Articles tagged with "material-science"
1D nanomaterials thinner than hair could supercharge batteries
Researchers at Drexel University have developed a scalable method to transform two-dimensional MXene sheets into one-dimensional tubular nanoscrolls that are about 100 times thinner than a human hair. These MXene nanoscrolls exhibit enhanced electrical conductivity and improved ion transport compared to flat MXene sheets, addressing previous challenges in producing high-quality 1D MXene structures. By rolling the flakes into hollow tubes, the researchers created structures that reduce nano-confinement effects, allowing ions and molecules to move more freely, which is advantageous for applications such as batteries, biosensors, and wearable electronics. The process involves chemically modifying multilayer MXene flakes to induce internal strain, causing them to curl into scrolls. This method was successfully applied to six different MXene types, yielding consistent and controlled nanoscrolls without damaging the material. The tubular geometry exposes more active surface area, enhancing molecular adsorption and ion accessibility, which is critical for energy storage and sensing technologies. Additionally, the team found that electric fields
nanomaterialsMXenesbattery-technologyenergy-storageconductive-materialsnanoscrollsmaterial-scienceFrench scientists discover law that predicts how most objects shatter
French scientist Emmanuel Villermaux of Aix-Marseille University has formulated a universal law that predicts how most objects shatter, providing a unified framework applicable to a wide range of materials including brittle solids, liquid drops, and exploding bubbles. His approach combines the principle of maximal randomness—where nature tends toward the messiest, most irregular fragmentation—with a conservation law discovered by his team that constrains the overall balance of fragment sizes. This invisible framework ensures that despite the apparent chaos of shattering, the distribution of fragment sizes follows predictable physical limits. Villermaux’s model mathematically predicts universal fragment size patterns that align closely with decades of experimental data. He validated the theory through experiments such as crushing sugar cubes, accurately forecasting fragment distributions based on the object’s shape. While the law effectively describes random, chaotic breakage like glass shattering, it is less accurate for very soft materials that deform rather than fragment, or highly ordered breakage processes such as water splitting into uniform droplets. These exceptions highlight that although
materialsfragmentationbrittle-solidsphysical-lawsmaterial-scienceshattering-patternsconservation-lawUS engineers use smart alloys to make concrete rail ties self-repairing
Engineers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, led by Professor Bassem Andrawes, have developed concrete rail ties reinforced with shape memory alloys (SMAs) that can self-repair cracks caused by heavy train traffic. SMAs are smart metals that "remember" their original shape and return to it when heated. By embedding SMAs into concrete ties and using induction heating to activate them, the ties can realign and repair themselves after deformation, potentially enhancing railway safety and reliability. The research, conducted in partnership with Rocla Concrete Tie, Inc., involved casting SMAs into standard ties, testing various SMA lengths under stress, and performing full-scale load tests simulating train traffic. The SMA-reinforced ties met and exceeded the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA) standards, marking a significant advancement toward practical application. The team plans to commercialize the technology and conduct real-world testing at the Federal Railroad Administration Transportation Technology Center, aiming to reduce maintenance costs, improve
smart-materialsshape-memory-alloysconcrete-rail-tiesself-repairing-infrastructurerailway-safetyadaptive-reinforcementmaterial-science10 Most powerful bullets in the world that make combats highly lethal
The article explores the top 10 most powerful bullets in the world, emphasizing that a bullet's lethality depends not just on caliber or muzzle velocity but on its behavior after leaving the barrel—such as energy transfer, deformation, fragmentation, and tumbling. Military engineers have engineered these bullets to combine precision with devastating terminal effects, using factors like kinetic energy, aerodynamic design, material science, and controlled instability to maximize damage in combat scenarios. Among the highlighted rounds, the .50 BMG (12.7×99mm NATO), developed in 1918, stands out for its massive kinetic energy (over 12,000 foot-pounds) and ability to penetrate light armor and concrete at ranges beyond 1,500 meters, with record sniper kills exceeding 3,500 meters. The .338 Lapua Magnum, designed in the 1980s, offers a balance of long-range supersonic velocity (up to 1,500 meters), accuracy, and manageable recoil, famously demonstrated by
