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Cut it with a twist: Cutting changes kirigami material mechanics

Kirigami researchers create twisty structures for flexible robotic components and soft actuators, exploiting geometrical design to enable rotation under stretching. The unique mechanical properties of these kirigami materials offer new potential applications in robotics and engineering.

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.

Physics-trained digital ‘super-brain’ speeds up technology development

A digital 'super-brain' with physics-based knowledge significantly speeds up the design and development of optical components, such as those for quantum computers and camera lenses. By integrating physical principles into machine learning algorithms, researchers reduce simulation time from months to days.

A new way to move heat could transform energy and electronics

Scientists have developed a new method to manipulate heat transfer using carefully engineered metamaterials, boosting it by up to four times. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient cooling strategies for electronic devices, improved thermophotovoltaic systems, and enhanced sensing technologies.

Lossy acoustic metamaterials for higher-order Weyl exceptional ring

A research team has successfully realized a non-Hermitian higher-order Weyl exceptional ring semimetal in a lossy acoustic metamaterial. The material hosts Weyl exceptional rings with dual topological charges, giving rise to Fermi arc surface states and surface-dependent skin effect.

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.

“Perfectly symmetrical” 2D perovskites boost energy transport

Rice University scientists have created a new type of two-dimensional semiconductor that exhibits no distortions, allowing for efficient energy transfer. The material's performance is an order of magnitude better than previously reported perovskites, making it suitable for applications such as solar cells and tandem devices.

Möbius-inspired surface controls light in two directions

A single-layer dielectric metasurface uses Möbius-inspired polarization-path inversion to achieve versatile control of light in both forward and backward directions. The device encodes six independent optical channels, including three combinations of wavelength and polarization states.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

The physics of a squeak

A team of researchers used high-speed imaging to investigate soft solids sliding on rigid substrates, discovering that squeaking emerges from supersonic detachment pulses. The study found a relationship between surface geometry and the repetition rate of these pulses, impacting frictional resistance.

Reshaping gold leads to new electronic and optical properties

By changing the physical structure of gold, researchers can drastically change its interaction with light, leading to enhanced electronic behavior and improved absorption of light energy. This study demonstrates the potential of nanoporous gold as a new design parameter for engineering materials in advanced technologies.

Origami-inspired research gets another ERC grant

Researchers develop origami-inspired robotic grippers for efficient handling of complex objects, enabling improved logistics and automation in the automotive sector. The project aims to reduce costs, time, and material consumption, contributing to environmentally sustainable solutions.

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.

A single plate captures multiple frequencies at once

Researchers developed a new 'frequency-multiplexed elastic metasurface' that can precisely direct elastic waves at distinct frequencies onto different locations, enhancing signal intensity by up to 48 times. This technology breaks the conventional belief that one structure can perform only one function.

A metamaterial that bridges air and water

A team of researchers created a metamaterial that can transfer sound waves between air and water. The device, made from aluminum and steel plates, works by passing vibrations through its structure to facilitate communication between underwater and airborne vehicles.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Parity metamaterials and dynamic acoustic mimicry

Researchers introduce parity metamaterials that achieve ultrabroadband undistorted transmission with tunable reflection control, offering a new strategy for acoustic stealth and wave manipulation. The materials suppress specular reflection signals, enhancing stealth and achieving 'acoustic invisibility' akin to biological camouflage.

Metamaterials can stifle vibrations with intentional complexity

A team of researchers at the University of Michigan and AFRL has developed a new method to create structures that passively impede vibrations, using complex geometry to elicit beneficial properties. The innovation builds on decades of theoretical research and utilizes advanced fabrication technologies like 3D printing.

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

Looking for the perfect fold? It’s frustrating.

Researchers at Princeton University have developed a new type of origami that changes its shape and properties in response to external stimuli. By introducing elastic components, they can execute precise folding patterns not previously possible. This technology has potential applications in prosthetics, antennas, and other devices.

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.

Light reveals secrets encoded in chiral metasurfaces

Researchers engineer optical metasurface to yield simple technique for secure data encryption, biosensing, and quantum technologies. The team encodes images on a metasurface optimized for mid-infrared range of electromagnetic spectrum.

Researchers capture nanoparticle movements to forge new materials

Researchers have developed a technique to observe phonon dynamics in nanoparticle self-assemblies, enabling the creation of reconfigurable metamaterials with desired mechanical properties. This advance has wide-ranging applications in fields such as robotics, mechanical engineering, and information technology.

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

The magic of light: Dozens of images hidden in a single screen

A research team at POSTECH developed a metasurface technology that can display multiple high-resolution images on a single screen, overcoming conventional holographic limitations. The innovation uses nanostructure pillars to precisely manipulate light, allowing for different images based on wavelength and polarization direction.

