Materials
Whether it's the latest wonder material, such as graphene, or uncovering the secrets to the longevity of ancient Roman concrete, material science is the reason so much of our technology is more than the sum of its parts.
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Who could possibly compare to Superman, the Man of Steel? Definitely not a man of plastic! Right? Wrong. Scientists have discovered that unconventionally shaped plastics may rival steel bars as reinforcement materials in construction concrete. -
If you live in a noisy urban area, you're gonna love the sound of this. Researchers in Switzerland have developed a material that can dampen street noise while being four times thinner than similar-performing absorbers used in construction. -
In what could be an industry shifting breakthrough, researchers have created a screen about the size of a human pupil with a resolution that breaks through the limits of pixels. The invention could radically change virtual reality and other applications.
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April 12, 2026 | Michael FrancoAround the world, over two billion daily cups of coffee are consumed. That means there are a staggering amount of coffee grounds getting tossed away every day. Researchers now have a plan to turn all that waste into eco-friendly insulation. -
March 30, 2026 | Abhimanyu GhoshalSome of the world's best skis and snowboards are made from a combination of materials, including wood at the core for its strength and low weight. They're usually glued together with additional layers – but what if we stitched them together instead? -
March 23, 2026 | Etiido UkoThe race to achieve the extreme cold that quantum technologies demand may have a frontrunner. Chinese scientists have developed an alloy that almost reaches absolute zero, the coldest possible temperature, without using the scarce isotope, helium-3. -
March 20, 2026 | Ben CoxworthWhen most people think of fire-resistant materials, sawdust is probably one of the last things to come to mind. Scientists have now used it in such a substance, however, along with the plentiful mineral that kidney stones are made of. -
March 17, 2026 | Etiido UkoWhen you think of glass, you probably picture something fragile and brittle, not a material built for high-stress electromechanical components. Yet researchers are significantly improving the efficiency of electric motors by using “glass” parts! -
March 15, 2026 | Michael FrancoCould tiny threads of carbon fiber do the same job as big metal industrial heating coils? A new breakthrough from researchers at Rice University says yes, and the finding could go a long way toward electrifying many manufacturing processes. -
March 08, 2026 | Etiido UkoTo wood or not to wood, that’s been the question! Ever since oil-based plastics entered the scene, cost, sustainability, and performance have defined the wood vs. plastics debate. In a clear win, researchers may have just invented wooden plastic. -
February 23, 2026 | Malcolm AzaniaUnlike conventional fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites which last decades, UNC’s FRP composites could last 500 years. The breakthrough technology is not only stronger, but electrically melts a “healing” substance that seeps into damaged areas. -
February 06, 2026 | Abhimanyu GhoshalThis stunning concept machine combines race-inspired styling and a number of innovative ideas for maximizing performance – including the use of a sustainable, lightweight natural composite for its bodywork. -
February 05, 2026 | Abhimanyu GhoshalA team of researchers might soon have you walking on desert sand, no matter how far from the dunes you might live. This group of engineers has developed a method to transform it into a new construction material that's perfect for pavements. -
January 27, 2026 | Bronwyn ThompsonA computer hidden inside a single strand of fabric sounds like sci-fi, but it isn't. Researchers have built a “fiber chip” thinner than hair, which could be turned into everyday clothing or used to treat neurological diseases and aid robotic surgery. -
January 27, 2026 | Abhimanyu GhoshalMetallic theta-phase tantalum nitride exhibits an ultra-high thermal conductivity like no other material. This could be a desirable alternative to copper for computers and AI hardware, and even aerospace systems that need to run cool. -
December 19, 2025 | Ben CoxworthNobody likes potholes, nor do they like the environmental damage associated with the petroleum utilized in traditional asphalt bitumen. That's why scientists are now looking at replacing the latter with a binder derived from algae. -
December 15, 2025 | Ben CoxworthElectronics that can't be easily dismantled for recycling aren't very eco-friendly, nor are petroleum-based adhesives. Scientists have set about addressing both issues, by developing a switchable adhesive made mainly of rose oil. -
November 27, 2025 | Abhimanyu GhoshalIndustrial pipes carrying water or chemicals invariably get gunked up as deposits accumulate on their internal surfaces. Researchers in Texas have found that lining pipes with lab-grown diamond film can prevent buildup like nothing else.
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