Polymer helps make tougher recyclable thermoplastics
To synthesize plastic, small monomer molecules need to be strung together like beads in a necklace, creating long polymer chains.
However, not all plastics –...
This material inspired by chain mail could transforms from flexible to rigid on command
Engineers at Caltech and JPL have developed a material inspired by chain mail that can transform from a foldable, fluid-like state into specific solid...
Want to swim like a fish? Engineers uncover the secrets of fish fins
Peer into any fishbowl, and you'll see that pet goldfish and guppies have nimble fins.
With a few flicks of these appendages, aquarium swimmers can...
Scientists find new way to quadruple microbatteries’ energy density
Weighing about as much as two grains of rice but with the energy density of a much larger, heavier battery, the researchers’ packing-free design...
New sensor could detect when firefighters’ protective clothing is no longer safe
Firefighters risk their lives battling blazes, and aging protective gear can put them at even greater risk.
A University of Alberta researcher is working with...
New material offers ecofriendly solution to converting waste heat into electricity
Perseverance, NASA’s 2020 Mars rover, is powered by something very desirable here on Earth: a thermoelectric device, which converts heat to useful electricity.
On Mars,...
Home heat pumps could cut pollution and save money, shows study
Deploying residential heat pumps more widely across the United States has the potential to help reduce carbon pollution while also saving homeowners money, according...
Could you microwave ambulance or hospital? Possible!
New microwave techniques could revolutionize how ambulances and hospitals are disinfected.
Scientists have created a novel microwave sterilization method that could revolutionize the way ambulances...
New stretchable sensor material could power wearable electronics under extreme cold
A new material designed by researchers at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering combines the flexibility of human skin with...
New vapor-collection technology could save water while clearing the air
About two-fifths of all the water that gets withdrawn from lakes, rivers, and wells in the U.S. is used not for agriculture, drinking, or...