Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Designing the perfect membrane for clean separation

Researchers at KAUST have developed a new class of oriented mixed-matrix metal-organic framework (MMMOF) membrane that selectively removes detrimental gases like H2S and CO2 from natural gas. The membrane demonstrates far better separation efficiency compared to conventional methods.

SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalScience·DateJun 2, 2022

Recent papers in ACS Environmental Au

Recent papers in ACS Environmental Au explore the impact of aerosol acidity in the southeastern U.S. and the effects of environmental films on native ecosystems. The journal also investigates electrospun nanofibrous membranes for controlling airborne viruses.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalACS Environmental Au·DateJun 2, 2022

‘Fruitcake’ structure observed in organic polymers

An international team of researchers has observed a unique 'fruitcake' structure in an organic polymer, revealing variations in hardness at the nanoscale. This discovery could lead to the development of next-generation microelectronic and bioelectronic devices with improved flexibility and biocompatibility.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 2, 2022

Time-reversal asymmetry surpasses conversion efficiency limit for solar cells

Researchers have developed a single-cell PV design integrated with nonreciprocal optical components to provide 100-percent reuse of emitted radiation, breaking the Shockley–Queisser limit. This breakthrough enables a quasimonochromatic radiation converter to reach the theoretically maximum Carnot efficiency.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalJournal of Photonics for Energy·DateJun 1, 2022
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Novel solar cell architecture performs well under real-world constraints

Researchers developed a hot-carrier multijunction solar cell that maintains high conversion efficiency with nonoptimal materials, expanding the scope of candidate designs. The novel architecture showed superior resilience to design imperfections, widening the range of suitable materials and operating conditions.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalJournal of Photonics for Energy·DateJun 1, 2022

Toward customizable timber, grown in a lab

Lab-grown plant material can be precisely controlled for physical and mechanical properties, such as stiffness and density. The researchers use a 3D bioprinting process to grow custom shapes and sizes of plant material.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalMaterials Today·DateMay 25, 2022

Toward new degradable polymers

Researchers have developed a new degradable polymer material with improved biodegradability, outperforming existing bioplastics like PLA or PCL. The material can degrade by over 70% in a week, making it suitable for applications such as thermosensitive nanoparticles for medicine administration.

SourceCNRS·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 24, 2022

Using origami and kirigami to inspire reconfigurable yet structural materials

McGill University researchers have created a class of cellular metamaterials that can flat-fold and lock into positions that remain stiff across multiple directions. These materials offer unprecedented properties for deployable structures such as submarines, robots, and low-volume packaging.

SourceMcGill University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 24, 2022
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.

Low-cost gel film can pluck drinking water from desert air

Scientists at the University of Texas at Austin have developed a low-cost gel film that can pull water from the air in dry climates, producing up to 6 liters of water per day. The film uses renewable cellulose and konjac gum, making it an affordable solution for communities struggling with water shortages.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 23, 2022

New breathable gas sensors may improve monitoring of health, environment

Researchers developed flexible, porous nitrogen dioxide sensors that can be attached to skin and clothing for continuous monitoring. The sensors have potential applications in healthcare, environmental monitoring, and military use, offering a non-invasive alternative to traditional methods.

SourcePenn State·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 19, 2022

Is it topological? A new materials database has the answer

Researchers have discovered that 90% of known crystalline structures contain at least one topological property, and more than 50% exhibit some sort of topological behavior. The newly identified materials are stored in a freely accessible database, allowing scientists to quickly search for materials with robust electronic properties.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalScience·DateMay 19, 2022

Topology is everywhere

A team of scientists discovered that over half of known 3D materials in nature exhibit at least one topological state, challenging the long-held idea that these materials are rare. The study also introduces a new concept called 'supertopological' and makes its data freely available to researchers.

SourceElhuyar Fundazioa·JournalScience·DateMay 19, 2022
Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.

Korea Maritime and Ocean University scholars find key to reducing defects in multimaterials

Researchers from Korea Maritime and Ocean University have developed a way to synthesize high-performance functionally graded materials with minimized defects. By controlling the mixing gradient of component materials, they improved mechanical properties and eliminated interfacial cracks.

SourceNational Korea Maritime and Ocean University·JournalJournal of Materials Research and Technology·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 18, 2022

How to build an ‘explainable AI’ framework to speed up the innovation process

A team from the University of Missouri is using artificial intelligence to accelerate the discovery process in materials science. By integrating machine learning algorithms and AI into traditional laboratory processes, they aim to reduce time and cost while increasing the rate of material development. Associate Professor Derek T. Ander...

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·DateMay 17, 2022

Paper or plastic?

