Materials Science
- Tech
Weird little fish inspires the development of super-grippers
Suction-cup designers were inspired by the rock-grabbing tricks of the aptly named clingfish.
- Materials Science
Sunflower-like rods could boost efficiency of solar collectors
A new material bends to follow the sun. Rods made from it could soak up far more of the sun’s light than ordinary solar collectors.
- Tech
This device uses the cold night sky to generate electricity
A new device uses the temperature difference between Earth and outer space to create electricity after dark. Powering a lamp, it would be the ultimate night light.
- Materials Science
Reversible superglue mimics snail slime
Inspired by snail slime, scientists have created the first super-strong adhesive that can be easily become unstuck, when necessary.
- Chemistry
2019 Nobel Prize in chemistry goes for pioneering lithium-ion batteries
Today’s lithium-ion batteries power everything from smartphones to computers. Three scientists who pioneered those batteries just got the 2019 Nobel Prize in chemistry.
- Physics
Scientists find the secret to colossal bubbles
What’s the right mix of materials to blow big bubbles that stretch without popping? Physicists have turned up the solution.
- Tech
This robot catches jellyfish with a gentle ‘hug’
A soft robotic hand gently catches jellyfish by trapping the creatures within its silicone fingers.
- Materials Science
Scientists Say: Crystal
The atoms or molecules in crystals take on a particular, repeatable pattern.
- Space
Could humans build a tall tower or giant rope to space?
The movie Ad Astra shows a space antenna, a spindly structure reaching up into the stars. We look at what it would take to build something that big.
- Chemistry
Chemists have created a ring-shaped form of carbon
A ring-shaped carbon molecule takes its place among buckyballs, carbon nanotubes and other odd forms of the element.
- Materials Science
High-tech crops may survive harsh conditions, even space
Scientists have developed a non-invasive method for integrating metal-organic frameworks into plant tissue. This lays the foundation for resilient crops that can weather harsh conditions.
- Earth
Americans consume some 70,000 microplastic particles a year
The average American consumes more than 70,000 microplastic particles a year. Scientists hope this estimate will spur others to look at health risks.