materialsballisticsammunitionkinetic-energymilitary-technologyprojectile-designmaterial-scienceThe Mystery of How Quasicrystals Form
Quasicrystals, first discovered in 1982 by Dan Shechtman, are exotic materials whose atoms form intricate, nonrepeating patterns such as pentagons and decagons, defying traditional crystallographic rules and intuition. These patterns exhibit “forbidden” symmetries, like fivefold rotational symmetry, which cannot tile space periodically. The concept of such quasiperiodic patterns was mathematically anticipated by Roger Penrose in the 1970s through his Penrose tilings, which cover a plane without gaps or overlaps but never repeat exactly. Shechtman’s discovery of quasicrystals in metal alloys challenged long-held assumptions in materials science and earned him the 2011 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Recent research, particularly from the University of Michigan, has shed light on the formation and stability of quasicrystals. One study demonstrated that some quasicrystals are thermodynamically stable, meaning their atomic arrangements represent a minimum energy state rather than transient or metast
materialsquasicrystalsatomic-structurethermodynamic-stabilitymaterial-sciencecrystal-engineeringnonrepeating-patternsMIT filter resists 1,000 Kelvin heat to cut hydrogen production cost
MIT engineers have developed a novel palladium-based membrane filter that can withstand temperatures up to 1,000 kelvins, significantly surpassing the 800-kelvin limit of conventional palladium membranes used in hydrogen production. Palladium is prized for its ability to selectively allow hydrogen molecules to pass while blocking other gases, a critical function in hydrogen fuel generation. The breakthrough comes from redesigning the membrane’s structure: instead of a continuous palladium film that degrades at high heat, the new membrane features palladium deposited as “plugs” within the pores of a silica support. This plug design prevents the metal from shrinking or clumping under extreme temperatures, maintaining stability and hydrogen separation efficiency even after 100 hours of testing at 1,000 kelvins. This enhanced thermal resilience—an improvement of about 200 kelvins—makes the membrane particularly suitable for high-temperature hydrogen-generating processes like steam methane reforming and ammonia cracking, which are essential for producing zero-carbon fuel and electricity
energyhydrogen-productionpalladium-membranehigh-temperature-materialshydrogen-fuelenergy-technologymaterial-scienceNew 3D print method reduces plastic use without losing strength
MIT researchers from CSAIL and the Hasso Plattner Institute have developed SustainaPrint, a hybrid 3D printing system that significantly reduces plastic waste without compromising structural strength. The method uses simulations to identify stress-prone zones in a 3D model and selectively reinforces these areas with high-performance plastics, while printing the rest of the object with biodegradable or recycled filament. This targeted reinforcement approach cuts down plastic use and maintains durability, addressing the common trade-off between eco-friendliness and strength in 3D printing materials. In tests using Polymaker’s eco-friendly PolyTerra PLA and Ultimaker’s stronger PLA, SustainaPrint required only 20% reinforcement to regain up to 70% of the strength of fully reinforced prints. In some cases, the hybrid prints matched or even outperformed fully strong prints, demonstrating that strategic material mixing can enhance performance depending on geometry and load conditions. The system includes an open-source software interface for uploading models and running stress simulations, along with
3D-printingsustainable-materialsplastic-waste-reductionmaterial-sciencestructural-engineeringeco-friendly-manufacturingMIT-researchPrehistoric craft could help make strong metamaterials for robots
