Why breakthrough solar cells often fail to reach your roof
Many new energy technologies look impressive in the laboratory but never become real products.
Solar cells are a clear example. Scientists can achieve record performance...
Scientists discover how to block noise without blocking airflow
Designing spaces that are both well ventilated and quiet has always been difficult.
Openings that allow fresh air to circulate—such as vents and ducts—also let...
MIT’s new AI turns creative 3D designs into objects that won’t break
Generative artificial intelligence can produce amazing designs for objects such as decorations, furniture, and accessories.
With a simple text prompt, AI tools can create detailed...
Scientists discover cost-saving way to build structures on the moon
Scientists are exploring an exciting idea for future space missions: building structures on the Moon using the Moon’s own soil.
A new study shows that...
Bio-inspired robotic wing cuts underwater turbulence impact by 87%
Engineers have created a new robotic wing that can sense changes in water and instantly adjust its shape, helping underwater robots stay stable in...
This lightweight exoskeleton could make walking easier after stroke
A new wearable robotic device could make walking easier for people recovering from stroke.
Engineers at the University of Utah have developed a lightweight hip...
Hair-thin LEDs could one day replace lasers in data centers and displays
Tiny light sources no wider than a human hair may soon change how information is transmitted and how screens are built.
Researchers at the University...
New “never-wet” coating could repel even near-boiling liquids
Superhydrophobic materials—often called “never-wet” surfaces—are famous for making water bead up and roll away.
They are used in products ranging from self-cleaning fabrics to industrial...
Is this glass square the long, long future of data storage
Scientists at Microsoft Research in the United States have demonstrated a system called Silica for writing and reading information in ordinary pieces of glass...
New mirror-based solar system produces electricity and heat at the same time
Researchers have developed a new type of solar power system that can produce both electricity and heat at the same time—an innovation that could...