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New material gives copper superalloy-like strength

Researchers developed a Cu-Ta-Li alloy with exceptional thermal stability and mechanical strength, combining copper's conductivity with nickel-based superalloy-like properties. The alloy's nanostructure prevents grain growth, improving high-temperature performance and durability under extreme conditions.

SourceLehigh University·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 27, 2025

Innovating in the corners where atoms meet

Fadi Abdeljawad's team finds that triple junctions, where three nanocrystals meet, are key to maintaining stability and strength of materials. This discovery could lead to designing better nanocrystalline alloys for aerospace and energy industries.

SourceLehigh University·JournalNano Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 16, 2024

Researchers at City University of Hong Kong reshape the understanding of grain boundaries

Grain boundaries, common defects in polycrystalline materials, can migrate unidirectionally without a net driving force, exhibiting directionality. This phenomenon, similar to the unidirectional rotation of a Brownian ratchet, challenges traditional views on grain boundary mobility.

SourceCommunications and Institutional Research Office, City University of Hong Kong·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 14, 2024

Combining simulations and experiments to get the best out of Fe3Al

A team from Osaka University used electron microscopy and computer simulations to study the kinetics of microstructure formation in Fe3Al, leading to a deeper understanding of its superelastic properties. The findings could provide insights for heat treatments and applications in construction and healthcare industries.

SourceOsaka University·JournalActa Materialia·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 30, 2024
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.

Imaging grain boundaries that impede lithium-ion migration in solid-state batteries

A research team at NIMS has created a new method for measuring the movement of lithium ions along grain boundaries within solid electrolytes, identifying obstacles and their impact on battery performance. This technique may contribute to the development of higher-performance solid-state batteries.

SourceNational Institute for Materials Science, Japan·JournalJournal of Materials Chemistry A·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 27, 2024

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.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature·DateJan 11, 2023
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 turtle nesting grounds

A team of researchers has identified three new turtle nesting sites in the central Red Sea, which could inform efforts to protect endangered sea turtles. The discovery was made using drone surveillance and sediment samples to identify optimal nesting conditions.

SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalPeerJ·DateSep 29, 2022

How do impurities move in tungsten?

A research group at National Institutes of Natural Sciences has developed a high-speed automatic search method for the migration path of impurity atoms in materials with polycrystalline structures, enabling the investigation of collective migration and its impact on plasma confinement. This method uses molecular dynamics and parallel c...

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalNuclear Materials and Energy·DateJun 30, 2017

Self-healing materials could arise from finding that tension can fuse metal

MIT researchers discovered that under certain conditions, a cracked piece of metal can close and heal due to grain boundary migration. The mechanism, which involves disclination defects, has potential applications in designing self-healing materials for various industries.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateOct 9, 2013

APS physics tip sheet #49

Physicists propose new class of time machines that avoid difficulties inherent in other models. Researchers also analyze lateral vibrations to control friction and crack propagation in thin films. The horizontal Brazil nut effect is studied, showing grain migration to center or edge based on size and density.

SourceAmerican Physical Society·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJul 8, 2005