All articles tagged with #smart materials
Israeli researchers at Tel Aviv University discovered that particles rotating in opposite directions within a fluid spontaneously form active, chain-like structures resembling polymers, which can move and reorganize on their own, providing insights into natural phenomena and potential applications in smart materials and microscopic robotics.
Dr. Ayala Lampel and her team at Tel Aviv University are pioneering the development of smart liquids, which are engineered to react to specific environmental stimuli. These intelligent liquids form distinct droplets with unique properties and have been demonstrated to function as highly responsive biosensors, changing color and fluorescence intensity in response to specific enzymes. Lampel's research draws inspiration from natural processes occurring inside living cells and aims to expand the potential uses of smart materials, envisioning applications such as drug delivery and medication production within the body.
Researchers at the University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering have used piezoelectric nanoparticles to study the physics of non-Newtonian fluids, such as oobleck. They discovered that friction between particles plays a crucial role in the transition of these fluids from a liquid to a more solid structure. This understanding could lead to the design of new non-Newtonian fluids with practical applications, such as paint that doesn't clump, liquids that harden when shaken, and wearable protective gear that stiffens upon impact. The research also paves the way for the development of adaptive and responsive materials that become stiffer under mechanical force.
Scientists at Tsinghua University have developed a liquid metal coating that can transform ordinary paper into self-adhesive gadgets capable of conducting heat and electricity. The researchers successfully formulated a liquid alloy and applied it to paper using a stamping technique, eliminating the need for adhesives. This breakthrough opens up new possibilities for creating lightweight, flexible smart objects and soft robots that can operate autonomously in various environments.
Researchers from Johns Hopkins University and MIT have studied the microstructure of the belly feathers of African sandgrouse, which can hold about 15% of their body weight in water and keep most of it safe during a roughly 40 mph flight home that takes about a half hour. The researchers believe that the findings could lead to new bio-inspired creations, including a more efficient water bottle design. The sandgrouse's specially adapted belly feathers hold water through a forest of barbules near the shaft, working together with the curled barbules near the tip, acting almost like caps.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology have studied the feathers of the desert-dwelling sandgrouse, which can hold up to 15% of their body weight in water while flying. Using high-resolution microscopes and 3D technology, they discovered the singular architecture of the feathers and how they can hold so much water. The team hopes their findings will inspire new bio-inspired creations, such as a water bottle that prevents swinging and sloshing, netting for collecting water from fog and dew in desert regions, and medical swabs that are easier to use.