Robotic arm can feel like part of the body—if it moves at the right...
As artificial intelligence advances, future prosthetic arms may be able to move on their own to assist users with daily tasks.
But for these devices...
How 3D printing is making energetic materials safer and more predictable
Making energetic materials—such as explosives, propellants, and fireworks—is a bit like baking a very sensitive cake.
The ingredients must be carefully measured, the mixing must...
Scientists turn desert sand into eco-friendly bricks to cut cement emissions
Cement is one of the most widely used building materials in the world, but it comes at a high environmental cost.
Portland cement alone is...
Scientists invent “smart underwear” that tracks your farts 24/7
Talking about flatulence may feel awkward, but scientists say it could reveal important clues about gut health.
Researchers at the University of Maryland have developed...
Origami-inspired waveguides could make satellites lighter and easier to launch
Modern satellites rely on electromagnetic waveguides—hollow structures that carry high-power signals between components such as antennas and transmitters.
Today, these waveguides are usually made from...
This hair-thin glass microphone can hear electrical sparks before power failures happen
Researchers have created a microphone so thin it looks like a human hair, yet tough enough to survive temperatures as high as 1,000°C.
Made entirely...
Scientists discover a completely new type of magnetism in atom-thin materials
Scientists at University of Stuttgart have discovered a completely new type of magnetism in materials that are only a few atoms thick.
Working with international...
This flax fiber furniture can be taken apart and reused again and again
Most seating furniture isn’t made to last.
Chairs and benches are often difficult to take apart, awkward to move, and easy to damage.
After just one...
Lego-like smart material lets robots change stiffness like living tissue
Robots are usually built from materials with fixed properties.
Once a robot is assembled, its stiffness, flexibility and movement patterns are largely locked in.
Engineers at...
MIT engineers turn recycled plastic bottles into strong 3D-printed home frames
The plastic bottle you toss into the recycling bin today might one day help hold up the floor of a house.
Engineers at MIT are...