Researchers from The University of Osaka have developed a mathematical model for Volterra defects using differential geometry to analyze the relationships between different types of defects. Their work provides insight into the connections between edge dislocations and wedge disclinations and extends traditional theories in material science. Their results may help to explain the unusual mechanical properties of crystals so they can be used to design new materials.

In AIP Advances, by AIP Publishing, researchers from Chongqing Jiaotong University and Chongqing No. 7 Middle School compared the performance of three helmet materials under the most common types of impact and loading conditions. Though participation in sports can have positive impacts both physiologically and socially, extreme sports come with elevated risks. Researchers used computational simulations to run material comparisons for helmets made of strong plastic Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), fiberglass alloys, and aluminum composites. The findings are valuable for all extreme sports, but Wang notes the importance of customizing helmet properties to their intended activity, as the effect of an impact depends on its interaction with gravity, the potential for a rebound, and more.

For thousands of years, humans have combined metals to collectively harness properties found in individual components, producing such practical materials as bronze, brass and, more recently, steel. However, predicting the exact microstructures underpinning these alloys to understand how specific properties of the constituent materials may manifest across scales is still a complex mystery researchers are working to solve. Now, thanks to a team based in Japan, that work could take minutes instead of years.

Scientists at ChristianaCare’s Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute and the University of Delaware have discovered a surprisingly simple explanation for how our bodies stay so well-organized, even as billions of cells are replaced daily. In a new study, they identified just five basic rules—like when and how cells divide and die—that seem to guide how tissues like the colon maintain their structure over time. Using computer simulations, the team showed how these rules work together like choreography to keep tissues healthy and functioning. This breakthrough, which researchers call a potential “tissue code,” could help explain how our bodies heal, how diseases like cancer form, and even support global efforts like the Human Cell Atlas. It’s a powerful example of how math and medicine can come together to reveal the hidden instructions that keep us alive and well.