Engineers at the University of Michigan have discovered that ancient basket-weaving techniques, dating back approximately 9,500 years, can inspire the creation of resilient and stiff metamaterials for modern applications such as robotics, automotive parts, and architecture. By weaving Mylar polyester ribbons into 3D structures, the researchers demonstrated that woven materials can endure repeated compression and torsion, returning to their original shape without permanent damage. In contrast, continuous (unwoven) materials buckled and deformed under similar stress. This resilience arises because woven designs redistribute stress over a wider area, preventing localized buckling, while maintaining about 70% of the stiffness of continuous materials. The team tested various woven corner arrangements and found that these fundamental modules enable the design of complex, stiff, and resilient spatial geometries. A prototype four-legged robot made from these woven materials could support 25 times its weight and recover its shape after being overloaded, highlighting the practical potential of this approach. Future research aims to develop “smart”
metamaterialsroboticswoven-materialsmaterial-sciencemechanical-engineeringresilience3D-structuresReal-time 3D imaging shows nuclear materials corroding under stress
MIT researchers have developed a novel real-time 3D imaging technique that uses focused high-intensity X-rays combined with a silicon dioxide buffer layer to observe nanoscale corrosion and strain in nuclear reactor alloys, specifically nickel-based metals. This method overcomes previous challenges by stabilizing samples and allowing phase retrieval algorithms to capture the dynamic failure processes inside materials under conditions simulating those in nuclear reactors. By watching corrosion and cracking as they happen, scientists can better understand material degradation, which could lead to designing safer, longer-lasting nuclear reactors. An unexpected outcome of the research was the ability to tune strain within crystals using X-rays, a finding with potential applications beyond nuclear engineering, including microelectronics manufacturing where strain engineering improves device performance. The team plans to extend this technique to study more complex alloys relevant to nuclear and aerospace industries and investigate how varying buffer thickness affects strain control. Experts highlight the significance of this work for advancing knowledge on nanoscale material behavior under radiation and the importance of substrate effects in strain relaxation.
materialsnuclear-materialscorrosion3D-imagingX-ray-imagingnuclear-reactorsmaterial-sciencePaving the Road for Cement and Concrete Technologies - CleanTechnica
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) hosted its third annual Cement and Concrete Critical Technologies meeting on June 9–10 in Golden, Colorado, bringing together over 80 representatives from startups, investment firms, academia, industry, and government labs. The event focused on addressing the challenges and innovations in the cement and concrete industry, which is the second most utilized resource globally and vital to U.S. infrastructure. Key topics included modernizing domestic production, improving material durability, reducing import reliance, funding acquisition, accelerated performance testing, and scaling technologies for field deployment. A regional discussion highlighted how Denver and Colorado transportation and architectural agencies are adopting new procurement methods and infrastructure projects. NREL researchers emphasized the lab’s unique role as a trusted third party that supports the industry across all technology readiness levels, from early discovery to implementation. The meeting underscored the critical need for innovative cement and concrete formulations to meet growing infrastructure demands driven by urbanization and aging construction. Accelerating testing protocols and enabling broader adoption of alternative
materialscement-technologyconcrete-innovationinfrastructure-materialssustainable-constructionmaterial-scienceenergy-efficient-materialsDiamond fusion fuel capsules' flaws decoded to ‘maximize’ energy output
