From glass and steel to rare earth metals, new materials have changed society throughout history
Materials science might seem very technical, but as a scientific discipline, it has led to many shifts in society over the past few centuries.
July 3, 2025 • ~10 min
Will Meta’s Orion smart glasses be the next ‘iPhone moment’? Expert Q&A
Meta leader Mark Zuckerberg has given the world a sneak preview of the Orion glasses – but will they change the world?
Sept. 27, 2024 • ~8 min
Sea glass, a treasure formed from trash, is on the decline as single-use plastic takes over
Sea glass, while an eye-catching treasure and a multimillion-dollar industry, exists because of decades of improper waste management.
Sept. 28, 2023 • ~7 min
Glass: Neither a solid nor a liquid, this common yet complicated material is still surprising scientists
Two glass researchers explain how glass is made, the unique properties of glass and how those properties have allowed it to be a useful material to humans for thousands of years.
June 13, 2023 • ~7 min
Scottish bottle deposit scheme to be blocked – but evidence from Europe suggests it's the way forward
Evidence suggests that Scotland’s bottle deposit scheme would prevent huge amounts of litter from entering the environment.
March 16, 2023 • ~6 min
New eye drops can help aging people see better – an optometrist explains how Vuity treats presbyopia
As people age, their eyes lose the ability to focus on close objects. A new eye drop treatment called Vuity can improve vision without the need for glasses, contacts or surgery.
May 5, 2022 • ~8 min
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