Persistence of glass sponge in face of climatic variability

A study published in PLOS ONE found that the glass sponge Vazella pourtalesi has persisted on the Scotian Shelf, which experiences strong multi-decadal variability in temperature and salinity. The sponge's ability to adapt to these changes suggests its potential response to future climate change.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateOct 24, 2018

Big discoveries about tiny particles

Researchers have discovered that polymer nanoparticles exhibit distinct characteristics compared to larger particles of the same material, including surface mobility and elastic modulus. The findings could improve the performance of materials used in various applications, such as filter membranes and sound wave propagation.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 8, 2018

Picture this: Camera with no lens

Researchers created a lensless camera by connecting a digital sensor to a plexiglass window, which acts as a makeshift lens. The system can capture recognizable images with computer algorithms decoding the pixelated data. This innovation opens up possibilities for various applications, including augmented reality goggles and biometric ...

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalOptics Express·DateAug 21, 2018

Breaking laws, making glass

At temperatures near absolute zero, systems of atoms violate basic laws of statistical mechanics and thermodynamics. A novel non-equilibrium state, coined as dynamical glass phase, is observed where energy is not evenly distributed, leading to a new understanding of complex systems.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJun 10, 2018

Organic light-emitting diodes become brighter and more durable: layers made as ultrastable glasses improve device performance

Ultrastable glass layers significantly increase OLED efficiency and stability by up to 15%. This breakthrough allows for better competition in markets like automotive lighting and head-mounted displays. The research was carried out jointly by Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and Technische Universität Dresden.

SourceTechnische Universität Dresden·JournalScience Advances·DateMay 25, 2018

OLEDs become brighter and more durable

Researchers from Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona and Technische Universität Dresden demonstrate the use of ultrastable film formation to improve OLED performance. This breakthrough leads to significant increases in efficiency and operational stability, with improvements tracked back to differences in exciton dynamics.

SourceUniversitat Autonoma de Barcelona·JournalScience Advances·DateMay 25, 2018

Glass-forming ability: fundamental understanding leading to smart design

A team of researchers from the Institute of Industrial Science at The University of Tokyo investigated glass-forming behavior by simulating two model systems. Their findings reveal that a single parameter governs the process, allowing for potential applications in various fields, including materials science and engineering.