Researchers at the University of Tokyo have developed a waterproof coating called Choetsu that adds strength to paper, making it a viable alternative to plastic. The coating, made from safe and low-cost chemicals, also has photocatalytic activity, protecting against dirt and bacteria.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalIndustrial & Engineering Chemistry Research·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 13, 2022

A nontoxic glue for plywood – from glucose, citric acid

Researchers developed a strong, water-resistant wood glue using glucose and citric acid for plywood. The adhesive meets China's standard requirement and is more energy-efficient than traditional adhesives.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·DateMay 11, 2022
Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

Energy researchers invent chameleon metal that acts like many others

Energy researchers have invented a device that electronically converts one metal into behaving like another to use as a catalyst for speeding chemical reactions. The invention opens the door for new catalytic technologies using non-precious metal catalysts, potentially improving efficiency and sustainability in various applications.

SourceUniversity of Minnesota·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateMay 9, 2022

Lunar soil has the potential to generate oxygen and fuel

Researchers have discovered that lunar soil can convert carbon dioxide into oxygen and fuels, paving the way for sustainable space exploration. The team proposes an 'extraterrestrial photosynthesis' strategy using lunar soil to electrolyze water and produce desired products.

SourceCell Press·JournalJoule·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 5, 2022

Mechanism ‘splits’ electron spins in magnetic material

Researchers have discovered a unique mechanism called 'momentum-dependent spin splitting' that allows for strong spin currents and efficient magnetic switching. This discovery could lead to advances in magnetic random-access memory technologies.

SourceCornell University·JournalNature Electronics·DateMay 5, 2022

Researchers now able to predict battery lifetimes with machine learning

Scientists have developed a machine learning algorithm that can accurately predict the lifetimes of different battery chemistries using as little as a single cycle of experimental data. The technique could reduce costs and accelerate the development of new battery materials, enabling researchers to quickly evaluate and test multiple ma...

SourceDOE/Argonne National Laboratory·JournalJournal of Power Sources·DateMay 5, 2022

Copper is effective against Sars-Cov-2 on surfaces – silver is not

Researchers found that copper-coated surfaces significantly reduced viral load after one hour, while silver-coated surfaces had no effect on infectivity. The team investigated the antiviral properties of various metal-based sacrificial anodes and discovered a clear antiviral effect of copper against Sars-Cov-2.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalScientific Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 5, 2022
GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

A new wearable technology — for plants (video)

Researchers have created a wearable sensor for plant leaves that wirelessly transmits data to a smartphone app, allowing for early detection of water loss and remote monitoring of drought stress. The device has the potential to save resources and increase yields by providing reliable data on plant health.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·DateMay 4, 2022

What do jelly and sand have in common?

Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University found that falling beds of sand and melting gelatin exhibit similar destabilization behavior, characterized by fingering instabilities and fluidized interface regions. This study provides insights into the macroscopic physical behavior of granular materials and gels under gravity.

SourceTokyo Metropolitan University·JournalScientific Reports·DateApr 30, 2022

Research finally answers what Bronze Age daggers were used for

Researchers have found that Bronze Age daggers were used to process animal carcasses, including slaughtering livestock and butchering carcasses. The discovery was made using a new method that extracted organic residues from the daggers, revealing micro-residues of collagen and associated bone, muscle, and tendon fibres.

SourceNewcastle University·JournalScientific Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 29, 2022
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.

What’s old is new again: Recycling automotive glass

Researchers are developing innovative ways to reuse automotive glass, crushing it into small pieces and purifying the polyvinyl butyral (PVB) for industrial use. This approach aims to reduce waste and conserve resources as the demand for automotive glass continues to grow.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalChemical & Engineering News·DateApr 27, 2022
Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.

Lighting up artificial neural networks

Scientists at the University of Oxford have developed an 'optomemristor' device that facilitates three-factor learning and emulation of biological computations, making it possible to perform complex machine learning tasks. The device uses both light and electrical signals to interact and consume very little energy.

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 26, 2022

Measuring the ‘wettability’ of graphene and other 2D materials

Researchers successfully measured the wettability of graphene and other 2D materials using VSFG, a surface-selective tool that connects macroscopic and molecular-level properties. The study found that graphene's 'wetting transparency' diminishes with increasing layers, becoming hydrophobic at a certain point.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalChem·TypeLiterature review·DateApr 26, 2022
Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.

The physics of a singing saw

The study reveals the sing saw uses a surprising effect to create its distinct tone: when curved into an S-shape, energy vibrates in a confined area producing a clear, long-lasting sound. This principle can be applied to design high-quality resonators for various applications.

SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 22, 2022
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

New materials for storing flammable industrial gases

Researchers have created new patented materials that can capture and release acetylene with high efficiency, outperforming existing porous materials. The flexible Metal-Organic frameworks (MOFs) offer tunable gas storage and release conditions suitable for industrial applications.

SourceCNRS·JournalNature Chemistry·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 21, 2022

Illuminating perovskite photophysics

Scientists at KAUST have studied charge carrier behavior in perovskite thin films using laser pulses and terahertz radiation. They found that increased density of charge carriers narrows the energy gap for electrons to be excited by light, and charge carriers become more localized at higher densities.

SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 20, 2022
DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

Flexible printable electrical patches for accelerated wound healing

Researchers at Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation have developed a flexible, antibacterial conductive hydrogel-ePatch that accelerates wound healing with minimal side effects. The e-Patch uses silver nanowires and alginate to promote cell proliferation and migration, resulting in faster wound closure and reduced scarring.

SourceTerasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation·JournalBiomaterials·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 20, 2022

MIT engineers introduce the Oreometer

Researchers subject Oreos to various tests, finding that the cream almost always separates onto one wafer, regardless of flavor or amount of filling. The team's study provides insights into the properties of yield stress fluids and offers a new approach to understanding non-Newtonian materials.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalPhysics of Fluids·DateApr 19, 2022

Guiding a superconducting future with graphene quantum magic

Scientists have identified magic-angle twisted bilayer graphene as a promising material for high-temperature superconductivity. Researchers found that nematic order in MATBG originates from the interference between fluctuations of a novel degree-of-freedom combining valley and spin degrees.

SourceNagoya University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 18, 2022
Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

A marker’s felt nib proves to be an excellent medical sampler

A new type of sampler using felt nibs from pens has been developed for collecting biological samples, offering longer storage life and ease of use. This technology has potential applications in space exploration and medical settings.

SourceSkolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech)·JournalActa Astronautica·DateApr 14, 2022

Smallest earthquakes ever detected in micron-scale metals

Researchers at Eötvös Loránd University detected smallest earthquakes in micron-scale metals, exhibiting characteristics similar to seismic events. The findings reveal a two-level structure of strain bursts and demonstrate the correlation between acoustic signals and plastic deformation.

SourceEötvös Loránd University·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 14, 2022

Edible, fluorescent silk tags can suss out fake medications

Researchers created edible tags with fluorescent silk proteins to track medications, providing a new way for consumers to verify authenticity. The codes are readable by a smartphone app and can be ingested without causing harm.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalACS Central Science·DateApr 13, 2022
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

Scientists find ‘knob’ to control magnetic behavior in quantum material

Researchers at Penn State and UC San Diego found a new method to tune the magnetic properties of manganese bismuth telluride, enabling efficient control of lossless electrical currents. The discovery uses phonons to modify the magnetic bonding between layers, potentially leading to ultra-fast devices with reduced energy waste.

SourcePenn State·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 12, 2022

A 4 V-class metal-free organic lithium-ion battery gets closer to reality

Researchers at Tohoku University and UCLA have made a breakthrough in high-voltage metal-free lithium-ion batteries using a small organic molecule, croconic acid. The battery has a strong working voltage of around 4V and a high theoretical capacity, potentially leading to more energy-dense and cost-effective batteries.

SourceTohoku University·JournalAdvanced Science·DateApr 12, 2022
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

Kaiyuan Yang wins NSF CAREER Award

Kaiyuan Yang's five-year grant will focus on enhancing the reliability and security of bioelectronic implants by making them aware of and adaptive to their physical and logical contexts. The goal is to develop WBMI bioelectronics that can be deeply implanted in humans through minimally invasive injection, ingestion or through vessels.

SourceRice University·DateApr 7, 2022

Researchers synthesize carbon nanosolenoid with Riemann surfaces

The researchers successfully synthesized π-extended nanographene carbon nanosolenoid (CNS) material with continuous spiral graphene planes, matching the structure of Riemann surface. CNS exhibited special photoluminescence and magnetic properties, including red-shifted emission band and large thermal hysteresis.

SourceUniversity of Science and Technology of China·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 6, 2022

NTU Singapore scientists develop a recyclable pollen-based paper for repeated printing and ‘unprinting’

Researchers at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore have developed a sustainable, pollen-based 'paper' that can be printed on and reused multiple times. The paper's non-toxic properties make it an attractive alternative to conventional wood-based paper, which has a significant environmental impact.

SourceNanyang Technological University·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateApr 5, 2022
Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

Shedding new light on controlling material properties

Researchers at Kyoto University have discovered a scaling law that determines high-order harmonic generation in the perovskite material Ca2RuO4. The phenomenon, which was first observed in atomic gas systems, has been found to be highly dependent on temperature and gap energy.

SourceKyoto University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 5, 2022

A bright future: Seeking a third generation of better performing solar cells

Researchers propose a novel pathway to realizing hot carrier solar cells, which can exceed the typical efficiency limit on solar cells. The approach involves isolating hot carriers within higher energy valleys in semiconductors, reducing energy loss to heat.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalJournal of Photonics for Energy·DateApr 5, 2022

Engineers pave way for next-gen deep ultraviolet lasers

Researchers at Cornell University have developed a high-quality crystal of aluminum nitride and created an optical cavity to trap emitted light, enabling the production of a deep-ultraviolet laser with exceptional precision. The breakthrough has significant implications for various applications, including sterilization, sensing, and ph...

SourceCornell University·JournalAIP Advances·DateApr 4, 2022
AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.