Researchers from MIT and the Institute of Science and Technology Austria have developed a computational technique that makes it easier for a user to quickly design a metamaterial cell from smaller building blocks and then evaluate the resulting metamaterial’s properties. Engineers are constantly searching for materials with novel, desirable property combinations. For … [Read more...] about New method simplifies the construction process for complex materials
Materials
Addition of special liquid could revolutionise sports helmet design
A team of researchers at the University of Virginia has found a way to improve the performance of American football helmets by combining nanofoam with special liquid. According to the researchers, the innovation could be used in other protective sports equipment and in hospital settings. This new design integrates nanofoam with ‘non-wetting ionised liquid’, a form of water … [Read more...] about Addition of special liquid could revolutionise sports helmet design
Researchers create 3D-printed smart wall for National Highways project
A team of researchers from the University of Cambridge, working in partnership with industry, has helped to develop the first piece of 3D-printed concrete infrastructure to be used on a National Highways project. The structure – a type of retaining wall known as a headwall – has been installed on the A30 in Cornwall, where it’s providing real-time information thanks to … [Read more...] about Researchers create 3D-printed smart wall for National Highways project
New perovskite solar cells set power-conversion record
Perovskite solar cells designed by a team of scientists from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have attained a world record efficiency of 24.35 per cent with an active area of one square centimetre, an achievement that paves the way for cheaper and more efficient and durable solar cells. To facilitate consistent comparisons and benchmarking of different solar cell … [Read more...] about New perovskite solar cells set power-conversion record
Kirigami-inspired cuts make adhesive tape both super strong and easily removable
Researchers at Virginia Tech and elsewhere have increased the adhesive bond of ordinary tape by 60 times while keeping it easily removeable using a method adapted from kirigami, the ancient Japanese art of paper cutting. This seemingly paradoxical combination of properties could dramatically change applications in robotic grasping, wearables for health monitoring and … [Read more...] about Kirigami-inspired cuts make adhesive tape both super strong and easily removable
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