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...
Why squeezing light too much can make future OLED screens worse
Scientists working on the next generation of OLED technology have discovered that making these devices more efficient is not as simple as squeezing as...
Scientists create stretchable surface that repels almost any liquid
Scientists at North Carolina State University have developed a remarkable new material that can repel nearly all liquids—even when stretched to five times its...
Spinning plasma may hold the key to longer-lasting fusion reactors
Fusion energy promises a future of clean, nearly limitless power, but building reactors that can survive the extreme conditions inside them remains a major...
Scientists 3D print one of the world’s hardest industrial materials
A team of researchers has found a new way to manufacture one of the toughest materials used in industry, opening the door to cheaper,...
How a rare element could fuel the next generation of space missions
Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) are taking a fresh look at neptunium, a rare radioactive metal that...
New 3D concrete technology could transform how buildings are made
As cities become more crowded and construction companies struggle to find enough workers, the building industry is searching for faster and more efficient ways...
How hidden flaws caused light pole disasters in hurricane Ian
When Hurricane Ian swept across Florida in 2022, several aluminum light poles on a bridge in Central Florida suddenly cracked or collapsed.
What puzzled engineers...