Light-activated implant could spare babies from multiple heart surgeries

For babies born with a certain heart defect, implantation of a “shunt” is essential to their survival. A new type of shunt can be expanded using light, potentially eliminating the need for more heart surgeries that are currently needed to swap in large… Continue reading Light-activated implant could spare babies from multiple heart surgeries

Phase-change concrete melts snow and ice without salt or shovels

Incorporating a phase-change material into concrete, researchers have created a self-heating material that can melt snow and ice for up to 10 hours without using salt or shovels. The novel material could reduce the need for plowing and salting and help… Continue reading Phase-change concrete melts snow and ice without salt or shovels

Flow: We really are unconscious when we’re ‘in the zone’

By analyzing the brain waves of improvising jazz musicians, researchers now understand how the brain achieves a creative flow state. The findings have practical implications for anyone – not just musicians – wanting to get ‘in the zone’ to generate cre… Continue reading Flow: We really are unconscious when we’re ‘in the zone’

Self-healing concrete patches up cracks with dormant bacteria

Concrete may seem strong and permanent, but it can be surprisingly vulnerable to the elements. Now researchers at Drexel University have demonstrated a type of self-healing concrete embedded with “BioFibers” that use bacteria to patch up cracks as they… Continue reading Self-healing concrete patches up cracks with dormant bacteria

Rare form of sulfur offers a key to triple-capacity EV batteries

As electric vehicles continue to grow in popularity, scientists see great potential in lithium-sulfur batteries as a more environmentally friendly way to power them. This is because they don’t rely on the same expensive and difficult-to-source raw mate… Continue reading Rare form of sulfur offers a key to triple-capacity EV batteries

Experimental “Faraday fabric” blocks almost all electromagnetic waves

Researchers at Drexel University have created “Faraday fabrics” that can block almost all electromagnetic waves. The key ingredient is a 2D material called MXene, and the development could help protect wearables from interference and people from potent… Continue reading Experimental “Faraday fabric” blocks almost all electromagnetic waves

2D material absorbs electromagnetic waves for superior shielding

Electromagnetic interference can be a serious problem for electronic devices, so shielding is usually placed around components. Now, engineers at Drexel University have found that a 2D material called titanium carbonitride is an excellent shielding mat… Continue reading 2D material absorbs electromagnetic waves for superior shielding