Scientists believe that graphene may change the world of electronics.

The texture of surfaces could be designed so that both water and oil can bead up and thus flow off. (p. 12)

Peter Parker is lucky he was bitten by a spider and not a silkworm. Not only does “Spider-Man” have way more superhero panache than “Silkworm-Man,” but of all the silks made by various creatures, spider silk is the standout. Exceedingly strong, yet elastic and lightweight, spider silks are ideal for a range of materials, from bulletproof vests to scaffolding for growing cartilage. Scientists are coming closer to unraveling spiders’ secrets with the hope of producing piles of the fiber to put to good use. While there’s progress in understanding spider silk genes and protei... (p. 24)

Because plastic products can be mass-produced cheaply, they have long been considered the poster child of a throwaway culture. Plastics are versatile: Some are soft and flexible, but others are completely rigid. A few mimic natural substances; some are infused with colors rarely found in nature. Others are as clear as glass. And some polymer substances composing plastics can be molded into shapes impossible to reproduce with materials such as wood. Perhaps because they are so versatile, some objects made from plastics have become highly collectible. Some museum collections, in fa... (p. 34)

Featured blog: Nanomagnets and wires point to a potentially better mousetrap — or crude trap — for dealing with oil spills.

Scientists show that cheap chemical dyes may one day help with the efficient capture of the sun's energy

Two weeks from now, an astrophysicist, neuroscientist, and nanoscience researcher will each be named to receive $1 million Kavli Prizes.

Water softens squid beaks toward their base, so they don't cut into the squid's own soft tissue. (p. 222)

Diamond can hold quantum information even at room temperature, which makes it a candidate material for future quantum computers. (p. 216)

When dehydrated, the larvae of an African fly replace the water in their cells with a sugar, which solidifies and helps keep cellular structures intact. (p. 197)