Engineering & Technology Materials Science and Engineering

Analysis of materials can be done quicker and with less expertise with the help of proven machine learning techniques established in biomedical fields.

Experimental analysis and computer simulations reveal how woven fabric composite materials are deformed by heat.

Researchers have developed a proof-of-concept system that allows robotic experiments to run without any human intervention.

Researchers have developed an AI-driven system that can design novel molecules with any desired properties and suggest methods to create them using readily available materials.

Researchers have combined machine learning with robotic process automation to speed up and simplify a time-consuming process.

A new technique allows researchers to map how the cellular “skeleton” adapts to external stress.

Touch sensors that don’t even need direct contact offer new sensitivity for robotic 3D structure recognition and wireless transmission of data.

Fibre-reinforced composites, prone to internal damage, benefit from fibre hybridisation. Using ductile fibre glass mesh (FGM) in ramie/FGM composites, this study shows improved damage resistance, load-bearing, and deformation capacity.

Coordination polymer crystals show promise as a new generation of light sources for industry and medicine.

A new method allows scientists to gather enough information about the properties of metals to enable the prediction of the properties of new materials.

Vaccines and therapies based on messenger RNA could be more readily delivered due to a non-toxic polymer that protects RNA and controls its release inside cells.

A trained AI system learns to design cellular materials with specific target properties for a wide range of potential uses, including tissue engineering and energy storage.

A new coating for tiny vaccine carriers allows vaccines to remain in the body for longer.

Researchers from Thailand have pioneered the conversion of waste HDPE milk bottles into high-stiffness composites, utilizing PALF reinforcement for a 162% increase in flexural strength and 204% in modulus. This eco-friendly upcycling boosts mechanical properties while sequestering carbon, presenting a promising path for sustainable materials.

Research by Assistant Professor Edison Ang Huixiang and his team from National Institute of Education/Nanyang Technological University Singapore

A new study have compared the reinforcing efficiency of pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) and cultivated flax fiber in poly(butylene succinate) composites. PALF, a less explored but potentially sustainable alternative, outperformed flax at 20 wt.%, showcasing its potential in high-performance bio-composites and aligning with environmental goals.

"Amaterasu" particle: a new cosmic mystery, Geckos inspire robotic device, Targeting cancer while protecting healthy cells, Honey, I shrunk the bear, Two species lost to science spotted again. Plus New Science Communication Resources. Read all in the latest Editor's Choice.

- A joint research team of members from DGIST, UNIST, and Seoul National University have successfully developed an ultra-thin, high-performance photosensor based on eco-friendly quantum dots. - They have successfully implemented a wearable pulse sensor that works stably on the skin. - Results have been published in ACS Nano, one of the most

A new technique allows researchers to map how the cellular ‘skeleton’ adapts to external stress.

Analysis of materials can be done quicker and with less expertise with the help of proven machine learning techniques established in biomedical fields

Researchers develop a technique to allow fragile objects to be transferred and released by robotics, without damage, while using a gecko inspired adhesive.

The latest ‘large language model’ artificial intelligence system, GPT-4, could aid chemistry researchers, but limitations reveal the need for improvements.

Researchers at Osaka University developed a nanostructured light diffuser that provides balanced lighting by diffracting blue and red light, and can be cleaned by simple rinsing with water. The diffuser consists of cheap materials and can be shaped with common tools. A protective glass coating maintains the diffuser’s optical performance yet adds durability. This work might improve the visual performance of everyday lighting displays.

Hunting for supermassive black holes, Coastal survival at risk, Calcium and dead cell clean-up, Two naps are better than one & Pineapple leaf prosthetics. Read all in the latest Editor's Choice.

A recent discovery in spintronics could potentially transform future electronics. A group of researchers have revealed the key role of cobalt-tin-sulfur in reducing energy consumption, unlocking new possibilities for high-speed, low-power spintronic devices.

Systematic copper doping boosts all-solar utilization in tungstic acid nanocrystals.

In this collaborative project between Newcastle University and Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), the team aimed to create a sustainable, cost-effective lower limb prosthetic socket (LLPS) using natural fiber-reinforced composites. The objectives included designing a green LLPS, assessing its environmental impact, and engaging stakeholders. PALF was selected as a sustainable reinforcement and incorporated into the composite. The design was guided by a static-friction (‘stiction’) load-transfer framework, developed previously by Goh and co-workers, which explains how force is transferred from the polymer to the fibres. The project has also inspired worldwide interest in sustainable LLPS development through a press release, receiving inquiries from students at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore and a group of 7th graders in the USA.

Solid-state batteries are a safer option that can hold even more energy than current go-to lithium-ion versions, but effectively harnessing their structure-performance relationship has remained a complex barrier to better batteries. Now, however, researchers at Tohoku University’s Advanced Institute for Materials Research in Japan have developed a framework to predict how the structure of solid-state electrolytes can affect the performance of a battery.

SLINTEC, Monash University Malaysia, and Newcastle University UK and Singapore teamed up for Poseidon: a patented portable water filtration device attachable to a bottle, offering clean drinking water for those lacking access.

The search for innovative materials will be greatly assisted by software that can suggest new experimental possibilities and also control the robotic systems that check them out.