Tech
New technologies could keep people cool in a warming world
New approaches to air conditioning aim to keep people cool with fewer greenhouse-gas emissions as our world warms.
Materials Science
More Stories in Materials Science
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ChemistryChemists have unlocked the secrets of long-lasting Roman concrete
By searching ancient texts and ruins, scientists found a concrete recipe that could make buildings stronger — and help address climate change.
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Materials ScienceLet’s learn about piezoelectric materials
Piezoelectric materials turn mechanical energy into electrical energy — and vice versa.
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Materials ScienceAnalyze This: Algae behind blue-glowing waves light up a new device
Some algae glow blue when they experience forces. Held in transparent plastic, they now make devices light up in response to gentle pushes and tugs.
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Materials ScienceLet’s learn about the weird science of ice
Better understanding of ice could lead to new deicing materials or even, someday, weather control.
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TechNew robot can pick up a single drop of liquid
The new device, which looks like a pair of plastic pinchers, is the first to be able to pick up individual droplets of liquid.
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Materials ScienceScientists Say: Hydrogel
Tangled polymer chains help hydrogels hold their shape despite being full of water.
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ChemistryScientists Say: Fluorescence
This property causes materials — including some animals’ skin, fur or feathers — to glow under light.
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ChemistryExplainer: What is a hydrogel?
These unusual materials have a host of unusual properties. You can even make a starch-infused version in your kitchen.
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Materials ScienceLet’s learn about microplastics
Microplastics have turned up everywhere from the highest mountains to the bottom of the ocean — and even inside animals and people.