Researchers at the University of Maryland (UMD) have figured out a simple, affordable method for creating natural wood materials that are 23 times harder than typical woods, according to a new paper published in the journal Matter. They tested their hardened wood samples by fashioning a wooden knife and several wooden nails and found that the […]
Enlarge / A new study found that ethyl acetate and other solvents typically used to study the antimicrobial properties of spider silk can inhibit bacterial growth. So prior studies finding such evidence may be methodologically flawed. (credit: Simon Fruergaard/CC BY-SA) Ancient Greeks and Romans are said to have treated wounds suffered in battle with poultices […]
Enlarge / X-ray tomography visualization showing two quasicrystals as they start to meld together during cooling. University of Michigan scientists have discovered that quasicrystals exhibit a self-healing phenomenon that could reduce defects. (credit: Shahani Group/University of Michigan) Quasicrystals are a unique class of materials with considerable promise for practical applications because associated with their unusual […]
Enlarge / A recently discovered species: the Galapagos Ghost Hagfish (Myxine phantasma). (credit: Tim Winegard) Meet the humble hagfish, an ugly, gray, eel-like creature affectionately known as a ” snot snake , ” because of its unique defense mechanism. The hagfish can unleash a full liter of sticky slime from pores located all over its […]
Enlarge / Researchers at North Carolina State University have created a soft and stretchable device that converts movement into electricity. The device works in wet or dry environments and has a host of potential applications. (credit: Veenasri Vallem) Scientists at North Carolina State University have developed a flexible, stretchy energy-harvesting device solely out of biocompatible […]
Enlarge / Try doing that with your RAM. (credit: A.I. Khan and A. Daus.) A few months ago, we brought news of a bendable CPU, termed Plastic ARM, that was built of amorphous silicon on a flexible substrate. The use cases for something like this are extremely low-powered devices that can be embedded in clothing […]
Enlarge (credit: Biggs, et. al. ) Wearable electronics, like watches and fitness trackers, represent the next logical step after computing went to portable and mobile devices. They’ve sparked an interest in the development of flexible electronics, which could enable wearables to include the things like clothing and backpacks. Flexible electronics, however, run into a problem: […]
Enlarge / Like this, but even cooler. (credit: Ars Technica) Rising temperatures around the world run the risk of creating a dangerous cycle where more people get air conditioning, which causes energy demand to surge and leads to higher carbon emissions, which makes temperatures rise even more. Renewable power is one option for breaking that […]
Pasta comes in many shapes and sizes, which is part of its inherent delight. But all those irregular shapes tend to be inefficient when it comes to packaging. So what if you could buy your pasta of choice in a simple, compact 2D form and then watch it take on the desired final 3D shape […]
Enlarge / Brewing kombucha tea. Note the trademark gel-like layer of SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast). (credit: Olga Pankova/Getty Images) Kombucha tea is all the rage these days as a handy substitute for alcoholic beverages and for its supposed health benefits. The chemistry behind this popular fermented beverage is also inspiring scientists at […]