Scientists at the University of California San Diego have experimentally observed, for the first time, shock-induced amorphization in diamond—a structural transformation previously predicted only by simulations. Their study reveals that diamond capsules used in inertial confinement fusion experiments, such as those at the National Ignition Facility, develop structural flaws under extreme pressures generated by powerful laser-driven shock waves. These defects range from subtle crystal distortions to complete disorder (amorphization), which can disrupt the symmetry of the implosion process critical for maximizing fusion energy output. The research demonstrated that at pressures around 69 gigapascals (GPa), diamond undergoes only elastic deformation, maintaining its lattice integrity. However, at higher pressures near 115 GPa, high shear stresses induce defects like stacking faults, dislocations, twins, and eventually amorphization. This brittle behavior of diamond under shock conditions complicates analysis but is crucial for understanding how to improve capsule design. The findings provide valuable insights into the deformation mechanisms of diamond and similar cov
energynuclear-fusiondiamond-materialsinertial-confinement-fusionmaterial-sciencehigh-pressure-physicsenergy-output-optimizationScientists mimic seashells to improve recycled plastic performance
Researchers at Georgia Tech, led by aerospace engineering assistant professor Christos Athanasiou, have developed a bio-inspired material that mimics the structure of seashells to improve the performance and consistency of recycled plastics. By replicating nacre—the natural architecture of seashells composed of brittle mineral “bricks” bonded with soft protein “mortar”—the team created a composite using recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE) sheets layered with a softer adhesive polymer. This design significantly reduces variability in mechanical properties, maintaining the strength of virgin plastics while improving reliability, particularly in maximum elongation by over 68%. This advancement addresses a major challenge in recycling, where less than 10% of plastics are effectively reused due to inconsistent material quality. The seashell-inspired approach restores trustworthiness in recycled HDPE, which typically degrades after exposure to sunlight and heat, limiting its reuse in high-performance applications. The researchers also introduced an “uncertainty-aware” Tension Shear Chain model to quantify both
materialsrecycled-plasticsbio-inspired-designsustainabilitypolymer-compositesplastic-recyclingmaterial-scienceNew magnetic model explains why delta-plutonium shrinks when heated
Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) have developed a new magnetic free-energy model that explains why delta-plutonium, unlike most materials, contracts when heated above room temperature. This counterintuitive behavior, puzzling scientists for decades, is linked to the complex interplay of plutonium’s electronic structure, magnetism, and crystal arrangement. By incorporating temperature-dependent magnetic fluctuations into their calculations of the material’s free energy, the model successfully reproduces delta-plutonium’s unusual thermal contraction and offers a deeper understanding of its unique and often unpredictable properties. The study marks the first time magnetic fluctuations have been explicitly included in a free-energy model for plutonium, providing fresh insights into the subtle forces governing its behavior. Beyond plutonium, this dynamic magnetism approach could be applied to other materials where magnetic states vary with temperature. Future work aims to extend the model by including microstructures, defects, and other real-world imperfections to improve prediction accuracy. Such advancements could enhance the safe handling, material
materialsplutoniumthermal-expansionmagnetic-modelelectronic-structurefree-energymaterial-scienceScientists use perfectly timed lasers pluses to pause silicon melting
Researchers from the University of California and the University of Kassel have developed a novel laser technique that can pause the ultra-fast melting of silicon by precisely timing two laser pulses separated by 126 femtoseconds. Typically, a single high-energy laser pulse causes silicon to undergo non-thermal melting, where atoms lose their ordered crystalline structure in less than a trillionth of a second without significant heating. However, by splitting the laser energy into two pulses and synchronizing them accurately, the team was able to halt this melting process mid-way, creating a metastable form of silicon that retains most of its original electronic properties, including a slightly reduced band gap. Using ab initio molecular dynamics simulations, the researchers showed that the first pulse initiates atomic motion, while the second pulse disrupts this motion to effectively "freeze" the atoms in place, preventing the loss of crystalline order. This metastable state also exhibited cooler and more stable atomic vibrations (phonons) than expected, indicating enhanced control over atomic behavior.
