Material Science

Despite all of the bluster surrounding AI’s transformative promise, some R&D projects—especially in areas like battery materials development and drug discovery—face significant bottlenecks when relying on these tools, often requiring days and sometimes weeks or even months of GPU processing time on enormous datasets. Enthought—among other organizations—are investigating leaner approaches to tackle these limits, which…

Picture a high-tech version of Silly Putty that generates electricity. It would be capable of speeding up wound healing, delivering medication through the skin, or even producing clean energy, among other inventive uses. Researchers at the University of Guelph (U of G) have developed a slime-like material that generates electricity when compressed. The material is…

Elevated Materials, a newly established company supported by TPG’s Rise Climate fund and Applied Materials, has entered the battery market. It focuses on producing ultra-thin, uniform lithium films. The company aims to enhance battery performance by leveraging decades of vacuum roll-to-roll processing expertise and hundreds of patents from Applied Materials. Its technology is designed to…

Texas A&M researchers have developed a photodynamic approach using curcumin — turmeric’s active compound — to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria, according to a Scientific Reports study. The method achieved substantial reductions in bacterial viability across lab tests. The results point to a potential to revitalize existing antimicrobial treatments. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a well-documented growing public…

How do smasher mantis shrimp avoid self-inflicted harm from their devastating strikes? A new Northwestern University study reveals that the secret may lie in patterned armor that acts as a sound filter, selectively blocking damaging shockwaves generated by their own powerful punches. The study details how the shrimp’s armor—featuring grooves and twisted fiber bundles—selectively filters…

An underwater light device can ramp up coral feeding rates by up to 50 times, offering a potential lifeline to ecosystems teetering on collapse. The Underwater Zooplankton Enhancement Light Array (UZELA)—about as big as a flashlight—uses programmed light pulses to attract nutrient-rich zooplankton, enabling even heat-stressed corals to regain strength. As ocean temperatures soar and…

Methylene blue is suddenly the talk of social media, thanks to a viral clip showing Robert F. Kennedy Jr., likely the incoming health secretary, adding a striking blue liquid to his in-flight beverage. Overnight, searches for “methylene blue” spiked, with Google Trends data revealing a dramatic jump in February 2025 (see chart below). Newsweek notes…

Commercial fusion power, often compared to harnessing the sun’s energy, has the potential to provide a sustainable and virtually limitless energy source. However, significant scientific and engineering challenges must be addressed before fusion power can become a practical reality. Among the most pressing obstacles are the materials required to withstand the extreme conditions inside a…

By replacing conventional concrete aggregates with carbon-based materials, scientists at Empa believe large amounts of CO₂ could be permanently stored in building products. Their concept, “Mining the Atmosphere,” aims to help reduce atmospheric CO₂ levels to 350 parts per million — roughly the 1988 benchmark. To remove CO₂ from the atmosphere is “a very energy-intensive…

Every day seems to bring new developments in rechargeable battery research, with teams racing to surpass conventional lithium-ion technology, which has significant room for enhancement. As the adoption of electric vehicles rises and the need for storing renewable energy becomes increasingly important, the search intensifies for safer, lighter, and more sustainable power sources. Recent breakthroughs…

SHINE is transforming neutron detection with its ability to be shaped into any size or form within minutes at room temperature, while offering detection capabilities comparable to current technologies. This material addresses the helium-3 (3He) shortage, thus aligning with national security considerations and helping prevent the entry of illicit special nuclear materials (SNM) into the…

With co-developer Lenzing Plastics, DuPont de Nemours has created Tyvek Trifecta, an inventive new building wrap that improves fire safety and building performance. It combines three key functions — non-combustibility, weather resistance, and vapor permeability — into a single, durable, and reliable solution. Tyvek Trifecta, designed for residential, commercial, and mixed-use buildings, is particularly well-suited…

Every year, millions of windshields are replaced worldwide, leaving behind a significant amount of waste in the form of the polyvinyl butyral (PVB) interlayer, which keeps shattered glass together. Recycling this material is complex and costly, often resulting in low-quality materials unsuitable for reuse. The sheer volume of PVB waste is substantial — over 175…

Over a century after synthetic dyes first hit the scene, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has finally pulled the plug on one of their most notorious members: red dye No. 3. Known for lending a vivid crimson hue to a range of food products, this additive has been under scrutiny for decades—banned in…

Batteries have recently come in various configurations: stretchable, as discussed in R&D World’s article “Stretchable batteries and body-conformable electronics poised to advance in 2025,” and batteries using alternative chemistries, including lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) and sodium-ion (SIBs), among others. One battery material that might not have been on your bingo card is fungi. Researchers at Empa have…

In atomic force microscopy (AFM), numerous incremental improvements have been made, yet relatively few new products showcase transformative technologies and capabilities. Asylum Research has been a player in the AFM industry since its founding in 1999. By implementing closed-loop scanning, the MFP-3D AFM (2002) achieved significant advancements in the accuracy of AFM imaging metrology. The…

Imec, a partner in EnergyVille, in collaboration with the University of Cyprus, has reported significant progress in the development of perovskite solar modules, demonstrating long-term outdoor stability after two years of real-world testing. Mini-modules measuring 4 cm² retained 78% of their initial power conversion efficiency (PCE) after one year in outdoor conditions in Cyprus. This…

As 2025 gets underway, concerns are mounting about the stability of some high-paying STEM and R&D roles in an economy many once believed would remain recession-proof for engineers, software developers, and research scientists. A few bright spots include quickly-growing positions such as data scientists (36% growth, $108,020 median pay, according to BLS in 2024), computer…

The automotive industry faces a challenge in balancing the need for fuel-efficient lightweight materials to improve the range of electric vehicles with solid and safe vehicles to protect passengers. Aluminum-silicon-coated press-hardened steels (PHS) are a promising solution, but these materials pose a unique challenge in laser welding. The presence of the Al-Si coating often leads…

A partnership between the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is streamlining inspections of nuclear reactor components and materials by using advanced algorithms and advanced imaging technology. Initially focused on additively manufactured nuclear parts, the collaboration has expanded to include inspections of nuclear fuel, enabling quicker and safer evaluations. Key…

Flint, a deep-tech startup based in Singapore specializing in cellulose-based paper batteries, has raised $2 million in seed funding to accelerate the commercialization of its sustainable energy storage solutions. The funding round, led by a consortium of international angel investors and AI-driven venture capital firm Hatcher+, will support pilot production, intellectual property development, and expansion…

Stem cell therapy shows promise in healing damaged tissues, yet existing scaffolds often do not replicate the natural flexibility of human tissue. This can result in cell detachment, death, and even secondary injury during recovery. Researchers at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, along with co-developers from the MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering, have created a new type…

Stretchable, wearable gadgets took a significant stride in 2024, thanks to a flurry of breakthroughs that could make soft, body-conformable electronics and power sources a reality. Researchers worldwide have unveiled improvements in flexible, high-precision sensors and displays, while engineers in China revealed a self-healing, stretchable lithium-ion battery that could power next-generation wearables. Meanwhile, LG Display…

A paper published in Gravitational and Space Research reveals insights from research sponsored by the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory on transport phenomena. Transport phenomena are fundamental physical processes involving momentum, energy, and mass transfer. They describe how heat and matter move through their surroundings, such as how heat radiates from a stove or how a…

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded two grants to the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) as part of a significant effort to advance microelectronics and sensors. Each project will receive $3 million per year for four years, recognizing PPPL’s expertise in plasma processes, which are crucial for the continued development of semiconductor manufacturing…