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