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03/06/2020 / By Franz Walker

“Pantry” science: MIT researchers grow carbon nanotubes using common kitchen ingredients

When the subject of carbon nanotubes is brought up, most people probably won’t think of something that can be cooked up in a kitchen. However, a team of researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have done just that – creating carbon nanotubes with the help of common household materials. Led by Richard Li, a graduate student in […]

02/13/2020 / By Michael Alexander

Seashell-inspired shatterproof glass: Researchers engineer strong composite glass based on mother of pearl that can resist impact

Despite their delicate appearance, seashells are surprisingly durable. This unexpected durability comes from the tough, impact-resistant substance known as nacre, also known as mother of pearl. Nacre is an organic-inorganic composite material that also gives seashells their signature iridescence. It is made up of microscopic calcium carbonate tablets mortared together by proteins. Arranged like bricks, […]

11/21/2019 / By Edsel Cook

Physicists develop new material that could be used for “high-efficiency, lower-cost solar cells”

Researchers have not yet solved the biggest weakness of solar panels – their inability to produce power when there is no steady source of bright light. However, they were happy to announce that they have increased the efficiency of perovskite solar cells to take advantage of the limited daylight hours. University of Toledo (UT) researcher Dr. […]

10/31/2019 / By Edsel Cook

Advancing detection and diagnosis: Scientists enable 3D printers to print glass using material called chalcogenide glass

Additive manufacturing systems have added another challenging material to the list of things they may print on the fly. Canadian researchers demonstrated the capability to print out chalcogenide glass with a modified 3D printer. Chalcogenide glass is a type of covalently bonded glass that contains certain chemicals called “chalcogens.” It sees extensive use in optical […]

10/21/2019 / By Edsel Cook

Bioengineers discover “breakthrough” technique: 3D-printed organs to be available in the next two decades

Additive manufacturing systems have come one step closer to printing out whole, working organs for emergency medical transplants. Researchers reported 3D printing a complete system of blood vessels found on a major organ. Every day, around 20 patients who desperately need an organ transplant die before ever getting one. There are not enough donors – […]

09/29/2019 / By Edsel Cook

Manufacturing breakthrough: Scientists can now weld glass and metal together

The manufacturing industry has recently welcomed what might prove a breakthrough technology. Scottish researchers showed off a new welding method that uses an incredibly fast laser to fuse together glass and metal. Glass and metal are two of the most common classes of materials used for various purposes. Due to their very different thermal properties, […]

09/29/2019 / By Edsel Cook

Healing with hair: Can nanostructures from human hair be used to design smart biomedical materials?

In the future, your hair may provide the natural ingredients for making biomedicine that treats illness. A recent Chinese study has shown that the tiny structures in human hair might be turned into useful biomaterials. Wuhan University (WHU) researchers examined the melanin and keratin polymers in hair. They isolated the micro- and nanostructures found on these substances. […]

05/19/2019 / By Edsel Cook

Researchers are developing an energy-efficient method of converting methane into carbon nanotubes

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is looking to get the most value out of the vast natural gas deposits in North America. It recently provided a big federal grant to Rice researchers, who would come up with an efficient yet inexpensive way to turn methane gas into carbon nanotubes. Being an allotrope, or alternative form of […]

05/15/2019 / By Edsel Cook

Researchers develop anti-reflection coatings that make transparent plastics “virtually invisible”

A Pennsylvania-based research team came up with an improved anti-reflection coating that reduces glare. When applied to transparent plastics, the layer made the plastic material invisible to the naked eye. The researchers were working on small and extremely efficient solar cells that gathered focused light from plastic lenses. They required an anti-reflection coating that could reduce the amount of light […]

04/09/2019 / By Edsel Cook

Barbules and velcro: Researchers study birds for inspiration to develop new adhesives and aerospace materials

Do you remember the times when your younger child self toyed with the feather of a bird? When you ran your fingers along its barbs and watched the disturbed parts return to their original positions? Researchers do, and they used the shape of the barbules of a feather to develop new adhesives and aerospace materials. It has been 20 years since […]

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