Researchers from the National University of Singapore have developed a safer all-solid-state sodium battery using a low-cost 2D material. According to the researchers, the breakthrough overcomes key safety and durability barriers, advancing sodium batteries as a practical alternative to lithium for large-scale storage. Lithium-ion batteries dominate the market for … [Read more...] about Innovative, safer all-solid-state sodium battery could cut grid storage costs and reduce lithium dependence
Materials
A simple calculation could change the way we use misfit wood
Urging industry to make better use of wood that’s wasted or burned for energy, researchers have released the first structural tests of non-straight, forked and double-curved roundwood logs used as columns. In his mission to normalise the use of ‘misfit wood’, Aalto University architect and researcher Jaakko Torvinen (pictured above) has shown how standard, business-as-usual … [Read more...] about A simple calculation could change the way we use misfit wood
Cambridge student cracks formula for Guinness World Record-breaking fidget spinner
A University of Cambridge student and spinning top hobbyist has used physics and precision engineering to design a ‘next-level’ fidget spinner and set a new Guinness World Record for the longest ever spin. James Goh, 23 – whose fascination with gyroscopes began when he saw the iconic spinning top in Christopher Nolan’s 2010 sci-fi film Inception – spun the device for 30 … [Read more...] about Cambridge student cracks formula for Guinness World Record-breaking fidget spinner
Nature-inspired bamboo-bone composites resist cracking better
Researchers at National Taiwan University have developed bioinspired composites that mimic bone and bamboo structures to improve strength and toughness simultaneously. Using artificial intelligence, simulations and 3D printing, the team discovered how soft layers near cracks can prevent catastrophic failure. Nature has spent millions of years developing materials that are … [Read more...] about Nature-inspired bamboo-bone composites resist cracking better
Scientists take step towards building a ChatGPT for metamaterials
Researchers from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands and ETH Zürich have developed an AI model – dubbed DiffuMeta – that works in a similar way to ChatGPT, but instead of generating text, it designs 3D materials. By representing shapes as mathematical sentences, the model can generate entirely new metamaterials that meet specific mechanical goals, such as how they … [Read more...] about Scientists take step towards building a ChatGPT for metamaterials