Although so-called superglues can be quite useful, they’re typically made from harsh chemicals, plus it’s very difficult to “unstick” them once they’ve set. Now, however, scientists have created a plant-based superglue that can easily be removed when needed. The experimental adhesive was designed in a collaboration between researchers at Finland’s Aalto University, the University of Tokyo, China’s Sichuan University, and […]

Production of the cement used in concrete is a huge source of CO2 emissions, so the more that we can recycle existing concrete, the better. That’s where a new study comes in, which indicates that discarded concrete becomes even stronger than it was before, when wood waste is added to it. Concrete is made by mixing an aggregate such as […]

We’ve already heard about so-called “fog harps” that use thin wires to collect airborne water droplets, providing drinking water even in arid regions. Well, an experimental new device also uses wires to capture water vapor, although it proceeds to generate electricity. Developed by a team at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the air-powered generator (or “Air-gen”) incorporates an ultra-thin film […]

It’s hard to imagine a world without the lithium-ion batteries that power today’s laptops and mobile devices, but the technology does have its limits. One way scientists are working to break a bottleneck of energy density and greatly extend the battery life of these devices (and many others) is by bringing pure lithium metal into the mix. A new battery […]

A highly precise form of reconstructive surgery, known as supermicrosurgery, seeks to connect ultra-thin blood and lymph vessels as a way of restoring them to healthy function. This requires a high level of expertise on part of the surgeons, but they may soon have a new robotic tool at their disposal called Musa, which has performed its first round of […]

The icky business of soiled diapers has motivated many to pursue connected nappies that alert carers when they’re in need of changing, but scientists at MIT are now putting forward a more cost effective option. The team’s new smart diapers make use of an RFID tag that works with a hydrogel to form a cheap moisture sensor, which sends an […]

Plant-based bioplastics are already a more eco-friendly alternative to their petroleum-based counterparts. Now, scientists have created a clear bioplastic film that not only blocks harmful ultraviolet radiation, but that is also more airtight than traditional plastics. Created by a team at Finland’s University of Oulu, the transparent “copolymer” film is made entirely of two organic compounds: hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and furfural. […]

A couple of years ago, we heard about a robotic device that was designed to draw blood samples. And while it had only been tested on artificial arms at the time, it’s now been successfully trialed on real live humans. Created by a team at New Jersey’s Rutgers University, the device is initially placed over a patient’s arm, after which […]

Finding a person’s fingerprints at a crime scene isn’t always enough to convict them, as they can claim that those prints were left before the crime took place. That may be about to change, though, as scientists have now devised a method of dating fingerprints. Led by Assoc. Prof. Young Jin Lee, a team from Iowa State University recently decided […]

Different kinds of materials can play different roles when it comes to controlling heat. If we want to keep our home warm in the depths of winter, insulating layers in our walls can help to lock it in. If we want to keep things cool, thermally conductive materials like those used in computer processors can help carry it away. But […]