materials science

Islands of rigid cells within a matrix of soft ones allow tumors to be both solid and fluid, granting them toughness without losing the ability to break apart.

Bacteria and sand form a strong building material.

Thin strands tend to be stronger than thick ones.

Scientists engineered a new material that could be developed for use in treating tooth decay.

The Northwestern University professor developed surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, an invaluable technique for detecting and identifying individual molecules.

An artist takes advantage of muscle-mimicking polymers to manipulate sounds.

Inspired by turkey skin, researchers devise a bacteriophage-based sensor whose color changes upon binding specific molecules.

A synthetic material covered in nano-spikes resembling those found on insect wings is an effective killer of diverse microbes.

Researchers use atomic force microscopy to produce stunning images of a molecule reconfiguring its atomic bonds.
 

Cotton cloth coated with DNA from herring sperm does not burn.

A team of physics students in the U.K. have worked out that spider silk could be strong and tough enough to stop a moving train.

Researchers design and build nanoscale structures out of Lego-like DNA bricks.