A new “smart rust” could one day help pull pollutants out of waterways, leaving cleaner water behind. Researchers adorned tiny particles of iron oxide, better known as rust, with “sticky” molecules that grab on to estrogen and similar hormones in water samples. A magnet can then remove both the particles and the trapped pollutants from […]
This ‘thermal cloak’ keeps spaces from getting either too hot or cold
If you’ve ever burned your hands on a car steering wheel, you know how hot the inside of a car can get on a summer day. But a new fabric could one day help cars and other objects stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Researchers created a prototype of the fabric, […]
The James Webb telescope may have spotted stars powered by dark matter
The James Webb Space Telescope has spotted objects in the early universe that might be a new kind of star — one powered by dark matter. These “dark stars” are still hypothetical. Their identification in JWST images is far from certain. But if any of the three candidates — reported in the July 25 Proceedings […]
Tear-resistant rubbery materials could pave the way for tougher tires
A new material design could reduce pollution where the rubber meets the road. Strategically adding weak points along microscopic chains called polymers actually makes them harder to tear, researchers report in the June 23 Science. Because polymers are used in car tires, the findings could help reduce plastic pollution as tires wear down over time. […]