smart-materials

Scientists have created a “smart” gel that can change its physical state when exposed to light, heat or acid, potentially opening the door to new ways of delivering medicines and building sensitive medical sensors. Researchers at the University of Birmingham developed the material using specially designed molecules that can assemble, break apart and then come […] The post New Smart Gel Can Switch…

Scientific Reports, Published online: 03 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41598-026-65162-8 Shape-induced alignment and voltage-controlled switching in cholesteric droplets for smart film applications

A newly developed material can control and "program" heat, allowing it to direct thermal radiation, switch modes, and remember its settings without continuous power. The innovation could lead to smarter infrared sensors, better energy technologies, and memory devices that use light and heat instead of electrical charges.

Scientists discovered that rice behaves in a highly unusual way: it weakens under rapid compression but stays stronger when pressure is applied slowly. Using this effect, they engineered a new material that reacts differently to gentle movements and sudden impacts. The material can adapt its stiffness automatically, opening the door to safer soft robots and protective equipment that responds inst…

Scientists in Finland have developed a new smart material that can both change color and store electrical energy. In the future, this technology could lead to self-tinting windows that not only block excess sunlight but also store solar energy for later use. The research was carried out by doctoral researcher Sachin Kochrekar at the University […] The post New smart material could turn windows in…

A childhood toy may hold the secret to future smart robots and mechanical computers. Scientists have developed a new way to program special materials simply by spinning them, inspired by the same snapping motion that makes slap bracelets so satisfying. The research, published in Science Advances, could help create future soft robots, medical devices, and […] The post Scientists discover a way to …

FAU Professor Henry Dube, with funding from the Volkswagen Foundation, is developing smart materials based on tiny molecular machines.

If you’ve ever closed the blinds against afternoon glare and then sat in the dimness wondering why you bothered, you understand the basic problem with windows. They let in light you want and light you don’t, heat that’s welcome in January and unbearable in July, and ultraviolet radiation that slowly destroys your furniture whether you notice or not. For most of us, managing windows means managing…

IMDEA Materials Institute has welcomed Prof. Andrés Díaz Lantada as a new Principal Investigator and leader of the research line on Bioinspired, Smart, and Living Materials.

Imagine a fabric that repairs itself after a small tear, or a wall coating... The post 10 Innovative Smart Materials You May Not Know About appeared first on Linknovate Stories .

Material scientists at Drexel University in Philadelphia have developed a self-heating concrete that warms up on its own when temperatures drop below zero. No power needed. How does this new “smart material” work? Will we see it on our streets soon? Let’s have a look.

For your eyes only Robot arms that follow human movement patterns, artificial skin or movable iris implants: dielectric elastomers are bringing things which were previously strictly confined to the realms of science fiction to within our reach. Dielectric elastomers are smart materials structured in alternating layers. A layer of silicone elastomer is followed by a […]

Juniper publishers- Academic Journal of Polymer Science Authored by Francesca Nanni A Novel Empirical Approach to Estimate the Acoustic Properties of Smart Materials In this work, a novel empirical approach to the estimation of the rheological behaviour of smart materials from the sound insulation capabilities is proposed. The testing protocol relies on a small sound research facility that was…

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