materialssiliconlaser-pulsesultrafast-meltingelectronic-propertiesmolecular-dynamicsmaterial-scienceThis New Pyramid-Like Shape Always Lands With the Same Side Up
The article discusses a longstanding mathematical problem concerning the tetrahedron, one of Plato’s five polyhedra, specifically whether a tetrahedron made of uniform material can be constructed to rest stably on only one face. In 1966, mathematicians John Conway and Richard Guy proved that a uniformly weighted monostable tetrahedron—one that always lands on the same face—is impossible. However, the question remained open if uneven weight distribution was allowed. While roly-poly toys achieve similar behavior through weighted bottoms, such effects are well understood only for smooth or rounded shapes, not for polyhedra with flat faces and sharp edges. In 2023, Gábor Domokos and his collaborators, including graduate students and Robert Dawson, resolved this problem by proving that a tetrahedron’s weight can indeed be distributed unevenly to create a shape that always lands on the same face. They went further by constructing the first physical model of this “monostable” tetrahedron, made from lightweight carbon fiber
materialsgeometrypolyhedratetrahedronmonostable-shapesmathematical-modelingmaterial-science2,000-year-old Chinese technique found to double artillery gun lifespan
Chinese researchers have developed a technique inspired by a 2,000-year-old anti-corrosion method used on bronze weapons from the Qin dynasty Terracotta Army, significantly extending the lifespan of modern artillery barrels. The ancient method involved a thin chromium salt coating that preserved weapons underground for millennia. Building on this, the team at the Northwest Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering in Xianyang created a dual-layer chromium coating for artillery barrels: a soft, ductile inner layer applied at low temperature and current to reduce pores and internal stress, and a hard, wear-resistant outer layer applied at higher temperature and current. This layered structure acts as a barrier to crack propagation, similar to laminated safety glass. Testing showed that barrels with the dual-layer coating experienced 23% less wear at room temperature compared to standard single-layer chromium plating, and significantly less wear at elevated temperatures (33% increase versus 98% for conventional chrome at 600°C). Live-fire tests with 400 rounds revealed that dual-layer barrels maintained
materialschromium-coatinganti-corrosionartillery-barrelswear-resistancedual-layer-coatingmaterial-science‘Shocking’ 3D resin may build soft robots with plastic-like strength
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed an innovative 3D printing technique that uses a custom liquid resin and a dual-light system to create objects combining both soft, rubber-like flexibility and hard, plastic-like strength within a single print. Inspired by natural structures such as human bones and cartilage, this method employs violet light to produce flexible material and ultraviolet light to harden the resin, enabling seamless transitions between soft and rigid zones without weak interfaces. This breakthrough addresses common issues in multi-material printing where different materials often fail at their boundaries. Demonstrations of the technology included printing a functional knee joint with soft ligaments and hard bones that moved smoothly together, as well as a stretchable electronic device with flexible and stiff areas to protect circuitry. The researchers were surprised by the immediate success and the stark contrast in mechanical properties achieved. An adjacent study published in ACS Central Science further highlights the potential of light-driven resin chemistry to advance additive manufacturing, offering faster production, higher resolution, and new design freedoms.
3D-printingsoft-roboticsadvanced-materialsresin-technologyflexible-electronicsdual-light-curingmaterial-scienceSam Altman thinks AI will have ‘novel insights’ next year
In a recent essay, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman outlined his vision for AI’s transformative impact over the next 15 years, emphasizing the company’s proximity to achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI) while tempering expectations about its imminent arrival. A key highlight from Altman’s essay is his prediction that by 2026, AI systems will likely begin generating “novel insights,” marking a shift toward AI models capable of producing new and interesting ideas about the world. This aligns with OpenAI’s recent focus on developing AI that can assist scientific discovery, a goal shared by competitors like Google, Anthropic, and startups such as FutureHouse, all aiming to automate hypothesis generation and accelerate breakthroughs in fields like drug discovery and material science. Despite this optimism, the scientific community remains cautious about AI’s ability to create genuinely original insights, a challenge that involves instilling AI with creativity and a sense of what is scientifically interesting. Experts like Hugging Face’s Thomas Wolf and former OpenAI researcher Kenneth Stanley highlight the difficulty of this task, noting that current AI models struggle to generate novel hypotheses. Stanley’s new startup, Lila Sciences, is dedicated to overcoming this hurdle by building AI-powered laboratories focused on hypothesis generation. While it remains uncertain whether OpenAI will succeed in this endeavor, Altman’s essay offers a glimpse into the company’s strategic direction, signaling a potential next phase in AI development centered on creativity and scientific innovation.
AIartificial-intelligencescientific-discoverymaterial-scienceenergy-innovationAI-agentsnovel-insights