Tag: new materials
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Using mycelium to create a self-healing wearable leather-like material
A pair of biotechnologists at Newcastle University, working with a colleague from Northumbria University, all in the U.K., have developed a way to use mycelium to create a self-healing wearable material. In their paper published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials, Elise Elsacker, Martyn Dade-Robertson and Meng Zhang, describe their process and how well it…
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A new concept for low-cost batteries
As the world builds out ever larger installations of wind and solar power systems, the need is growing fast for economical, large-scale backup systems to provide power when the sun is down and the air is calm. Today’s lithium-ion batteries are still too expensive for most such applications, and other options such as pumped hydro…
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Self-growing materials that strengthen in response to force
Hokkaido University researchers have developed a strategy to fabricate materials that become stronger in response to mechanical stress – mimicking skeletal muscle growth. Their findings, published in the journal Science, could pave the way for long-lasting materials that can adapt and strengthen based on surrounding conditions.
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A transformable material with a cellular structure
kinetiX is a transformable material featuring a design that resembles a cellular structure. It consists of rigid plates or rods and elastic hinges. These modular elements can be combined in a wide variety of ways and assembled into multifarious forms. This project describes a group of auxetic-inspired material structures that can transform into various shapes…
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From Seaweed to Fiber, Is Biology The Future Of Fashion?
Is biology the future of fashion? Well, Algiknit seems to think so. The biomaterials company has been developing biomaterials that can play a key role in the future of sustainable manufacturing. Addressing the ecological damage caused by the fashion industry, Algiknit is looking to make an impact by operating in a closed loop product lifecycle…
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New textile weathers temperature shift
Weather changes, but thanks to a new high-tech textile, someday you may not have to switch out your outfit. Materials scientists and engineers at Stanford University have developed a multilayered textile that traps body heat on one side and passively radiates heat away from the body when flipped inside out. The material kept artificial skin…
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ZeroN – Levitated Interaction Element
“ZeroN is a new physical/digital interaction element that can be levitated and moved freely by computer in a three dimensional space. Both the computer and people can move the ZeroN simultaneously. In doing so, people and computers can physically interact with one another in 3D space. Users are invited to place or move the ZeroN…