Rice becomes weaker when compressed quickly, while staying stronger under slow pressure—a discovery enabling scientists to ...

Researchers at UC Santa Barbara and TU Dresden are blurring the lines between robotics and materials, with a proof-of-concept material-like collective of robots with behaviors inspired by biology. Of ...

The researchers turned to hydrogels, which are water-rich, jelly-like polymers that respond to temperature and chemicals. But instead of layering different materials or embedding electronics, they ...

Despite the prevalence of synthetic materials across different industries and scientific fields, most are developed to serve a limited set of functions. To address this inflexibility, researchers at ...

Despite the prevalence of synthetic materials across different industries and scientific fields, most are developed to serve a limited set of functions. To address this inflexibility, researchers at ...

Adaptive materials can play a central role in net-zero building, offering a solution that's not only smart but sustainable from production to end-of-life.

This octopus-inspired smart skin can change shape and reveal hidden secrets on command.

Stimulus sensitivity: They contain specific responsive groups that react to external triggers such as heat, light, mechanical stress, electric and magnetic fields, gases, pH, or particular chemicals.

Researchers are blurring the lines between robotics and materials, with a proof-of-concept material-like collective of robots with behaviors inspired by biology. Researchers at UC Santa Barbara and TU ...