Bizarre new high-strength glue can stick and unstick on command

An intriguing new glue can basically be switched on and off on demand. The adhesive sticks together when hit with one wavelength of light, and breaks apart with another, allowing it to be removed and reused easily – potentially, even underwater.

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Bacterial cellulose used to create new edible packaging material

We may soon be finishing off a box of cereal and then eating the bag it came in. Researchers have turned to bacteria-produced cellulose to create a single-use packaging material that is sustainable, biodegradable and, what’s more, edible.

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Salt-loaded hydrogel pulls water from the air, even in desert conditions

Researchers have created a superabsorbent hydrogel that can pull moisture from the air, even in desert conditions. The new material opens the door to creating an effective, sustainable method of addressing the important issue of water scarcity.

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Light-activated concrete scrubs air pollution out of traffic tunnels

Traffic is among the biggest sources of air pollution, but what if the very roads they drive on could help clear the air? Engineers in Korea have now demonstrated that photocatalytic concrete can help reduce pollution in tunnels.

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Flexible, moveable wooden walls mean no more ‘knocking through’

Knocking down a wall to create an open-plan space can be expensive. Researchers have created sustainable, moveable wooden partition walls that can be positioned right where you want them, making ‘knocking through’ a thing of the past.

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Octopus-inspired ink can change color on demand

A new light-activated ink can change color on demand. It’s made up of colored microbeads that rise in response to different wavelengths of light to change a surface color, which could be useful for new displays or active camouflage systems.

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Feel like monitoring an erupting volcano? There’s a sensor for that

Monitoring extreme environments requires a sensor continues to work in high temperatures. Now, researchers have developed a piezoelectric sensor that operates reliably at the temperature of erupting mafic lava, the hottest type of lava on Earth.

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Discarded diapers lay the foundation for future homes – quite literally

In an effort to create low-cost, sustainable housing, researchers have created a composite material by replacing sand in concrete and mortar with a common, non-degradable waste product: used disposable diapers. But would you build your house with it?

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Discarded diapers lay the foundation for future homes – quite literally

In an effort to create low-cost, sustainable housing, researchers have created a composite material by replacing sand in concrete and mortar with a common, non-degradable waste product: used disposable diapers. But would you build your house with it?

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Continue ReadingDiscarded diapers lay the foundation for future homes – quite literally

Latest Kevlar EXO fabric is lighter, more flexible and bulletproof

DuPont has launched a new version of its Kevlar fabric called EXO. The company says it is the most significant aramid fiber innovation in over 50 years with better ballistic protection and it's also lighter, more flexible, and more heat resistant.

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