Tag

Materials Science

All articles tagged with #materials science

technology18 days ago•4 min saved

Clear conductive nail polish could turn long nails into touchscreen styluses

A Centenary College undergraduate, with a chemist supervisor, developed a clear, non-toxic conductive nail polish by combining ethanolamine and taurine to allow long fingernails to register on capacitive touchscreens. While a doped blob can be detected by a touchscreen, a thin layer currently doesn’t reliably activate the screen and ethanolamine evaporates quickly, limiting use to a few hours. The researchers are continuing to test other compounds to create a practical, commercially viable formula and address issues like toxicity and shade range.

via Ars Technica|

#conductive-nail-polish #materials-science #non-toxic

science23 days ago•10 min saved

Fresh findings shed light on the long-standing mystery of static electricity

A Nature feature explains that static electricity (triboelectric charging) is more complex than once thought: past contacts bias how charge is exchanged between identical materials, and carbon-containing surface molecules can steer the direction of charging. Using levitated samples and precise measurements, researchers are teasing apart factors like surface chemistry, contact history, surface area, and impact velocity. The growing understanding could improve energy-harvesting devices and reduce dangerous discharges, signaling a shift from simple rules to a multi-factor picture of triboelectricity.

via Nature|

#charge-transfer #materials-science #science

science25 days ago•6 min saved

THOR AI: Century-Old Physics Problem Solved in Seconds

THOR AI uses tensor networks and machine-learning potentials to directly evaluate high-dimensional configurational integrals in materials, turning what used to take weeks of supercomputing into seconds and achieving >400x speedups while preserving accuracy across metals, noble gases under pressure, and phase transitions.

via ScienceDaily|

#configurational-integrals #machine-learning #materials-science

physics-and-mathematics27 days ago•68 min saved

China produces pure hexagonal diamond and claims superior hardness over regular diamond

Chinese researchers created small, pure hexagonal diamond (lonsdaleite) samples and demonstrated that it is stiffer and harder than cubic diamond and more oxidation-resistant; the 1.5 mm samples were formed by compressing organized graphite at about 20 GPa for 10 hours and heating to roughly 1,300–1,900°C, with the work published in Nature, indicating a feasible bulk production method and potential industrial applications in drilling, cutting, and thermal management.

via Live Science|

#diamond #hardness #hexagonal-diamond

environment1 month ago•18 min saved

Ocean-friendly packaging: plant-based cmcsp plastic dissolves in seawater within hours

Researchers in Japan developed a plant-based plastic called cmcsp, made from cellulose, that stays strong during use but dissolves completely in seawater within hours, leaving no microplastics and offering a potential new packaging option. The material forms a cross-linked network stabilized by salt bridges and a plasticizer; seawater ions disrupt these bonds to trigger dissolution, with a thin barrier coating slowing breakdown during use. While the approach shows promise and can be processed in water-based systems, scaling, recycling dissolved components, and real-world disposal remain challenges, and it is not a universal solution to plastic pollution.

via Earth.com|

#environment #materials-science #oceans

technology1 month ago•2 min saved

3D-Printed Cemented Carbide Outshines Steel in Hardness

Hiroshima University researchers used additive manufacturing to produce tungsten carbide–cobalt cemented carbide via 3D printing, achieving hardness above 1,400 HV—far harder than common steels. The method softens alloy elements rather than fully melting them, delivering a tougher, more wear-resistant metal with less waste, with potential uses in repairing cracks and strengthening construction; the research will be published in the April 2026 issue of the International Journal of Refractory Metals and Hard Materials.

via SlashGear|

#3d-printing #additive-manufacturing #hardness

science2 months ago•9 min saved

New glass-plastic hybrid material defies conventional wisdom

Scientists at Wageningen University & Research unveiled compleximer, a glass-plastic hybrid that combines plastic-like toughness with glass’ moldability. It stays bound via physical charge interactions rather than chemical cross-links, allowing high-temperature shaping and self-healing when heated with a hairdryer. The fossil-based version exists now, but biobased variants are in development to enable easier repair and potential biodegradability, offering a greener alternative to traditional plastics.

