materials
How powerful of a nuclear bomb could we make?
The biggest nuclear blast in history came courtesy of Tsar Bomba. We could make something at least 100 times more powerful.
Nanoparticles from shrimp shells make cement stronger
Scientists turn to nature to improve a ubiquitous building material.
Graphene is a Nobel Prize-winning “wonder material.” Graphyne might replace it
A two-dimensional material made entirely of carbon called graphene won the Nobel Prize in 2010. Graphyne might be even better.
World’s blackest black? Purdue made the world’s whitest white
In paint form, the world's "whitest white" reflects so much light that surfaces become cooler than the surrounding air.
Engineers create world’s first carbon-neutral cement out of algae
Cement production currently accounts for 8% of global carbon emissions.
Is the Salton Sea hiding enough lithium to power America?
A team of scientists hopes deep-earth lithium could sustain America's vast demand for batteries. But extracting it won't be easy.
Why slime is the perfect protection against wildfires
Fire-retardant gels and slimes combine the best attributes of water and foam.
Virginia launches world’s biggest 3D-printed housing project
One home was printed in 28 hours. Now, Alquist 3D is building 200 more.
MIT’s new heat engine beats a steam turbine in efficiency
It has no moving parts and could allow us to tap into renewable energy year round.
Discovery of “impossible” superconductor promises 100x faster electronics
In a major advance, scientists have found a new and groundbreaking way to force electrons to flow only in one direction in a superconductor.
Scientists watch a crystal being born
Crystallization is an entirely random process, so scientists have developed clever ways to investigate it at a molecular level.
Nanofabricators: a “Star Trek” vision of the future
Nanofabricators could quickly synthesize whatever we need, molecule by molecule.
How an accidental discovery made this year could change the world
A lucky discovery involving lithium-sulfur batteries has a legitimate chance to revolutionize how we power our world.
Small ballooning spiders can fly along the Earth’s electrical field
Small spiders use their silk threads to passively fly, a process called ballooning. Learning how could help atmospheric scientists.
MIT’s new plant-based material is made from cellulose nanocrystals and could replace plastics
Using cellulose from trees and a synthetic polymer, MIT researchers have created a material that "is stronger and tougher than some types of bone, and harder than typical aluminum alloys."
Edible electronics: When will we be eating technology?
Edible electronics, devices that can be broken down and digested, could perform many useful functions inside the body.
Diamond-like starfish skeleton is unlike any discovered in nature
The knobby starfish skeleton has diamond-like properties and could inspire new designs for lightweight, highly resilient ceramics, with widespread applications in engineering and construction.
15th century futurism: Leonardo da Vinci’s famous helicopter design finally takes flight
Da Vinci dreamed up a helicopter 400 years before they actually existed. Now, engineers have brought his design to life, but with a twist.
Robot morphs shape using material inspired by origami
Outfitted with wheels and rotors, the bot can morph from a land drone into a quadcopter in seconds.
How do fireworks work? A pyrotechnics chemist explains the science behind the brilliant colors and sounds
If you put very fine black powder powder in a confined space it explodes in a cloud of heat, gas and noise.
Batteries are the lump of coal in futurism’s Christmas stocking
A century ago, electric cars were common. The fact that they were almost entirely replaced due to the internal combustion engine is a testament to the glacial pace of battery breakthroughs.
Goodbye, rubber. These new steel tires last a lifetime.
Steel tires may be better for the planet and could replace rubber.
Russian anti-satellite weapon test: What happened and what are the risks?
On Nov. 15, 2021, U.S. officials announced that they had detected a dangerous new debris field in orbit near Earth. Later in the day, it was confirmed that Russia had […]
It’s time for a nuclear renaissance
A report from MIT outlines a six-point plan to usher in a new age of nuclear power.
Hardened wood knife is three times sharper than table knife
Are hardened wood knives and nails coming to a store near you?
Airless tires: puncture-proof marvels may be on your car by 2024
Airless tires are puncture-proof and more environmentally friendly. And Michelin is aiming to get them on your car by 2024.
Repairing – not recycling – is the first step to tackling e-waste from smartphones. Here’s why.
Start fighting back against planned obsolescence.
UK building road with “wonder material” graphene
The trial will test whether adding graphene to recycled asphalt can prolong the road’s lifespan.
2021 Nobel Prize in chemistry rewards game-changing work on molecular manipulation
Without Benjamin List and David MacMillan, chemists would still be using metals and enzymes to catalyze chemical reactions.
The secret to how scorpions, spiders, and ants puncture tough skin
These animals to grow scalpel-sharp and precisely shaped tools that are resistant to breaking.