Category Physics

Shape Shifters: Demonstrating Tunable Phase Shifting

Scientists devised a new approach that balances attractions between particles and promises to become a useful tool to create designer materials that can repair damage. The discovery of a cross point between temperature-dependent interactions between particles – not previously thought possible – opens the doors for more nimble synthesis. The crosspoint exploits the solubility and adsorption of a polymer. Researchers discovered that a liquid polymer-colloid mixture on cooling and heating forms different solid phases reversibly...

Intelligent cell of the Fraunhofer IPA: A microcontroller records physical parameters such as temperature and state of charge. If a cell is empty, it switches itself off automatically. Credit: © Fraunhofer IPA

The battery is the heart of the electric car. Fraunhofer Researchers have developed an energy storage device which is significantly more cost-effective over the entire life cycle in comparison with previous models. If one of the more than one hundred battery cells is defective, it can be replaced easily. Until now, the entire battery had to be replaced.

The core of electric cars are their batteries. So far, these have been monolithic blocks in which the individual battery cells as well as the necessary technology have been housed...

Presented in this work is a novel and facile approach to fabricate an elastic, attachable, and cost-efficient carbon nanotube (CNT)-based strain gauge which can be efficiently used as bodily motion sensors.

Body sensors, which were once restricted to doctors’ offices, have come a long way. They now allow any wearer to easily track heart rate, steps and sleep cycles around the clock. Soon, they could become even more versatile – with the help of chewing gum. Scientists report a unique sensing device made of gum and carbon nanotubes that can move with your most bendable parts and track your breathing.

Most conventional sensors today are very sensitive and detect the slightest movement, but many are made out of metal ie when twisted or pulled too much, they stop working...

Highlights • The biological effects induced in vitro by three graphene-based nanomaterials on human dental follicle stem cells, were evaluated. • Graphene oxide showed the lowest cytotoxic effect, followed by the nitrogen-doped graphene. • Thermally reduced graphene oxide exhibited high cytotoxic effects.

Research suggests we chew around 800X in an average meal; that’s almost a million times a year. We put our teeth under huge strain, and often require fillings to repair them. Fillings are typically made of a mixture of metals, such as copper, mercury, silver and tin, or composites of powdered glass and ceramic...