via Interesting Engineering|

#compleximer #glass-plastic-hybrid #materials-science

space2 months ago•6 min saved

CU Boulder Unveils Global-Unique Plasma Tunnel for Hypersonic Reentry Testing

Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have built a plasma tunnel that mimics the extreme heat and pressure of reentry, reaching up to 9,000°F to test materials, heat shields, and sensors under hypersonic conditions; the facility can also reproduce Mars-like CO2 atmospheres, and scientists are exploring magnetic control of the plasma to potentially steer reentry, which could improve future spacecraft safety and maneuverability.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#heat-shield #hypersonic-flight #materials-science

science2 months ago•5 min saved

Nuclear Deflection Could Work as Last-Resort Asteroid Defense, Study Finds

A new Nature Communications study suggests a nuclear deflection could be a viable last-resort method to steer an Earthbound asteroid, because iron rocks can strengthen under extreme stress and dissipate energy in real time. Experiments at CERN’s HiRadMat irradiated a Campo del Cielo meteorite sample, revealing non-destructive, real-time deformation including strain-rate dependent damping, which helps explain why some models underestimate asteroid resistance. The work emphasizes that deflection strategies must depend on asteroid composition and may favor a stand-off nuclear detonation near the surface over a direct blast, with more research needed across different asteroid types.

via ScienceAlert|

#asteroid #materials-science #meteorite

technology2 months ago•5 min saved

3D nanocoils turn geometry into switchable diodes

Researchers use a focused ion beam to sculpt 3D helices from a single crystal (Co3Sn2S2), creating switchable diode-like electrical transport whose direction can be reversed by changing magnetization or the helix handedness, demonstrating geometry as a design tool for future low-power, 3D nanoscale electronics.

via ScienceDaily|

#diodes #materials-science #nanofabrication

technology3 months ago•1 min saved

Diamonds Drive Quantum Breakthroughs

The article discusses how diamonds are playing a crucial role in advancing quantum technology, highlighting their unique properties that enable new developments in quantum computing and related fields.

via Financial Times|

#diamonds #materials-science #quantum-computing

science3 months ago•6 min saved

Innovative Materials Revolutionize Winter Jacket Warmth

Modern winter jackets utilize centuries-old physics principles—conduction, convection, and radiation—enhanced by innovative materials like breathable membranes, reflective layers, and ultralight insulations to effectively trap heat, block wind, and manage moisture, resulting in lighter, warmer, and more comfortable winter wear.

via PBS|

#heat-transfer #insulation #materials-science

technology3 months ago•1 min saved

Revolutionizing Origami with 3D Printing Technology

A designer explores integrating origami techniques into 3D printed parts, creating flexible and strong structures by modifying fold lines and using offset panels, pushing the boundaries of what is possible with 3D printing.

via Hackaday|

#3d-printing #compliant-mechanisms #innovative-design

materials-science5 months ago•49 min saved

Innovative Lightweight Polymer Films for Enhanced Corrosion Protection

Researchers developed a highly impermeable, molecularly stable polymer from two-dimensional polyaramids, characterized by advanced microscopy, spectroscopy, and gas adsorption techniques, demonstrating its potential for barrier applications due to its robust amide bonds and ordered structure.

via Nature|

#2d-materials #gas-impermeability #materials-science

science5 months ago•2 min saved

Scientists Uncover How Quasiparticles Disrupt Electrical Conductivity

Physicists have identified polarons—quasiparticles formed by electrons and atoms—as the cause behind the loss of electrical conductivity in certain quantum materials, specifically in a thulium-based compound. This discovery, made through detailed measurements and modeling, could advance the development of new materials like room-temperature superconductors.

via Gizmodo|

#advanced-materials #electrical-conductivity #materials-science