Science News for Kids » materials science http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org Publication of the Society for Science & the Public Sat, 15 Jun 2013 13:07:38 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 Light dancing on glass http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/05/new-type-of-material-lets-light-travel-across-its-surface-without-interruption/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/05/new-type-of-material-lets-light-travel-across-its-surface-without-interruption/#comments Wed, 15 May 2013 16:33:28 +0000 Stephen Ornes http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=17065 This image, taken with a powerful microscope, shows tiny, individual crystals of bismuth telluride. A new structure made from this material lets light travel easily and without interruption along its surface. Credit: A13ean/Wikipedia

New type of material lets light travel across its surface without interruption]]> This image, taken with a powerful microscope, shows tiny, individual crystals of bismuth telluride. A new structure made from this material lets light travel easily and without interruption along its surface. Credit: A13ean/Wikipedia

New type of material lets light travel across its surface without interruption]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/05/new-type-of-material-lets-light-travel-across-its-surface-without-interruption/feed/ 0 Building a better battery http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/04/building-a-better-battery/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/04/building-a-better-battery/#comments Mon, 08 Apr 2013 17:00:43 +0000 Sid Perkins http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=16354 Researchers designed a way to make better batteries using supersmall sulfur particles coated with titanium dioxide. Credit: Seh et al., Nature Communications (2013)

Researchers develop a way to make batteries that hold more charge and don’t weaken with age]]> Researchers designed a way to make better batteries using supersmall sulfur particles coated with titanium dioxide. Credit: Seh et al., Nature Communications (2013)

Researchers develop a way to make batteries that hold more charge and don’t weaken with age]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/04/building-a-better-battery/feed/ 0 This shrimp packs a punch http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/03/mantis-shrimp-colorful-marine-creatures-possess-deadly-weapons-and-complex-vision/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/03/mantis-shrimp-colorful-marine-creatures-possess-deadly-weapons-and-complex-vision/#comments Wed, 27 Mar 2013 16:52:57 +0000 Roberta Kwok http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=16122 Mantis shrimp are related to crabs and lobsters. They come in a gorgeous array of colors. Credit: Roy Caldwell

Researchers learn a lot from mantis shrimp, colorful marine creatures that possess deadly weapons and complex vision]]> Mantis shrimp are related to crabs and lobsters. They come in a gorgeous array of colors. Credit: Roy Caldwell

Researchers learn a lot from mantis shrimp, colorful marine creatures that possess deadly weapons and complex vision]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/03/mantis-shrimp-colorful-marine-creatures-possess-deadly-weapons-and-complex-vision/feed/ 0 A smarter scan http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/02/a-smarter-scan/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/02/a-smarter-scan/#comments Tue, 05 Feb 2013 13:35:08 +0000 Stephen Ornes http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=15537 Tiny patterns cut into this narrow copper strip filter microwaves. This new, simple technology makes it possible to take digital pictures faster, with less computer time required. And it could be used to help make airport scanners smarter, faster and cheaper. Credit: J. Hunt/Duke

Scientists introduce a cheap and smart new device that gathers data in a flash]]> Tiny patterns cut into this narrow copper strip filter microwaves. This new, simple technology makes it possible to take digital pictures faster, with less computer time required. And it could be used to help make airport scanners smarter, faster and cheaper. Credit: J. Hunt/Duke

Scientists introduce a cheap and smart new device that gathers data in a flash]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/02/a-smarter-scan/feed/ 0 Science for all http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/01/science-for-all/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/01/science-for-all/#comments Wed, 09 Jan 2013 23:01:52 +0000 Nancy McGuire http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=15284 John Holdren shares his insights into science with President Barack Obama as his science advisor. Credit: Pete Souza

STEM — science, technology, engineering and math — makes careers blossom]]> John Holdren shares his insights into science with President Barack Obama as his science advisor. Credit: Pete Souza

STEM — science, technology, engineering and math — makes careers blossom]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/01/science-for-all/feed/ 0 How to stop a speeding bullet http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/11/how-to-stop-a-speeding-bullet/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/11/how-to-stop-a-speeding-bullet/#comments Mon, 26 Nov 2012 19:51:41 +0000 Stephen Ornes http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=14942 plastic

Scientists take a close look at a plastic that has Superman’s ability to stop a speeding bullet]]> plastic

Scientists take a close look at a plastic that has Superman’s ability to stop a speeding bullet]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/11/how-to-stop-a-speeding-bullet/feed/ 0 Helium: Not so super after all http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/11/helium-not-so-super-after-all/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/11/helium-not-so-super-after-all/#comments Fri, 02 Nov 2012 14:00:11 +0000 Stephen Ornes http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=14628 As a gas, helium glows yellow-pink when an electric current is added. Scientists recently reported that they’d made a mistake in a 2004 study that found the element was a supersolid. Turns out helium as a solid isn’t so super. Caption: Pslawinski

An exciting discovery in physics turns out to be merely a case of mistaken identity]]> As a gas, helium glows yellow-pink when an electric current is added. Scientists recently reported that they’d made a mistake in a 2004 study that found the element was a supersolid. Turns out helium as a solid isn’t so super. Caption: Pslawinski

An exciting discovery in physics turns out to be merely a case of mistaken identity]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/11/helium-not-so-super-after-all/feed/ 0 Color-changing robot http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/10/color-changing-robot/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/10/color-changing-robot/#comments Sun, 14 Oct 2012 15:00:52 +0000 Stephen Ornes http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=14399 Tiny tubes filled with colored dyes let these soft robots blend in with their environments. Credit: S. Morin, Harvard University

Tiny tunnels within the “skin” of a robot allow it to blend in with or stand out from its surroundings]]> Tiny tubes filled with colored dyes let these soft robots blend in with their environments. Credit: S. Morin, Harvard University

Tiny tunnels within the “skin” of a robot allow it to blend in with or stand out from its surroundings]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/10/color-changing-robot/feed/ 0 Tiny bubbles, be gone http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/10/tiny-bubbles-be-gone/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/10/tiny-bubbles-be-gone/#comments Mon, 01 Oct 2012 14:43:07 +0000 Stephen Ornes http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=14301 Both of these steel balls are superheated to 400 degrees Celsius (750 degrees Fahrenheit). But the one on the left has been treated with chemicals that repel water, and as a result it doesn’t produce the explosion of tiny bubbles that precede a boil, as seen on the right. Credit: Ivan Vakarelski

The right surface can determine how water boils]]> Both of these steel balls are superheated to 400 degrees Celsius (750 degrees Fahrenheit). But the one on the left has been treated with chemicals that repel water, and as a result it doesn’t produce the explosion of tiny bubbles that precede a boil, as seen on the right. Credit: Ivan Vakarelski

The right surface can determine how water boils]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/10/tiny-bubbles-be-gone/feed/ 0 An oil filter for water http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/09/an-oil-filter-for-water/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/09/an-oil-filter-for-water/#comments Thu, 13 Sep 2012 14:08:17 +0000 Stephen Ornes http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=14160 A new type of filter separates water (blue) from oil (red). Credit: Gibum Kwon, Arun K. Kota and Anish Tuteja.

A new screen can separate oil and water after they’ve mingled]]> A new type of filter separates water (blue) from oil (red). Credit: Gibum Kwon, Arun K. Kota and Anish Tuteja.

A new screen can separate oil and water after they’ve mingled]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/09/an-oil-filter-for-water/feed/ 0