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When mixing granular matter, order among disorder

Researchers at Northwestern University discovered that mixing yield stress materials creates distinct regions of mix and non-mix, providing a fundamental understanding of designing mixing protocols. The study's findings have implications for industries such as pharmaceuticals and concrete manufacturing.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 14, 2018

This is what a stretchy circuit looks like

Scientists in China develop a hybrid conductive material that can be bent and stretched at will, making it suitable for wearable electronics and implantable devices. The material, called metal-polymer conductor, is non-toxic and has broad applications for diagnosing and treating diseases.

SourceCell Press·JournaliScience·DateJun 14, 2018

Understanding how electrons turn to glass

A Japanese team has gained a deeper understanding of the electronic processes guiding liquid-to-glass transitions. By studying an organic metal material with 'frustrated' electrons, they revealed that rapid cooling can create glass-like states similar to conventional glasses.

SourceTohoku University·JournalScience·DateOct 23, 2017

Liquid metal brings soft robotics a step closer

Researchers at University of Sussex and Swansea University have created a way to morph liquid metal into physical shapes, opening up new possibilities in soft robotics and shape-changing displays. The invention uses electrical charges to program the liquid metal, allowing it to dynamically change shape and form complex geometries.

Simulations predict flat liquid

Researchers have predicted a liquid phase in atomically thin golden islands that patch small pores of graphene, where gold atoms flow and change places in the plane. The liquid state is possible when the edge of graphene pore stretches the metallic membrane.

SourceAcademy of Finland·JournalNanoscale·DateMay 21, 2015

New manufacturing methods needed for 'soft' machines, robots

Researchers have developed a technique to produce soft machines made of elastic materials and liquid metals using a custom-built 3D printer. The technique enables the creation of strain gauges that can detect high strains and deform with almost any material, making it suitable for wearable technology and sensory skin.

SourcePurdue University·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateJun 18, 2014

A material that most liquids won't wet

Researchers at University of Michigan developed a nanoscale coating that repels over 95% of liquids, including oils, alcohols, and toxic acids. The coating uses air pockets to reduce intermolecular forces, causing liquids to bounce off the surface.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateJan 16, 2013

A new way of making glass

Researchers at the University of Bristol and Heinrich-Heine-Universität in Düsseldorf have developed a new way of making glass by changing its structure. This method uses computer simulations to encourage atoms in a molten alloy to form polyhedra, leading to a solid with a disordered atomic arrangement - a characteristic of glass.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateNov 9, 2012

Too cool to follow the law

Researchers found that glass-former materials don't follow standard dynamics below a sub-melting point threshold, contrary to recent reports. The study highlights the need for precise viscosity data to accurately analyze their behavior.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal E·DateAug 1, 2012

0.2 second test for explosive liquids

Researchers have developed a new spectroscopy method that can detect explosive liquids in plastic bottles instantly, improving airport security. The method uses electromagnetic radiation to identify materials and a nanoelectronic device to detect signals, creating a detailed 'thumbprint' of the liquid's molecular signature.

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalSuperconductor Science and Technology·DateOct 20, 2009