Materials Science

More Stories in Materials Science

  1. Materials Science

    Scientists developed a sheet of gold that’s just one atom thick

    Ultrathin goldene sheets could reduce the amount of gold needed for electronics and certain chemical reactions.

    By
  2. Materials Science

    Artificial intelligence helped scientists create a new type of battery 

    It took just 80 hours, rather than decades, to identify a potential new solid electrolyte using a combination of supercomputing and AI.

    By
  3. Materials Science

    A fiber inspired by polar bears traps heat as well as down feathers do

    Scientists took a cue from polar bear fur to turn an ultralight insulating material into knittable thread.

    By
  4. Plants

    Salty sweat helps one desert plant stay hydrated

    The Athel tamarisk excretes excess salt through its leaves. The buildup of salt crystals pulls water directly from the air, a study reports.

    By
  5. Chemistry

    Chemists turned plastic waste into tiny bars of soap

    Researchers developed a process to turn plastic waste into surfactants, the key ingredients in dozens of products, including soap.

    By
  6. Chemistry

    Magnetic ‘rusty’ nanoparticles pull estrogen out of water

    Iron oxide particles adorned with “sticky” molecules trap estrogen in water, possibly limiting the hormone’s harmful effects on aquatic life.

    By
  7. Materials Science

    This ‘thermal cloak’ keeps spaces from getting either too hot or cold

    A new thermal fabric prototype could help keep cars, buildings and other spaces a comfortable temperature during heat waves while reducing CO₂ emissions.

    By
  8. Chemistry

    Tear-resistant rubbery materials could pave the way for tougher tires

    Adding easy-to-break molecular connectors surprisingly makes materials harder to tear and could one day reduce microplastic pollution from car tires.

    By
  9. Environment

    This house was built partly from recycled diapers

    Disposable diapers can replace nearly a third of the materials used in load-bearing structures, offering a potential path to more affordable housing.

    By