Plastic Polymer Cables That Rival Fiber Optics
MIT scientists demonstrate a hair-like plastic polymer cable that can transmit data 10 times as fast as USB How fast does data flow? The answer: not fast enough. The search for more efficient data-transfer solutions to meet the ever-increasing.....»»
Polymer foam aims to transform oil spill cleanup
University of Waterloo researchers have developed a new material that can absorb more than eight times its weight in oil, offering a new solution in preventing groundwater contamination from spills or accidents. The study, "Fabrication of Triblock El.....»»
AirTags key to discovery of Houston"s plastic recycling deception
One Houston resident was suspicious of the city's "all plastic accepted" recycling program, and used AirTags to discover where the plastic waste actually ended up.Apple employs an advanced robot named Daisy to disassemble old iPhones.Brandy Deason, w.....»»
Scientists demonstrate giant THz Kerr effect via stimulated phonon polaritons
Terahertz (THz) waves and THz technologies have gradually opened a new style for communications, cloud-based storage/computing, information contest, and medical tools. With the advancement of THz technologies, studies on THz nonlinear optics have eme.....»»
Advances in optical micronanofiber-enabled tactile sensors and soft actuators
A perfect combination of fiber optics and micro/nanotechnology, optical micro/nanofiber (MNF) is a new type of micro/nano-waveguide structure developed in recent years......»»
Lack of competition between petrol stations hits households most in poorest areas: Study
Households in low-income areas face significantly higher increases in petrol prices when rival fuel stations close compared to high-income areas, according to new research led by the University of East Anglia (UEA)......»»
Catalytic process vaporizes plastic bags and bottles, yielding gases to make new, recycled plastics
A new chemical process can essentially vaporize plastics that dominate the waste stream today and turn them into hydrocarbon building blocks for new plastics......»»
Nanoplastics put stress on trees and impair photosynthesis
It is well known that more and more plastic waste is ending up in soil and bodies of water. Researchers are particularly concerned about tiny micro- and nano-sized particles. It remains unclear how and to what extent they are able to enter living org.....»»
Biomass-based polymer can capture and release CO₂ without high pressure or extreme temperatures
A new, biomass-based material developed by FAMU-FSU College of Engineering researchers can be used to repeatedly capture and release carbon dioxide......»»
Sustaining oyster farming with sturdier rafts
Amid the rising human population and pressure on food supplies, the world can't be everyone's oyster. But perhaps there might be more oysters to eat if an Osaka Metropolitan University-led research team's findings mean sturdy plastic rafts will be us.....»»
Meta cancels its headset rival to Apple Vision Pro
Meta's chief technology officer has all but confirmed reports that the company is abandoning its plan to take on the Apple Vision Pro with a similarly powerful device.Meta Quest ProRight before the announcement of the Apple Vision Pro, Meta "leaked".....»»
Test of a prototype quantum internet runs under New York City for half a month
To introduce quantum networks into the marketplace, engineers must overcome the fragility of entangled states in a fiber cable and ensure the efficiency of signal delivery. Now, scientists at Qunnect Inc. in Brooklyn, New York, have taken a large ste.....»»
Experts meet as final global plastic treaty talks near
With months until crunch talks on the world's first binding treaty on plastic pollution, experts are meeting in Bangkok to discuss financing options and problematic plastics......»»
Machine learning uses X-ray diffraction data from polymers to predict the behavior of new materials
Polymers such as polypropylene are fundamental materials in the modern world, found in everything from computers to cars. Because of their ubiquity, it's vital that materials scientists know exactly how each newly developed polymer will perform under.....»»
From recycling to food: Can we eat plastic-munching microbes?
Researchers are trying to turn plastic-eating bacteria into food source for humans. Enlarge (credit: Olga Pankova/Moment via Getty Images) In 2019, an agency within the US Department of Defense released a call for resear.....»»
Bioengineers develop a new environmentally friendly adhesive polymer
A team of bioengineers at the University of California, Berkeley, has developed a new kind of environmentally friendly adhesive polymer. In their study, published in the journal Science, the group used an electrophilic stabilizer to prevent a certain.....»»
Finally, a MacBook Pro rival that has what it takes
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 is arguably the best large laptop you can buy today. But it's also expensive and macOS-only. That's where the Asus ProArt P16 comes in......»»
Swappable optics could be the perfect accessory for an iPhone Air
Suggestions that Apple plans to launch an iPhone 17 Slim or iPhone 17 Air are gaining ground, with most reports now pointing to a compromise device. One big compromise we might see is for Apple to limit the model to a single camera – but there m.....»»
Hydrogels can learn to play Pong
Work could lead to new "smart" materials that can learn and adapt to their environment. This electroactive polymer hydrogel "learned" to play Pong. Credit: Cell Reports Physical Science/Strong et al......»»
Antarctica vulnerable to invasive species hitching rides on plastic and organic debris, oceanographic model shows
Antarctica's unique ecosystems could be threatened by the arrival of non-native marine species and marine pollution from Southern Hemisphere landmasses, new oceanographic modeling shows......»»
Advanced orbital angular momentum mode switching in multimode fiber utilizing an optical neural network chip
The rapid development of technologies such as the internet, mobile communications, and artificial intelligence has dramatically increased the demand for high-capacity communication systems. Among various solutions, mode-division multiplexing (MDM) ha.....»»