A team of engineers at MIT has created fully 3D-printed, three-dimensional solenoids. Solenoids, electromagnets formed by a coil of wire wrapped around a magnetic core, are a fundamental building block of many electronics, from dialysis machines and respirators to washing machines and dishwashers. The researchers modified a multi-material 3D printer so that it could print … [Read more...] about MIT engineers 3D print three-dimensional solenoids
Materials
Termite mounds inspire lunar structures
With NASA funding, a team of University of Arizona engineers is using robot networks to create termite-inspired structures that they say will help astronauts survive the Moon’s harsh environment as part of NASA’s ambitious Artemis programme. Associate professor Jekan Thanga and his students in the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, in the College of … [Read more...] about Termite mounds inspire lunar structures
MIT researchers use AI to discover stiff and tough microstructures
A team of scientists from MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) has developed an innovative AI system that melds simulations and physical testing to forge materials with newfound durability and flexibility for a wide diversity of engineering uses. The researchers moved beyond traditional trial-and-error methods to create materials with … [Read more...] about MIT researchers use AI to discover stiff and tough microstructures
Scientists develop plastic that can be re-formed as needed
Researchers at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering have developed a material, which they called a ‘pluripotent plastic’, that has the ability to take on many forms. Like pluripotent stem cells, which can give rise to any type of adult cell in the human body, their plastic, can take on many final forms. ‘We believe, this is the first example … [Read more...] about Scientists develop plastic that can be re-formed as needed
Researchers harness large language models to accelerate materials discovery
Researchers at Princeton University in New Jersey have created an artificial intelligence (AI) tool to predict the behaviour of crystalline materials, a key step in advancing technologies such as batteries and semiconductors. Although computer simulations are commonly used in crystal design, the new method relies on a large language model, similar to those that power text … [Read more...] about Researchers harness large language models to accelerate materials discovery