Plastic wrap made from seaweed withstands heat and is compostable
1 April 2023
A thin material made from seaweed can handle high temperatures but only takes a few weeks to break down in a composting bin
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Premium
Smart cladding could control whether buildings retain or emit heat
3 February 2023
A new material changes its infrared colour when a small electric current is applied, raising the possibility of buildings that store or release heat depending on outside temperatures
Glass device can tell objects apart without needing a computer
4 November 2022
A device that uses a piece of glass with little bumps on it can distinguish objects based on how they scatter light, removing the need for a camera or a computer
Aluminium alloy could boost spacecraft radiation shielding 100-fold
20 October 2022
A new metal alloy keeps its flexibility and strength after high doses of radiation, making it potentially useful for building spacecraft or Mars colonies
Silkworms make fluorescent silk after eating quantum dots
4 March 2022
Nanometre-sized semiconductors extracted from mulberry leaves make silkworms and their silk emit a strong red glow
Light yet strong metamaterial inspired by art of paper cutting
1 March 2022
A chequerboard pattern based on kirigami, the Japanese art of paper cutting, enables thin and light structures to support much heavier loads
New plastic made from DNA is biodegradable and easy to recycle
20 November 2021
A plastic made from DNA and vegetable oil may be the most sustainable plastic developed yet and could be used in packaging and electronic devices
Soft gel could power robot muscles that grow stronger with a workout
22 February 2021
Our muscles get stronger when put under stress and now robot ones could do the same, thanks to a soft gel that becomes harder when exposed to vibration
Jess Wade: The magic of mirror molecules and incredible nanostructures
28 April 2020
From wearable sensors to solar panels, we are developing new materials from the stuff of peacock feathers and butterfly wings. Physicist Jess Wade shows how.
Smart windows can let visible light through while blocking out heat
27 April 2020
A 3D printed grate can be used to make a smart window that blocks heat from sunlight out in the summer while letting it through in the winter, conserving energy
