Materials Science
- Materials Science
Etched glass stops cracks in their tracks
Adding wavy lines to glass reduces the material’s notorious brittleness.
By Meghan Rosen - 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.
By Beth Mole - Materials Science
Material inspired by dragonfly wings bursts bacteria
Silicon studded with nanostructures could act as antimicrobial coating on medical devices.
By Beth Mole - Materials Science
Invisibility cloaks could slim down with active approach
The new light-canceling technique could hide objects of any shape and size.
- Chemistry
How butterflies stay dry
Slightly bumpy surfaces reduce water drops’ contact time.
By Meghan Rosen - Materials Science
Ice aided construction of Forbidden City
Workers slid heavy stone using liquid and frozen water to move it forward.
- Materials Science
Qingsongite
This newly christened mineral has an atomic structure that’s similar to diamond and nearly as hard.
- Physics
Material looks cool while heating up
Substance that tricks infrared camera could pave the way for new types of camouflage and heating technology.
- Chemistry
Oxygen shapes growth of graphene
The number of atoms on a copper surface changes the size and rate of the material's crystal development.
- Materials Science
Radar distinguishes electronics from other metals
Using two pulses of radio waves, method could locate survivors trapped in rubble.
By Andrew Grant