Topic: Materials Science

August 24, 2018 Seed-Inspired Material - A tiny seed inspires an engineer to design tough new materials.
May 24, 2018 Wet Plastic - Why do some things dry in the dishwasher while others stay stubbornly wet?
February 26, 2018 Sea Urchin Hideaways - Sea urchins carve out their own homes in the rock with their teeth.
February 14, 2018 Shark Skin Inspiration - Structures in shark skin could inspire improved aerodynamics in drones and wind turbines.
September 28, 2017 Soy & Mussel Adhesives - A researcher develops a shellfish-inspired glue, made with soybeans.
July 31, 2017 Wet Adhesives - Scientists design an adhesive that works in wet conditions based on slug slime.
July 25, 2017 Viral Armor - Scientists learn new tricks from a heat-loving virus.
July 4, 2017 Roman Concrete - Ancient Roman concrete became stronger with exposure to seawater and time.
June 27, 2017 Solar-Powered Paint - Building paint that harvests hydrogen from the air could provide abundant clean energy.
June 14, 2017 Chemical-Stopping Fabrics - A fabric that renders nerve gas harmless.
May 3, 2017 Plasma-Producing Paper - Engineers turn paper into a high-tech microbe zapper.
May 2, 2017 Water from Air - Water for the world’s most arid regions could come right out of the air.
January 12, 2017 Cancer Mass Spectrometry - Molecular analysis of tissue samples could lead to fast, accurate cancer diagnosis.
January 11, 2017 Bone Batteries - Bone structure inspires the design of a safer lithium ion battery.
January 9, 2017 Robotic Medical Implants - Magnets trigger biocompatible robotic gears that deliver drugs safely within the body.
December 15, 2016 Designer Cement - What microscopic crystalline shapes yield the strongest, most durable cement?
September 8, 2016 Neolithic Woodworking - The discovery of ancient wooden wells in Germany reveals that Neolithic woodworking was more sophisticated than previously believed.
July 8, 2016 Metal in Microwaves - If metal isn’t supposed to go in microwave ovens, why do some of them have metal racks?
June 27, 2016 Better Shampoo Bottles - Materials scientists develop a way to easily remove excess shampoo, conditioner, and laundry detergent from plastic bottles.
April 18, 2016 Silver Ants Keep Cool - Ultra-reflective silver ants stay cool in desert temperatures topping 120˚ Fahrenheit.
March 22, 2016 Critical Materials - A government laboratory works to maintain supplies of some little-known metals.
March 18, 2016 Fish Night Vision - A light-concentrating night vision technology inspired by an aquarium fish.
March 17, 2016 Simulated Octopus Skin - Scientists are isolating and synthesizing the chemical compounds that make hops bitter, and studying their medicinal properties.
March 15, 2016 Insect Wings & Vision - Futuristic eye implants could fight microbes with structures that mimic the bacteria ­busting wings of insects.
February 17, 2016 Cybathlon - Implantable pulse generators help turn paralyzed patients into bionic athletes.
January 26, 2016 Magnetic Gels Fix Muscles - A muscle-repairing implant may suppress inflammation and grow new tissue.
December 4, 2015 Thermal Battery - A new type of battery can keep food cool.
August 18, 2015 Glass Paint - A new paint made up of the constituents of glass is durable, resilient, and environmentally friendly.
July 22, 2015 Jumping Robots - A soft-bodied, high-jumping robot really gets around.
July 6, 2015 Seahorse Tails - The seahorse’s unique tail structure is inspiring mechanical engineers.
April 6, 2015 Mining Sewage - Is sewage worth mining for gold?
March 26, 2015 Non-Skid Shoes - New footwear helps winter walkers get a grip on ice.
March 23, 2015 Robotic Materials - Many futuristic inventions are inspired by biological systems.
March 12, 2015 Synthetic Clot Material - An injectable clotting agent may stanch life-threatening bleeding.
March 3, 2015 Stretchy Origami - Engineers develop a rubbery substance that changes shape under the influence of heat or light.
February 26, 2015 Slosh-stopping Foam - Engineers discover what waiters and bartenders have known for centuries: foam keeps drinks from sloshing.
February 23, 2015 SURVIVAL IN THE WILD - SURVIVAL (Encore Presentation) - Why female Komodo dragons die young, a whale that sounded like a person, and algae that flee their predators. Also: how the brain's insulation differs between us and chimpanzees, and why that insulation is so important to social development.
December 4, 2014 Ocean Chemicals - The U.S. has banned some fire retardants because of their toxicity. But the same chemicals are also produced naturally by marine life.
November 14, 2014 Concussions & Horns - The horns of male bighorn sheep protect their heads; could the NFL learn from them?
November 13, 2014 Nano Sensor - A nanotechnology based chemical sensor could reveal the presence of explosives, drugs or just about anything else.
October 9, 2014 Solar Grass Blades - Unique nanostructures copy grass blade architecture to harvest sunlight.
August 14, 2014 Face-Repairing Foam - A foam-like polymer could help repair bone defects in the face.
August 13, 2014 Origami Robot - Using origami techniques to make real life Transformer robots.
August 8, 2014 Smart Cement - An effort to give cement some smarts.
July 30, 2014 Squishy Robots - Materials that can go from firm to squishy and back could make robots more versatile.
July 29, 2014 Thermal Battery - A new type of battery can keep food cool.
May 30, 2014 Chitosan Plastic - A biodegradable plastic isolated from shrimp shells could help curb a huge environmental problem.
May 14, 2014 Plastic Regeneration - One day, plastics in many a variety of products may repair themselves.
May 9, 2014 Lab-Grown Skin - Tissue engineers have learned to make more realistic human skin.
May 2, 2014 Ocean Chemicals - The U.S. has banned some fire retardants because of their toxicity. But the same chemicals are also produced naturally by marine life.

Next Page »