More transparent than glass, new material cools rooms and self-cleans

Having lots of glass surfaces can brighten up a room, but it also lets in too much heat as well as neighbors’ prying eyes. A new metamaterial is not only more transparent to light, but adds privacy, cools the room inside, and automatically cleans itsel… Continue reading More transparent than glass, new material cools rooms and self-cleans

GM patents self-cleaning touchscreens that erase fingerprints overnight

The system sounds relatively simple, but requires some fairly fundamental changes to the pixel array behind the screen. Where most screens use red, green and blue LEDs, set at different intensities, to create their full color palette, GM’s design would… Continue reading GM patents self-cleaning touchscreens that erase fingerprints overnight

Ultra-thin coating makes for self-cleaning solar panels

Solar panels can’t operate efficiently if they’re caked in dirt, but cleaning them regularly can become a time-consuming process. Engineers in Germany have now developed an ultra-thin coating that can make solar panels and other surfaces self-cleaning…. Continue reading Ultra-thin coating makes for self-cleaning solar panels

Leaf-inspired bioplastic shrugs off liquids and biodegrades in soil

If you’re designing a plastic for applications such as food packaging, you want it to stay clean but you don’t want it to stick around for centuries once discarded. A new lotus-leaf-inspired material may fit that bill.Continue ReadingCategory: Material… Continue reading Leaf-inspired bioplastic shrugs off liquids and biodegrades in soil