Materials

Zero-Energy Tech Heats When Cold and Cools When Hot

IEEE Spectrum: A new heat-management device senses temperature and in response changes its shape to heat up or cool down, all without using any external energy. By supplementing commercial heating and cooling technologies, the zero-energy device could cut down the year-round…

High-Temperature Superconductivity Understood at Last

Quanta Magazine: For decades, a family of crystals has stumped physicists with its baffling ability to superconduct — that is, carry an electric current without any resistance — at far warmer temperatures than other materials. Now, an experiment years in the…

New Space Force Deals Aim to Use 3D Printing and Rockets to Transport Military Cargo on Earth

3DPrint.com: Rocket Lab and Sierra Space are the latest companies to join the U.S. Air Force‘s Rocket Cargo program that plans to use suborbital space vehicles for ultra-fast transportation…

Soft Robot Biodegrades Inside Body

Medgadget: Researchers at the City University of Hong Kong have developed a magnetic soft millirobot that can grab and release objects, and move around by rolling. The device can be controlled using magnetic fields, and consists of a biodegradable gelatin and iron oxide microparticles. The technology has significant potential…