materials

Scientific Reports, Published online: 15 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41598-026-49163-1 Sunlight-activated carbon nanotubes for anionic dye removal: characterization, efficiency, and biological assessment against some aquaculture and human pathogenic bacteria

The elements that make up the ink in tattoos travel inside the body in micro and nanoparticle forms and reach the lymph nodes, according to a study published in Scientific Reports on 12 September by scientists from Germany and the ESRF, the European Synchrotron, Grenoble (France). It is the first time researchers have found analytical […]

Scientists at Northwestern University have developed a remarkable new material that can capture energy, store it for months, use it when needed, and then reset itself for reuse. Even more surprisingly, it behaves in a way that resembles living cells. The new material could one day help store renewable energy, power chemical reactions, clean up […] The post Scientists create a water-based material…

This record-breaking crystal can transform from mirror-like to glass-like, opening the door to tiny optical chips, AR displays, and smart contact lenses. Creating truly “invisible” wearable technology such as smart contact lenses and ultrathin augmented reality glasses will require a radical rethink of how optical devices are built. Instead of relying on conventional bulky components, [...]

Scientific Reports, Published online: 14 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41598-026-58237-z Energy-controlled supercapacitors based on polybenzidine-oxidant-GO hybrid electrodes with vanadate and dichromate redox chemistry

Artificial symbiosis enables three-dimensional living materials to be produced with properties normally associated with organisms rather than industry – potentially changing how materials can be manufactured. The work could open new possibilities in areas ranging from wound healing and biological reactors to responsive materials that can repair themselves.

Scientific Reports, Published online: 14 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41598-026-56728-7 Comparative mechanical properties of polyester and polyethylene composites reinforced with sunflower seed hull fibers

Scientists in Switzerland have developed an innovative new material made from food industry waste that could help remove carbon dioxide (CO2) directly from the atmosphere more efficiently and at a lower cost. The research, led by scientists at ETH Zurich and published in PNAS, uses proteins extracted from waste products generated during dairy and tofu […] The post Scientists turn food waste into …

Nature Communications, Published online: 13 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-74143-4 Researchers report a breakthrough in ultra-broadband magnonic frequency combs by driving a nonlinear YIG resonator far off-resonance, yielding over 350 comb lines across 450 MHz with continuously tunable spacing.

As demand for electric vehicles, smartphones, and renewable energy storage continues to grow, so does the need for lithium, a key ingredient in modern batteries. Now, researchers at Monash University have developed a new method that could make lithium production more efficient and environmentally friendly. The new technology allows lithium to be extracted from salt […] The post New lithium extrac…

Nature Communications, Published online: 13 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-74218-2 Liang et al. present flexible semiconductive polyMOF membranes, created by copolymerizing metal–organic frameworks with polymers. This integration reduces structural defects and improves charge transport, enabling highly sensitive X-ray detection with leading sensitivity and a conformal design suited for flexibl…

Scientific Reports, Published online: 13 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41598-026-57035-x FusionDiff: a dual-path diffusion-based framework for few-shot authenticity analysis of ceramic microstructures

Nature Communications, Published online: 13 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-74224-4 The design and synthesis of molecules featuring both boron and silicon moieties hold significant promise for delivering unique reactivity patterns and material properties. Herein, the authors report a titaniumcatalyzed selective hydroboration of the C(sp3)–Si bonds in silacyclobutanes for the synthesis of boryl-…

Nature Communications, Published online: 13 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-74219-1 This work demonstrates field-driven annealing of skyrmion lattices in van der Waals Fe3GaTe2. Magnetic-field oscillations and current pulses transform disordered skyrmions into distinct ordered states through a shared defect-mediated collective mechanism.

Nature Communications, Published online: 13 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-74340-1 Lithium metal batteries face challenges with dendritic growth. Here, authors employ in situ TEM to reveal how specific electrolyte anions dictate lithium nucleation and interphase architecture, establishing design principles for suppressing dendrites and enabling stable lithium deposition.

Nature Communications, Published online: 13 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-74162-1 Alveolar macrophages can contribute to systemic anti-tumor responses. Here the authors describe a cascaded targeted liposomal nanomedicine for generating chimeric antigen receptor-modified alveolar macrophages via intrapulmonary nebulization, promoting anti-tumor immunity in lung cancer models.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 12 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02175-w Extreme reactivity has long hindered the study of linear atomic carbon chains (carbyne). Now it has been shown that transmetallation of suitable precursors overcomes stability issues, delivering 1D Au|Cn|Au junctions that sustain high currents through a cumulene ⋯C=C=C=C⋯ valence structure with 12 or more carbon atom…