Materials Science
- Materials Science
Making it work, on paper and just maybe in practice
Last spring, Science News reported on the lack of progress by the main U.S. nuclear fusion effort. As the researchers still contend, laser-initiated fusion should work. It works on paper. But in practice, even a set of extremely powerful lasers failed to trigger the fusion of hydrogen nuclei and the concomitant chain reaction and release of net energy expected.
- Materials Science
Graphene-based material prevents blood clots
When researchers coated a plastic film with the new material, clotting was greatly reduced and continued even after three days.
- Chemistry
Carbon monoxide junked for making plastic
Using a catalyst, chemists can swap in the less dangerous carbon dioxide.
- Materials Science
Scientists throw crystals a curve
Particles inside a sphere assemble into ordered ribbons, not lumps.
- Materials Science
Graphene strands free electrons from resistance
Ribbons of carbon can form electron freeways, potentially paving the way to new kinds of electronics.
- Materials Science
Bone inspires strong, lightweight material
Tiny synthetic structures modeled after bone are as sturdy as metal.
- Materials Science
Etched glass stops cracks in their tracks
Adding wavy lines to glass reduces the material’s notorious brittleness.
- Materials Science
Nanotube whiskers could aid robot-human interaction
Tiny hairlike sensors made from nanomaterials are more sensitive than existing devices to detect tiny pressures.
- Computing
Materials’ light tricks may soon extend to doing math
A simulation paves the way toward metamaterials that can perform ultrafast complex mathematical operations using light waves.
- Materials Science
Nanoglue attaches tissues to each other
Silica particles could repair and help engineer human organs.
- Materials Science
Material inspired by dragonfly wings bursts bacteria
Silicon studded with nanostructures could act as antimicrobial coating on medical devices.
- Materials Science
Invisibility cloaks could slim down with active approach
The new light-canceling technique could hide objects of any shape and size.
