“Superatomic” material beats silicon for fastest semiconductor ever

Scientists have found that a “superatomic” material is the fastest and most efficient semiconductor ever. Taking advantage of a tortoise-and-hare mechanism, the new material can transport energy much faster than silicon.Continue ReadingCategory: Electr… Continue reading “Superatomic” material beats silicon for fastest semiconductor ever

World’s most water-repellent surface surprises its own inventors

Scientists have developed what they call the most water-repellent surface ever. By giving it a liquid-like coating that defies usual designs, water will roll off the surface at angles 500 times shallower than other superhydrophobic materials.Continue R… Continue reading World’s most water-repellent surface surprises its own inventors

Solar-heated nanowires de-ice surfaces with almost 100% efficiency

Ice build-up can pose a problem for roads, aircraft, wind turbines and power lines, among many other things. Now scientists at Dalian University of Technology have developed a new structure made of copper nanowires that can passively de-ice surfaces wi… Continue reading Solar-heated nanowires de-ice surfaces with almost 100% efficiency

New adhesive can be switched on and off on demand, even underwater

Scientists in Japan have developed an intriguing new glue that can basically be switched on and off on demand. The adhesive sticks together when hit with one wavelength of light, and breaks apart with another, allowing it to be removed and reused easil… Continue reading New adhesive can be switched on and off on demand, even underwater

Bacteria recruited to build endlessly recyclable plastic

Plastic is one of the most useful materials in our modern world, but unfortunately it’s also one of the worst in a sustainability sense. Now, scientists at Berkeley Lab have developed a way to engineer bacteria to produce raw materials that can be made… Continue reading Bacteria recruited to build endlessly recyclable plastic

Glass-coated DNA material boasts 4x strength of steel

It may not be as catchy a name as Iron Man, but in a fight you might be better off betting on Glass DNA Nanolattice Man instead. Engineers at the University of Connecticut have developed a very strong and lightweight new material out of DNA that self-a… Continue reading Glass-coated DNA material boasts 4x strength of steel

LionGlass boasts 10x the strength of regular glass, greener production

Despite its many advantages, glass has one major Achilles’ heel – it’s brittle. Now, engineers at Penn State have developed LionGlass, a new type of the material that’s not only 10 times more damage resistant, but requires significantly less energy to … Continue reading LionGlass boasts 10x the strength of regular glass, greener production

New treatment makes steel alloys both stronger and more flexible

Strength and flexibility are two opposites that usually need to be balanced in steel. But now engineers at Purdue University and Sandia National Labs have developed a new treatment that can be applied to steel alloys to make them both stronger and more… Continue reading New treatment makes steel alloys both stronger and more flexible

Strange new material discovered in “fossilized lightning”

In what sounds like a superhero’s origin story, scientists have discovered a new type of material created after lightning struck a tree. This particular form of crystalline phosphorus has never been seen on Earth, and could belong to a new mineral grou… Continue reading Strange new material discovered in “fossilized lightning”

“Reddmatter” shows evidence of room temperature superconductivity

Scientists at the University of Rochester claim to have created a material that acts as a superconductor at room temperature and lower pressures than ever before. If confirmed, this “reddmatter,” as they call it, could mark a major breakthrough.Continu… Continue reading “Reddmatter” shows evidence of room temperature superconductivity