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Caption Illustration of the double-slit experiment, showing a plane wave (top left) passing through a screen with two gaps. The gaps act as new wave sources and the wavefronts bend to create two sets of circular waves radiating outwards. These two new waves create an interference pattern as they interact. At the point where a wave peak from one hits a wave peak from another, or a trough hits a trough, they reinforce each other; their magnitudes are summed. This is known as constructive interference. Where a trough hits a peak, they cancel each other out. This is known as destructive interference.

Light interacts with its past self in twist on double-slit experiment

3 April 2023

The double-slit experiment consists of light passing through two slits separated by a small space – now researchers have performed it with small gaps in time instead

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

A colourful film made from plant matter could keep buildings cool An iridescent cellulose film can efficiently cool surfaces by 3?C and could one day be used in structures that remain cold without requiring energy.

Colourful material made from wood could help keep buildings cool

26 March 2023

A material made from two forms of cellulose, which is found in wood, reflects heat and can be made in a variety of colours

Scientists convert Super Glue monomers into recyclable plastics

Recyclable plastic made from super glue could replace polystyrene

22 March 2023

Long-lasting plastics made from fossil fuels could be replaced by a material derived from super glue that can be easily recycled time and time again

Windows filled with see-through wood layer help hold in heat

16 March 2023

A transparent material made from cellulose nanofibres and pockets of gas could replace air in double-glazed windows to improve thermal insulation

2HJ1JYB Buildings in the near north side Chicago skyline bask in the late evening sun not long before sunset.

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

Sections of a timber wind turbine tower under construction

Should we build wind turbines from wood?

1 December 2022

Most wind turbines are made from a mix of materials, making them hard to recycle – but wood could offer a more sustainable alternative

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

Compostable plastic that has not fully disintegrated in a compost bin

Most ‘home compostable’ plastic doesn’t break down in garden bins

3 November 2022

A study involving 1600 UK volunteers found that 60 per cent of plastics labelled as suitable for home composting don’t break down properly

Electron microscope image of the new aluminium alloy

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