Materials Science

  1. Astronomy

    Watch an experimental space shield shred a speeding bullet

    Engineers tested how well a prototype shield for spacecraft would stand up to space debris by shooting it with a solid aluminum pellet.

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  2. Materials Science

    New technique shows how 2-D thin films take the heat

    A new method exposes how 2-D materials react when heated, which could help engineers build sturdy next-gen electronics.

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  3. Materials Science

    Smart windows could block brightness and harness light

    A new type of material pulls double-duty as window shade and solar cell.

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  4. Materials Science

    Skyrmions open a door to next-level data storage

    Skyrmions are tiny magnetic swirls that are hard to undo and may be perfect for miniaturizing electronics.

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  5. Materials Science

    Superdense wood is lightweight, but strong as steel

    New superdense wood could be a more lightweight, environmentally friendly alternative to current construction materials.

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  6. Materials Science

    New textile weathers temperature shift

    Reversible textile keeps skin at a comfortable temperature with thin layers of carbon and copper.

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  7. Tech

    New laser emits a more stable, energy-efficient light beam

    A new type of laser could emit more stable, energy-efficient light beams than its conventional counterparts.

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  8. Materials Science

    New device can transmit underwater sound to air

    A newly created metamaterial takes a shot at solving the problem of hearing underwater sounds from the surface.

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  9. Materials Science

    Ultrathin 2-D metals get their own periodic table

    A new atlas of atom-thick metals could help researchers figure out how these 2-D materials might be used.

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  10. Materials Science

    This artificial cartilage gets its strength from the stuff in bulletproof vests

    One of the key ingredients in this artificial cartilage is a nanoversion of the synthetic fiber in body armor.

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  11. Tech

    Electric eels provide a zap of inspiration for a new kind of power source

    Battery-like devices inspired by electric eels could someday power wearable and implantable tech or soft robots.

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  12. Physics

    Some high-temperature superconductors might not be so odd after all

    Unusual high-temperature superconductors might be explained by standard superconductivity theory.

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