Artists and scientists alike find inspiration in nature. But two recent scientific studies found inspiration in the same creature: the mantis shrimp. The creature’s incredibly tough materials and complex eyes inspired innovations that could lead to fracture-resistant biocomposites and highly advanced optical sensors.
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Some countries that are significant importers of global waste do not have strong waste management infrastructures, which makes handling the waste difficult. In the absence of government programs, entrepreneurs have started their own initiatives to aid local communities in managing waste. Learn about two individuals in Ghana combating e-waste and glass waste, respectively.
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Make quantum dots brighter, the secrets of printed electronics, and other materials stories that may be of interest for March 31, 2021.
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MXenes hold potential as additives in ultrahigh-temperature ceramics to improve mechanical properties—but a gap in understanding the phase stability and transformation of MXenes at high temperatures limits this application. Researchers at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis investigated these properties in titanium carbide MXenes.
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Endless Frontier Act: Will applied research become a main focus for the National Science Foundation?
The National Science Foundation is one of the main federal funding sources for basic science research—but China’s significantly increased investments in scientific research has led some U.S. senators to propose a bill that would reorganize NSF to support more applied research. Learn more about this proposal in today’s CTT.
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Since 2014, Spanish technology startup Vortex Bladeless SL has aimed to develop a bladeless wind generator as an alternative to conventional wind turbines. Learn more about the technology and find out when we may see it commercialized.
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Breakthrough in “massless” energy storage, self-cooling laser made with a silica fiber, and other materials stories that may be of interest for March 24, 2021.
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Designing better ballistic materials is more than a matter of finding the optimal combination of material properties—a deep understanding of the microstructure–damage relationships is required as well. A number of recent articles published in ACerS journals look to improve processing methods for fabricating dense, resilient ceramic components.
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The 2D material borophene holds a lot of potential due to its flexibility, strength, and diverse atomic structure—but rapid oxidation of borophene in air makes application difficult. Researchers led by Northwestern University experimentally investigated the hydrogenation of borophene to see how well it stabilizes the material for practical use.
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Additive manufacturing drives future of ceramic industry, plus more inside April 2021 ACerS Bulletin
The April 2021 issue of the ACerS Bulletin—featuring articles on additive manufacturing techniques and potential—is now available online. Plus—new C&GM.
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