A team of scientists in South Korea has discovered a way to make all-solid-state batteries safer and more powerful using inexpensive materials. Instead of adding costly metals, they redesigned the battery’s internal structure to help lithium ions move faster. This simple structural tweak boosted performance by up to four times. The work points to cheaper, safer batteries for … [Read more...] about This simple design change could finally fix solid-state batteries
Materials
Nanowire technology breakthrough could unlock new materials manufacturing
Researchers from the University of Glasgow’s James Watt School of Engineering have developed a new method of interfacial imprinting ultra-thin nanowires onto bendable, transparent polymeric substrates. This breakthrough development in nanofabrication could help support the development of new wireless, flexible, high-performance transparent electronic devices. The technique, … [Read more...] about Nanowire technology breakthrough could unlock new materials manufacturing
Bio-hybrid robots turn food waste into functional machines
Scientists at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland have integrated discarded crustacean shells into robotic devices, leveraging the strength and flexibility of natural materials for robotic applications. Although many roboticists today turn to nature to inspire their designs, even bioinspired robots are usually fabricated from non-biological … [Read more...] about Bio-hybrid robots turn food waste into functional machines
Better lifespan predictions for clean energy equipment
A new international study has developed a method for predicting the lifetime of mechanical equipment used in clean-energy systems. The research, led by Tohoku University and East China University of Science and Technology, is aimed at enhancing long-term performance and reducing material waste through better design. Technology, no matter how advanced, always comes with a … [Read more...] about Better lifespan predictions for clean energy equipment
Student designs and builds 3D-printed acoustic guitar
A mechanical engineering student at Binghamton University, State University of New York, has created a playable 3D-printed acoustic guitar. Unlike a traditional instrument, it’s made out of thermoplastic filament, but it works. ‘It wasn’t something that people had really looked into,’ Timothy Tran (pictured above) said. ‘People have made 3D-printed electric guitars – that’s … [Read more...] about Student designs and builds 3D-printed acoustic guitar