Lab-Grown Skin
Tissue engineers have learned to make more realistic human skin.
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.
Bone Goo
A gel-like substance, packed between the nano-scale mineral crystals in bone, helps to keep it from shattering.
Turkey Skin Sensor
A new chemical sensor was inspired by turkey skin's color changing properties.
Light-Activated Heart Glue
A light-activated glue could improve heart surgery.
Metal in Microwaves
If metal isn’t supposed to go in microwave ovens, why do some of them have metal racks?
Everyday Objects Roundup
Discarded compact discs could be used to treat wastewater.
Iron Beads from Space
Ancient Egyptians fashioned beads out of iron from meteorites.
Metal in Microwaves
If metal isn't supposed to go in microwave ovens, why do some of them have metal racks?
Self-Sustaining Buildings
The next generation of green buildings may be self-sufficient.
Nanobattery Roundup
Researchers are developing nano-sized batteries to power medical devices and miniature robots.
Expanding Under Pressure
Under the right conditions, a material can actually expand and become less dense under pressure.
Parasite-Inspired Adhesives
A marine parasite has inspired new surgical adhesives.
Anti-Fog Coating
A new anti-fog coating for windshields and eyeglasses also staves off frost.
Podcast for 1 February 2013
LIGHT - Lightning bugs inspire LED design. A new type of light makes others look dim by comparison. And, could lightning be related to migraine headaches?
Neolithic Woodworking
The discovery of ancient wooden wells in Germany reveals that Neolithic woodworking was more sophisticated than previously believed.
Detachable Gecko Tails
Gecko tails fall off along pre-determined lines.
Fatty Acid Fuels
Modifying the digestive process of bacteria could produce a useful fuel from common fats.
Bioengineering Roundup
Tiny microorganisms are playing a big role in chemical manufacturing.
New Light
A new light type, called a FIPEL, may outshine most of today's options.
Scotch Tape Grabber
Scotch tape may have a new job as a key component of smart gripping materials.
Podcast for 9 November 2012
SURVIVAL - 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.
Seeing Inside Fukushima
Cosmic rays called muons could help detect uranium in damaged Japanese nuclear reactors.