New shape memory polymer could someday help robots flex their muscles
When stretched or deformed, shape memory polymers return to their original shapes after heat or light is applied.
These materials show great promise for soft...
What’s in your cup? Engineers design new approach to ensure safe drinking water
Most Americans take safe, clean drinking water for granted, not realizing that what's flowing from their faucets likely contains myriad potentially harmful chemicals.
A recent...
Graphene made with lasers could advance flexible electronics, shows study
Graphene, hexagonally arranged carbon atoms in a single layer with superior pliability and high conductivity, could advance flexible electronics according to a new study.
Professor...
Would you wear clothing made of synthetic muscle fibers?
Researchers have found a way to make a muscle protein and spin it into incredibly strong fibers.
Their synthetic chemistry approach allowed them to polymerize...
New technology could speed diabetic wound healing
About one-fourth of people with diabetes develop painful foot ulcers, which are slow to heal due to low oxygen in the wound from impaired...
Scientists develop ultrathin quantum sensors with 2D materials
As recently as 2019, spin defects known as qubits were discovered in 2D materials (hexagonal boron nitride), which could amplify the field of ultrathin...
New thermal switches could dynamically moderate heat of electronic devices
Modern devices that use lithium-ion batteries, like smartphones and electric cars, seem pretty robust.
But try to use one in extreme heat or cold, and...
Microbatteries on chips could help make wearable sensors
Fitbits, car windows, oil refineries—the roll call of devices and technologies that rely on ultra-small sensors already numbers in the hundreds of billions.
Sensors measure...
Stretching may help lithium batteries last longer, shows study
Batteries are widely used in everyday applications like powering electric vehicles, electronic gadgets and are promising candidates for sustainable energy storage.
However, as you’ve likely...
This stretchable device could turn motion into electricity – even underwater
Researchers at North Carolina State University have created a soft, stretchable device that converts movement into electricity and works in both dry and wet...