$10 ‘intelligent’ material could make MRI faster

A new, cheap-to-produce metamaterial could make MRI scans safer and faster for patients, while also boosting image quality.

Art Jahnke-Boston University • futurity
Nov. 7, 2019 ~5 min

Unsinkable metal structure mimics spiders and ants

Researchers have created an unsinkable metal structure with inspiration from diving bell spiders and rafts of fire ants.

Bob Marcotte-U. Rochester • futurity
Nov. 7, 2019 ~3 min


Upgrade makes perovskite solar cells last and last

A new way to produce perovskite solar cells using inorganic ingredients limits their defects and lets them last for months.

Mike Williams-Rice • futurity
Nov. 6, 2019 ~3 min

How the world’s toughest material fends off cracks

Check out this video to see how nacre, the material that coats the insides of mollusk shells, stays so tough in the face of stress.

Nicole Casal Moore-Michigan • futurity
Oct. 25, 2019 ~4 min

For plane wings, metal foam may beat aluminum

A super sturdy kind of metal foam outperforms aluminum in tests to determine its suitability for the leading edge of airplane wings.

Matt Shipman-NC State • futurity
Oct. 21, 2019 ~4 min

New method could make bulletproof armor material even tougher

New research could solve a hurdle in the creation of bulletproof vests and make the process more environmentally friendly.

Kevin Stacey-Brown • futurity
Oct. 10, 2019 ~4 min

4D printing makes lattice that turns into a face

A new method for 4D printing, which makes objects that can change shapes based on the environment, could be useful in electronics, smart fabrics, and more.

Boston University • futurity
Oct. 8, 2019 ~5 min

Graphene filter grabs bacteria to kill them with a zap

A new graphene filter grabs bacteria from the air and kills them with a bit of heat from electricity. The advance could help fight drug resistance.

Mike Williams-Rice • futurity
Oct. 8, 2019 ~5 min


Could this nanorod discovery lead to purer meds?

A common protein in nano-bio labs is prone to pushing gold nanorods into right-handed chiral assemblies—while producing chiral plasmonic signals to match.

Mike Williams-Rice • futurity
Oct. 1, 2019 ~7 min

Superhard forms of carbon expected to rival diamonds

Machine learning predicts 43 previously unknown, superhard forms of carbon. Could one offer a cheaper alternative to diamond?

Charlotte Hsu-Buffalo • futurity
Sept. 18, 2019 ~5 min

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