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...
Scientists 3D-print record-breaking superconductor with soft matter technique
Superconductors—materials that can carry electricity with zero resistance—are the backbone of powerful technologies such as MRI machines, particle accelerators, and the quantum devices of...
Scientists create customizable 3D-printed foods for dysphagia patients
For many older adults and people with certain health conditions, something as simple as swallowing food can become a daily challenge.
This condition, called dysphagia,...
Asteroid Bennu holds 4.5-billion-year-old secrets of our Solar System
Asteroid Bennu, the focus of NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission, has turned out to be far more than just a space rock.
Samples recently brought back to...
Fast charging could make zinc batteries stronger, not weaker, study finds
For decades, battery experts have warned that charging a battery too quickly is a recipe for disaster.
Fast charging was believed to cause damage, shorten...
Ultrasonic sound could turn sea sand into safe construction material
Sand is one of the most important materials in construction. It is used to build everything from roads and bridges to harbors and skyscrapers.
Traditionally,...
Scientists unveil Velcro-inspired tech to give buildings a second life
Researchers at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) in Austria have developed a clever new way to put buildings together—using a system similar to...