All articles tagged with #material science
Scientists have turned commercially available silkworm silk into a near-Kevlar-strength material by hot-pressing and fusing fibers at precise temperatures and pressures, preserving silk’s natural structure while boosting toughness, with potential for sustainable, scalable applications in sensors, implants, and lightweight protective materials.
Physicists analyzing red trinitite from the Trinity test have identified a previously unknown silicon-calcium-iron clathrate, a nanoscale crystal structure formed by vaporized tower metals; confirmed with single-crystal X-ray diffraction and nanoscale imaging, this new phase could advance understanding of clathrates used in batteries, solar cells, and quantum devices, and provides a rare extreme-condition crystal for modeling.
USF engineers simulated reinforced rubber—rubber with carbon black—and published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, showing that carbon black creates a Poisson’s ratio mismatch that prevents thinning and boosts volume, stiffness, and strength; by combining particle networks, sticky interactions, and space-filling effects, they offer a unified explanation that could reduce design trial-and-error and improve safety for critical infrastructure.
Chinese researchers at Zhengzhou University report the first laboratory-made pure hexagonal diamond (lonsdaleite), a carbon form that is harder and more oxidation-resistant than cubic natural diamond; produced by compressing graphite under extreme pressure and heat and confirmed by spectroscopy and simulations, with potential applications in cutting tools, abrasives, heat management and quantum sensing, and published in Nature in March 2026.
A Nature Communications study suggests that some asteroids may actually strengthen when stressed and that a stand-off nuclear detonation could alter an asteroid's trajectory without fragmentation, offering a new approach to planetary defense; however, real-world validation is difficult and relies on precise data and simulations rather than tests on actual asteroids.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new kirigami-inspired material that can transform into various 3D structures with a simple pull of a string, enabling applications like medical devices, foldable robots, and space habitats. The process uses an algorithm to design flat grids that morph into complex shapes, demonstrating ease of use and potential for scalable deployment.
Scientists have discovered that when tuned to its Dirac point, graphene defies the Wiedemann–Franz law, showing an inverse relationship between thermal and electrical conductivity, and behaves like a nearly perfect quantum fluid, opening new avenues for research in high-energy physics and astrophysics.
Researchers have developed a new cobalt-nickel-vanadium alloy with atom-by-atom engineering that remains strong and tough at extremely low temperatures, potentially revolutionizing materials used in space and cryogenic applications.
Scientists have successfully created a sizable meteorite diamond, known as hexagonal or lonsdaleite, which is predicted to be 50% harder than traditional Earth diamonds, potentially revolutionizing industrial applications like drilling and electronics.
Researchers have studied chiton mollusks and discovered their teeth are incredibly strong and durable due to a unique protein, RTMP1, which deposits iron to create nanoscale, superhard structures. This biological process, occurring at room temperature, could inspire advances in manufacturing, materials, and environmental sustainability.
Chinese and American scientists have successfully produced large quantities of hexagonal diamonds, a structure believed to be superhard, from graphite using high pressure and laser heating, marking a significant breakthrough in material science with potential applications in electronics and superhard materials.
A graduate student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst discovered a liquid mixture of oil, water, and magnetized nickel particles that consistently forms and retains a Grecian urn shape, challenging traditional thermodynamic principles due to magnetic interactions, and opening new avenues in material science research.
A CU Denver engineer has developed a groundbreaking silicon-based chip that can generate extreme electromagnetic fields, potentially enabling gamma-ray lasers for medical and scientific applications, and offering new ways to explore the universe's fundamental nature, including the multiverse theory.
Researchers studied the squirting cucumber's unique seed dispersal mechanism, revealing how it uses pressurized fluid to launch seeds up to 40 feet at optimal angles, with seeds coated in a sticky substance that aids in adhesion and potential applications in material science and robotics.
Scientists observed a nanoscale crack in platinum self-heal during an experiment, revealing metals' intrinsic ability to repair themselves under stress, which could revolutionize engineering and repair processes. The process occurred at room temperature in a vacuum, suggesting potential for broader applications.