Materials Science – Page 15 – PossibleThreat Articles

New method reveals how damage occurs in human biological cells due to mechanical fatigue

September 17, 2019 0 Comments Anemia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Civil Engineering, Engineering and Construction, Materials Science, Sickle Cell Anemia, Stem Cells, Thermodynamics

Researchers have developed a novel way to measure how mechanical fatigue affects biological cells. They also have established the important role of this effect in influencing physical properties of biological cells such as red blood cells (RBCs). This new technique assesses the mechanical integrity and fatigue behavior of RBCs using a general microfluidics method that incorporates amplitude-modulated electro-deformation. This method has important applications for mechanical fatigue studies in conjunction with other microenvironments related to health and materials engineering.

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Chemists uncover a mechanism behind doping organic semiconductors

September 16, 2019 0 Comments Communications, Computer Science, Electronics, Graphene, Materials Science, Mobile Computing, Spintronics, Spintronics Research

Semiconductors — and our mastery of them — have enabled us to develop the technology that underpins our modern society. These devices are responsible for a wide range of electronics, including circuit boards, computer chips and sensors.

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New sample holder for protein crystallography

September 16, 2019 0 Comments Biochemistry, Chemistry, Engineering and Construction, Inorganic Chemistry, Materials Science, Nature of Water, Organic Chemistry, Thermodynamics

A research team has developed a novel sample holder that considerably facilitates the preparation of protein crystals for structural analysis. New research shows how proteins in solution can be crystallized directly onto the new sample holders themselves, then analyzedd using the MX beamlines at BESSY II. A patent has already been granted and a manufacturer found.

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Pearls: New light on enhancing lightweight armor for soldiers

September 16, 2019 0 Comments Biology, Biotechnology, Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Engineering and Construction, Genetically Modified, Materials Science, Nanotechnology, Weapons Technology

By mimicking the outer coating of pearls (nacre, or as it's more commonly known, mother of pearl), researchers have created a lightweight plastic that is 14 times stronger and eight times lighter (less dense) than steel and ideal for absorbing the impact of bullets and other projectiles.

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Combination of wood fibers and spider silk could rival plastic

September 16, 2019 0 Comments Biochemistry, Engineering and Construction, Environmental Science, Geochemistry, Geoengineering, Materials Science, Organic Chemistry, Recycling and Waste

The unique material outperforms most of today's synthetic and natural materials by providing high strength and stiffness, combined with increased toughness.

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Paramagnetic spins take electrons for a ride, produce electricity from heat

September 13, 2019 0 Comments Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Energy Technology, Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, Spintronics, Thermodynamics

Local thermal perturbations of spins in a solid can convert heat to energy even in a paramagnetic material — where spins weren't thought to correlate long enough to do so. This effect, which the researchers call 'paramagnon drag thermopower,' converts a temperature difference into an electrical voltage.

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Team discovers polymorph selection during crystal growth can be thermodynamically driven

September 13, 2019 0 Comments Civil Engineering, Computational Biology, Computer Modeling, Engineering, Engineering and Construction, Materials Science, Mobile Computing, Robotics

Scientists provide solid calculation to demonstrate the structural transformation in colloidal crystallization can be entirely thermodynamic, in contrast to the kinetic argument, from both theoretical and computational perspectives.

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Groovy! These grooved patterns better mitigate shock waves

September 13, 2019 0 Comments Civil Engineering, Construction, Energy and Resources, Engineering, Engineering and Construction, Fossil Fuels, Materials Science, Petroleum

Engineers have discovered a method that could make materials more resilient against massive shocks such as earthquakes or explosions. They found that cutting small grooves in obstacle materials diminished the impacts of what's called the reflected shock wave–once the initial wave has hit the spiral of obstacles and bounced back.