Materials Science

Nobel prize awarded for developing metal-organic frameworks

The 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to three researchers for their pioneering work on metal-organic frameworks, or MOFs, structured polymers with precise geometries. Richard Robson, Susumu Kitagawa, and Omar Yaghi share the honor for creating materials that enable gas storage, filtration, and catalysis. Their innovations, starting around 1990, have opened new possibilities in chemistry and environmental applications.

Japanese Scientists Enhance Steel Durability

September 13, 2025 Reported by AI

Japanese researchers announced on September 6, 2025, a breakthrough in materials science by doubling the fatigue resistance of steel. This advancement could lead to longer-lasting infrastructure and machinery. The development was shared in recent science updates, highlighting potential industrial applications.

Scientists reveal gluten's key role in spaghetti's structural integrity

October 28, 2025 Theo Klein

Researchers at Lund University have discovered that gluten acts as a microscopic safety net in regular spaghetti, preventing it from disintegrating during boiling. Their study, using advanced imaging techniques, also highlights salt's structural influence beyond flavor enhancement. The findings aim to improve gluten-free pasta alternatives.

Auburn scientists create materials to control free electrons

Researchers at Auburn University have developed a new type of material that precisely controls free electrons, potentially revolutionizing quantum computing and chemical manufacturing. By immobilizing solvated electron precursors on stable surfaces, the team achieved tunable electron behavior. The findings were published in ACS Materials Letters.

Solar Paint Cools Buildings Innovatively

An experimental solar paint that cools buildings by mimicking sweating has been developed, offering a new approach to energy-efficient architecture.

Stanford engineers develop self-healing electronic skin

Engineers at Stanford University have created a self-healing material that mimics human skin for use in electronics. The innovation allows the material to repair cuts and tears in just 10 seconds without external intervention. This development, detailed in a study released on October 2, 2025, could transform robotics and wearable devices.

Nobel prize in chemistry awarded for metal-organic frameworks

The 2025 Nobel prize in chemistry has been awarded to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar Yaghi for pioneering metal-organic frameworks, porous materials capable of storing and releasing gases like carbon dioxide. These structures, which self-assemble from metal ions and organic molecules, have vast potential for applications such as capturing pollutants and harvesting water from air. The committee praised their work for creating materials that can hold enormous volumes of substances in tiny spaces.

Physicists uncover rotating crystals with lifelike properties

A team of physicists has discovered unusual rotating crystals made of spinning particles that exhibit behaviors resembling living matter, such as twisting instead of stretching and self-reassembly after breaking. These materials, governed by transverse interactions, challenge conventional crystal growth rules. The findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggest potential applications in technology and biology.

Chalmers researchers develop platform to study nanoscale forces

Scientists at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden have created a simple optical platform using gold flakes in salt water to visualize quantum and electrostatic forces at the nanoscale. These forces, described as 'nature's invisible glue,' bind tiny objects and could inform advancements in biosensors, medicines, and even galaxy formation. The technique reveals interactions through colorful light patterns observed under a microscope.

Researchers create strong biodegradable plastic from bamboo

Scientists in China have developed a hard plastic from bamboo cellulose that matches the strength of conventional engineering plastics used in cars and appliances. This bioplastic is fully recyclable and biodegrades in soil within 50 days. The innovation addresses limitations in bioplastics' mechanical properties and manufacturing compatibility.

Scientists uncover quantum effect in organic material for efficient solar power

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have discovered a quantum phenomenon in an organic semiconductor, enabling highly efficient light-to-electricity conversion. This breakthrough, involving Mott-Hubbard behavior in the molecule P3TTM, could lead to simpler, cheaper solar panels made from a single material. The finding connects to foundational physics from a century ago and marks the 120th anniversary of physicist Sir Nevill Mott's birth.

Scientists Invent Visible Time Crystals

September 15, 2025 Reported by AI

A team of physicists has created visible time crystals, a new state of matter that repeats in time rather than space. This breakthrough allows for observation with standard lab equipment. The invention was detailed in a paper released today.