Materials Science | Science News for Students

Materials Science

a photo of eight tubes of small plastic, each a different color, poured onto a white surface

Polymers are an important ingredient in many materials, including the colorful plastics shown here. Scientists have developed a new polymer material to help repair small cracks that might develop in such polymer-based products.

XXLPhoto/iStockphoto

Materials Science
 
Dec 3, 2018
Some plastics learn to repair themselves
860_hydrophobic_power.png

When water droplets bead up on a surface, it’s because that surface has features that repel the water. The water doesn’t penetrate the surface or flatten out across it like a pool. This concept is key to a new energy technology.

Antonistock/iStockphoto

Technology
 
Nov 13, 2018
Super-water-repellent surfaces can generate energy
a horse stuffed animal with white wraps around its legs is walking across a the screen against a black background, electric wires trail behind it

A new bendable, stretchable skin can wrap around inanimate objects — such as this stuffed horse’s legs — creating a soft robot.

J.W. Booth et al./Sci Robotics 2018

Robotics
 
Oct 10, 2018
Soft robots get their power from the skin they’re in
860_Lem_tree_tape.png

Tape is convenient but not environmentally friendly. A new adhesive for tape comes from trees instead of crude oil.

angintaravichian/iStockphoto

Materials Science
 
Sep 24, 2018
Adhesive from trees could make tape more eco-friendly
plastic bales

While some plastic is recycled, most ends up in landfills or polluting the environment. New plastics that are easy to recycle could change that.

Gavran333/iStockphoto

Materials Science
 
Jun 15, 2018
This plastic can be recycled over and over and over
Physicist Mary Upton at Argonne National Laboratory

Physicist Mary Upton lines up equipment just right in preparation for an experiment using X-rays emitted by the Advanced Photon Source.

Argonne National Laboratory

Physics
 
Jun 14, 2018
Photons map the atomic scale to help medicine and more
curling chrysanthemum

Using new technologies, researchers have 3-D printed a flower whose petals curl when immersed in water. This shows how 3-D printing can be used to print 4-D objects.

H.J. Qi et al.

Materials Science
 
Jun 11, 2018
Light-sensitive ‘ink’ gives 4-D printing more wiggle room
applying dye

Traditional hair dyes contain lots of nasty, smelly chemicals. Some scientists are working to change all that. Their new graphene-based black dye is nontoxic and as long-lasting as today’s store-bought hair colorings.

Khosrork/istockphoto
Materials Science
 
May 16, 2018
New black hair dye uses no harsh chemicals
Chevron wallpaper

Wallpaper can give a room pizzazz and personality that a simple paint job won’t achieve. But a new type of wall covering offers to do even more — serve as an alarm system that scouts for signs of fire.

Scovad/iStockphoto

Chemistry
 
May 9, 2018
Hard-to-burn ‘smart’ wallpaper even triggers alarms
hospital room

Hospitals are full of dangerous germs. A new coating taps the energy in overhead lighting to make some hospital surfaces self-disinfecting. This might one day prevent the spread of many infections.

XiXinXing/iStockphoto

Materials Science
 
May 4, 2018
Light could make some hospital surfaces deadly to germs