How origami is changing engineering
When Larissa Novelino started her career as an engineer, she never expected that paper folding would become the center of her work.
Growing up in...
How a “snap” effect could power the future of soft robots
We are all familiar with the satisfying click of a pen or the snap of a hair clip.
Behind these simple motions lies a powerful...
How a simple salt could power the future of solar energy
A simple salt could be the key to making solar power cheaper, stronger, and longer-lasting.
Researchers at University College London (UCL) have discovered that a...
How ice could keep buildings cool and power bills low
Everyone knows ice is great for chilling drinks on a hot summer day.
But what if the same idea could help cool entire buildings and...
Scientists unlock a safer, stronger energy source for space travel
Scientists at the University at Albany have made a breakthrough that could change how rockets are fueled in the future.
A team of chemists, led...
Scientists turn problem seaweed into greener building materials
Along coastlines in the Caribbean, the United States, and northern Brazil, massive amounts of brown seaweed called sargassum have become a growing problem.
When it...
3D printing creates smarter materials for next-gen wearable sensors
Tactile sensors—devices that detect touch, pressure, and force—are at the heart of many modern technologies.
They help robots grip objects, allow prosthetics to sense pressure,...
Starfish-inspired tube feet could give underwater robots a strong grip
Soft robotics is a growing field that uses flexible, bendable materials instead of rigid machines.
These soft systems are especially promising for underwater tasks where...
Scientists find how to overcome the fatigue limit ceiling in ultra-strong steel
A Japanese research team has found a surprising way to make steel much tougher against repeated stress.
Instead of weakening the metal, carefully applied “fatigue...
New 3D imaging could reveal how metals crack and corrode inside nuclear reactors
Nuclear reactors power everything from electricity grids to naval ships, but keeping them safe over decades of use is one of the toughest engineering...