These structures shrink when pulled

The study, published in PNAS, discovered a new type of behavior called 'countersnapping' where structures shrink when pulled. This finding has exciting applications in soft robotics, vibration control systems, and wearable exosuits, enabling one-way sliding motion, materials that switch stiffness on demand, and structures that dampen e...

Magnetic metamaterials with structural reprogrammability

Researchers from UC3M and Harvard University demonstrate reprogrammable mechanical behavior of magnetic metamaterials without changing composition. Flexible magnets allow for modification of stiffness and energy absorption capacity through distribution or external magnetic field manipulation.

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.

Precision-engineered surface enhances silicon solar cell performance

Researchers have developed a single-layer antireflective coating using polycrystalline silicon nanostructures that sharply reduces sunlight reflection across a wide range of wavelengths and angles. The coating achieves unprecedented results for a single-layer design, setting a new standard for solar cells.

Material? Robot? It’s a metabot

Researchers at Princeton University developed a 'metabot' material that can expand, assume new shapes, move, and respond to electromagnetic commands. The metamaterial's complex behavior is enabled by chirality, allowing it to defy typical physical object rules.

New research examines how nanoscopic ripples affect material properties

New research validates theoretical models on how nanoscopic ripples affect material properties, leading to a better understanding of their mechanical behavior. The study's findings have significant implications for the development of microelectronics and other technologies that rely on thin films.

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.

Researchers demonstrate laser writing with unprecedented speed and resolution

The researchers used high-speed laser writing to create lines spaced just 100 nm apart on a glass substrate, achieving super-resolution 3D direct laser writing. They overcame the challenge of intense laser light causing unwanted exposure in nearby areas by using a unique dual-beam optical setup and special photoresist.

Breaking the pattern: How disorder toughens materials

Engineers at the University of Pennsylvania and Aarhus University found that introducing just the right amount of disorder can increase the toughness of certain materials by 2.6 times. This discovery opens up new possibilities for widespread use of so-called mechanical metamaterials.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

Negative refraction of light using atoms instead of metamaterials

Researchers at Lancaster University have successfully demonstrated negative refraction using atomic arrays, eliminating the need for metamaterials. This achievement paves the way for novel technologies based on negative refraction, including perfect lenses and cloaking devices.

Creating bioinspired structures with 3D printing

Scientists at SUTD have created innovative architectures for direct ink writing to fabricate complex bio-inspired structures, including lattices, webs, and leaf-like structures. These novel materials exhibit remarkable properties, such as improved suction force and energy absorption.

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.

3D and 4D printing revolutionize electromagnetic metamaterials

The breakthrough uses 3D and 4D printing to create complex geometries with high precision, enabling the fabrication of electromagnetic metamaterials. This has led to enhanced performance in applications such as antennas, invisibility cloaks, imaging, and wireless power transfer.

Interpreting metamaterials from an artistic view

The article interprets metamaterials from an artistic perspective, highlighting their creative potential and pushing the field's boundaries. Researchers draw parallels with art to emphasize the importance of human ingenuity and innovative design methods.

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.

The art and science of twisting light

A team of researchers from Singapore University of Technology and Design has developed a new type of metasurface that can generate circularly polarized light without complex optical setups. The metasurface exhibits chirality, enabling it to convert arbitrary optical excitation into circularly polarized light at specific frequency ranges.

Innovative smart window technology balances heat and visibility control

A new smart window technology combines liquid crystals with nanoporous microparticles and a patterned vanadium dioxide layer to simultaneously control visible light and infrared radiation. The device offers fast, efficient heat and visibility management, marking a significant step forward in energy-efficient building design.

Crafting the perfect bite of meat

Researchers from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem have pioneered the use of metamaterials to replicate the texture and structure of traditional meat. Their novel approach enables the mass production of whole cuts of meat at a cost of $9 per kilogram, making sustainable protein alternatives more accessible.

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

The science behind the foldable molecular paths

Researchers at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology developed foldable molecular paths using zeolitic imidazolate frameworks, which can adjust size, shape, and alignment in response to temperature, pressure, and gas interactions. This technology has potential applications in creating filters that adapt to capture harmful ...

Material developed with novel stretching properties

The material exhibits unusual stretching characteristics, including compression in some areas and local stretching reactions at distant points. This sensitivity to loads makes it potentially valuable for engineering applications, such as monitoring building deformations or characterizing forces in cells.

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

Wave scattering simulation unlocks potential for advanced metamaterials

Researchers at Macquarie University developed a new software package, TMATSOLVER, that accurately models complex wave scattering for metamaterial design. The tool enables rapid prototyping and validation of new metamaterial designs, accelerating research and development in this growing global market.