April Gocha

Video: Ninja rocks exploit ceramics’ dark side

By April Gocha / February 28, 2014

Ceramic shards from broken spark plugs—aka ninja rocks—are used by thieves to break into cars, thanks to the material properties differences of alumina and glass.

Read More

Tesla Motors aspires to double world production of lithium-ion batteries with new battery ‘giga factory’

By April Gocha / February 26, 2014

Tesla plans to boost production and shipment of Model S electric cars in 2014, necessitating a “giga factory” to double world production of lithium ion batteries to power its fleet.

Read More

New vehicle HECA filter cleans air and improves decision-making, too

By April Gocha / February 25, 2014

A couple of UCLA scientists have improved automobile cabin air filters with the design of a new high-efficiency cabin air (HECA) filter that blocks the majority of ultrafine particles and simultaneously allows carbon dioxide to escape.

Read More

Move over, polymers—silica nanoparticles may be the new adhesive for hydrogels and tissues

By April Gocha / February 24, 2014

French scientists show that simple surface adsorption of silica nanoparticles can glue together gel-like materials, including biological tissues.

Read More

A graphene sequel (Spoiler: molecular sieves, atomic layer films, the origins of life, antithrombotic films, and artificial graphene inside)

By April Gocha / February 20, 2014

Graphene is more than an awesome electron conductor–new reports detail its potential use in fine molecular sieves, boron nitride atomic layer films, explanations of the origins of life, antithrombotic biomedical films, and the inspiration of artificial graphene from semiconductor crystals.

Read More

March ACerS Bulletin is now online

By April Gocha / February 20, 2014

The March issue of the Bulletin is now available online and will soon be in your mailbox–this month’s issue features microsphere solutions to energy problems, considerations to improve ceramic nuclear fuel pellets, and that state of refractories in today’s and tomorrow’s world.

Read More

Nonflammable paper developed from ultralong hydroxyapatite nanowires

By April Gocha / February 20, 2014

Chinese scientists have developed flexible and nonflammable paper out of ultralong hydroxyapatite nanowires that may have applications for archival storage of important documents.

Read More

Video: Engineering anarchy? Termite robots build complex structures without a leader

By April Gocha / February 18, 2014

Harvard engineers designed termite-like robots that can work together to build complex structures without a leader, and other robot advances inspired by nature.

Read More

Ballistic transport in graphene nanoribbons grown on silicon carbide

By April Gocha / February 17, 2014

Graphene is big–new reports detail generation of graphene nanoribbons on silicon carbide or in a solution-based approach.

Read More

Nanorattles of silica-encased silver nanoparticles may improve biomedical implants

By April Gocha / February 17, 2014

Swiss scientists generate nanorattles of silver nanoparticles encased in silica shells as potential antimicrobial coatings on biomedical implants.

Read More