3D-printed hydrogel is soft, and sometimes it can be tough. However, could it be hard?

Here, researchers from Zhejiang University report a 3D photo-printable hard/soft switchable hydrogel composite, enabled by the phase transition (liquid/solid transition) of supercooled hydrated salt solution (solvent) within the hydrogel. This work suggests a bright future for the direct use of hard hydrogel as a robust industrial material.

The Earth’s magnetic field quietly supports life on the planet and now, for the first time, its invisible powers have been used to create new nano particles and materials.

Scientists at Flinders University, with colleagues from the US and elsewhere, have embarked on a bold journey into uncharted waters, challenging long-held views in physics by demonstrating how the ever-present magnetic field influences fluid flow.

Ryan Amberger is headed to Los Alamos National Laboratory, where he will spend the next year studying nuclear astrophysics — specifically, the process behind the creation of half of the elements heavier than iron that make up the universe.