Materials Science

Materials Science

New cloth cools you when you’re hot, warms you when you’re cold

Scientists 3-D printed the new fabric, which has even more tricks up its sleeve — such as conducting electricity and resisting radio waves.

Materials Science

Engineers borrow a tree’s cellulose to toughen new materials

Cellulose gives plants their strength. Engineers are turning this renewable, environmentally friendly resource into brand new materials.

Materials Science

A disinfectant made from sawdust knocks out deadly microbes

It’s made by pressure-cooking sawdust and water, is cheap and easy to make — and could lead to greener cleaning products than chemicals used today.

Chemistry

New process can transform urban CO₂ pollution into a resource

Researchers have developed a liquid metal that breaks down carbon dioxide in the air, converting it from a climate threat into a valuable raw material.

Environment

‘Mining’ cryptocurrencies pollutes the real world

Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies exist only online. Yet the environmental impacts of their networks affect the real world.

Environment

How we choose to pay has hidden costs for the planet

Whether cash or credit, phone apps or digital currencies — all forms of payment have behind-the-scenes costs. And these can vary dramatically.

Environment

Clothes dryers may be a major source of airborne microplastics

Scientists thought washing machines were a leading contributor of microplastics. Now it appears dryers may be an even bigger problem.

Materials Science

Let’s learn about glass

Unlike the atoms in other solids, the atoms in glass don’t exist in an orderly crystal structure. They’re more jumbled up, like the atoms inside liquids.

Tech

This crumb-sized camera uses artificial intelligence to get big results

Researchers have developed a camera the size of a coarse grain of salt that takes amazingly clear photos.

Chemistry

Explainer: What is a metal?

Metals can bend and pull without snapping, and conduct electricity. The reason: Their atoms tend to lose electrons to neighboring atoms.

Materials Science

Analyze This: This material for 3-D printing is made by microbes

Bacteria with tweaked genes pump out proteins that can be used in a 3-D printer. With microbes in the mix, the living ink can make drugs or suck up chemicals.

Chemistry

Could reusable ‘jelly ice’ cubes replace regular ice?

These hydrogel “jelly ice cubes” are made mostly of gelatin and water. They won’t melt, even when thawed, and may provide new food cooling options.