Materials Science

  1. Physics

    Take a look at this weird, bendy type of ice

    These specially grown threads of ice bend into curves, then spring back when released.

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  2. Environment

    Let’s learn about plastic pollution

    The world is cluttered with plastic waste. All that junk kills animals far and wide.

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  3. Animals

    Abdominal fuzz makes bee bodies super slippery

    Scientists find that tiny hairs on a honeybee’s abdomen reduce wear and tear as a bee’s outer skeletal parts rub against each other all day long.

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  4. Materials Science

    ‘Smart’ pasta morphs into fun shapes as it cooks

    The trick to this shape-shifting are grooves cut into the raw pasta. Those grooves affect how the noodles swell as they cook.

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  5. Chemistry

    Scientists Say: Bond

    In chemistry, this attachment between atoms forms because of the power of attraction. Chemical bonds make up every solid object on Earth.

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  6. Chemistry

    Scientists Say: Metal

    Metals are substances that can be elements, alloys or compounds. They all conduct heat and electricity and can be formed into different shapes.

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  7. Materials Science

    New device gets power from 5G signals grabbed from the air

    A new way to harvest electricity relies on a tiny array of antennas and a lens. Together, they collect and focus 5G signals coming from any direction.

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  8. Materials Science

    Copper ‘foam’ could be used as filters for COVID-19 masks

    The lightweight new material could serve as a washable and recyclable, eco-friendly alternative for many current mask filters.

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  9. Materials Science

    Bandages made from crab shells speed healing

    The chitin in seafood wastes, insect “bones” and fungi is a chemist’s dream. Used in a new medical dressing, it beats regular gauze for wound healing.

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  10. Materials Science

    Super-absorbent swab could curb errors in COVID-19 testing

    A new super-absorbent swab could cut down on false negatives from COVID-19 testing. And that could help slow spread of the disease.

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  11. Agriculture

    Dew collector brings water to thirsty plants

    This invention grabs water from the air at night. All it needs is the sun’s warmth the next day to release that moisture to growing plants.

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  12. Tech

    Bye-bye batteries? Power a phone with fabric or a beacon with sound

    New piezoelectric systems produce electricity in unusual ways, such as when a certain nylon bends or underwater ceramics vibrate.

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