HEADLINES ARCHIVE
Color-shifting material could deliver a powerful blow to counterfeiters
The material, called davyne, is derived from the photochromic mineral hackmanite, which changes color under near-infrared light.
Yeast joins the race to build strong, 3D-printed homes on Mars
The formula is a blend of Martian rocks, gelatin and yeast that once dried and hardened, is as strong as low-grade concrete.
Self-healing coating gives metal a powerful new defense against corrosion
What sets the coating apart is its ability to detect damage and automatically repair scrapes and cracks, creating a protective barrier that can extend the coating’s service life.
Plasma breathes new life into plant-based packaging as a plastic alternative
The treatment is designed to reduce water absorption and improve the films’ resistance to moisture without compromising their mechanical performance or structural integrity.
New bio-based plastic becomes fertilizer after processing
To tackle the growing global plastic waste problem, researchers from Chiba University, Tohoku University and the University of Tokyo have developed a bio-based plastic that can be converted into fertilizer. The researchers found that a component of the plastic can be chemically converted into
Plastic waste turned into protein-packed cookies
In a bid to repurpose plastic waste, the team modified yeasts so that plastic and agricultural waste could be converted into edible proteins and flavoring molecules.
Self-healing hydrogel packs powerful adhesion and sensing into one material
The UESTC team suggests it has overcome such limitations with a hydrogel that combines room-temperature self-healing, strong inherent adhesion and interfacial capacitive sensing within a single material.
Octopus-inspired patch delivers a powerful boost to drug delivery
To develop the patch, the team combined cellulose nanofibers with an octopus-inspired suction architecture to achieve both attachment stability and transdermal delivery performance.
New adhesives grip hard, then release with precision
The team developed a tape featuring adhesive and plastic backing layers that can be recycled together. Aptly called a "mono-material," both of the tape’s layers are chemically similar but perform different functions.
New printing system lets smartphones instantly verify anti-counterfeit labels
The smartphone-based detector can reportedly measure how light interacts with the anti-counterfeit label, the data from which is subsequently analyzed with a machine-learning system to confirm the origin of the label in question.
New hydrogel packaging offers a freshness check with just a glance
Designed to offer shoppers a visible signal of food spoilage without opening the package, this new material can also reportedly self-repair, thus keeping bacteria out during shipping and handling.
‘Nanobone’ gives the body a new way to regrow bone
The calcium-aluminosilicate nanomaterial triggers the body’s own transforming growth factor ß1 (TGF-ß1), which immediately encourages clotting and recruits bone-forming stem cells to expedite bone regeneration.
Understanding transient flow in high-viscosity pumps
Transient flow analysis is expected to become a standard part of automated fluid handling and process optimization in high-viscosity pumping applications.
New seaweed-inspired approach removes ocean microplastics regardless of size
According to its developers, the biopolymer mesh cleans microplastics from both saltwater and freshwater, thereby helping to lessen the impact of microplastics on aquatic ecosystems.
Beer-making could help sand filters trap harmful bacteria
The malt spent rootlets biochar (MSRB) material was developed when the team converted the rootlets into biochar via pyrolysis at 850° C.
Waste rice husks transformed into reusable filters that trap toxic dyes
The team converted discarded rice husk into a sponge-like filter that can capture industrial synthetic dyes from textile manufacturing, leather processing, paper production and aquaculture.
Eucalyptus bark waste gets a second life as a carbon filter for cleaner air, water
The team found a simple way to transform the bark into a porous carbon material.
Powerful self-cleaning tech defeats mineral buildup to capture ocean CO2
The new electrochemical process combines hydrogen gas and redox salt looping to capture carbon dioxide from seawater via controlled pH swings.
Nuclear power could fuel a new generation of plasma kilns for cement
The process would involve using electricity produced by small modular reactors (SMRs) to power thermal plasma torches that would supply the high temperatures necessary to produce clinker, which is the base ingredient for modern cement.
Containing the heat: Refractory moldables for aluminum smelting applications
Refractory moldable materials provide an alternative approach by creating a durable, conformable thermal barrier that can be shaped to the specific geometry of the application.