Using electron microscopy, a team of scientists investigated the nanomechanics of nacre—and their results show precisely how this biomaterial gains superior strength upon lockdown.
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In today’s world of global commerce, product identity is a significant issue with considerable economic repercussions. TruTag Technologies is developing porous silica nanoparticles that use unique spectral signatures to authenticate goods.
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Despite its ubiquity, the influence of grain shrinkage on cracking remains largely unexplored. Researchers from Princeton University investigated the phenomenon, and the results of their studies are described in two papers published this year.
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Atomic structure plays an important role in understanding element properties. As the International Year of the Periodic Table nears its end, a new study looks at the potential superhydrides, specifically CeH9, hold as high-temperature superconductors.
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In 2009, a theoretical simulation predicted wurtzite boron nitride had an indentation strength higher than diamond. Now, researchers in China and Saudi Arabia experimentally measured wBN’s hardness—and found it much closer to cubic boron nitride instead.
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Most bioglasses, especially the popular 45S5, form weak scaffolds prone to cracking because they do not sinter to full density. Researchers looked to understand the factors hindering densification.
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In May, a formula was published that could describe thermal transport in both crystals and glass. Now, a new formula by researchers in Italy and the United States based on a different mathematical framework can also model such thermal transport.
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Phase change materials are an excellent way to store data—if you know how to effectively switch between the material’s glassy and crystal states. Researchers at the University of Arizona and RWTH Aachen University discovered unlike most glasses, the PCM Ge2Sb2Te5 can switch directly from glassy to crystal without entering the liquid phase.
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From an environmental sustainability standpoint, which is better: glass bottles or aluminum cans? Turns out, the answer is not so clear-cut.
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Exploratory synthesis of nitride materials can be a time-consuming and risky venture. A new map of ternary metal nitrides gives scientists a good idea of where to look for new nitrides.
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