Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh’s Swanson School of Engineering have designed a synthetic polymer gel that can generate enough chemical energy to shape-shift and propel itself forward. The researchers modeled their research after the single-celled organism euglena mutabilis, which processes energy to expand and contract …
Read More »Tag Archives: materials
Next-Gen Robotic Materials Will Autonomously Change to Suit Needs
Prosthetics with a realistic sense of touch. Bridges that detect and repair their own damage. Vehicles with camouflaging capabilities. Advances in materials science, distributed algorithms, and manufacturing processes are bringing all of these things closer to reality every day, says a new review written by Nikolaus …
Read More »New Glass Could Make Longer-Lasting Batteries
Chemists and materials scientists at ETH Zurich have developed a new kind of glass they say could significantly improve batteries. The research team says the new material — vanadate-borate glass — could be used as the cathode to double the life of Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. “One major …
Read More »