Smart materials are characterized by the capability to change properties in response to environmental changes or external stimuli. They can be tailored to have controlled interactions with biological ...

Minor changes in moisture level can promote lipid molecules to reorganize themselves in biomaterial or biomembranes. This can ...

Rice becomes weaker when compressed quickly, while staying stronger under slow pressure—a discovery enabling scientists to design a new material that could be used to build "soft" robots that change ...

A smart polymer developed by UC San Diego scientists can disassemble when hit by low-power near-infrared light, opening the door to new imaging techniques. (Image courtesy of American Chemical Society ...

Understanding smart materials is vital for advancing adaptable technologies, forming the foundation for breakthroughs in robotics, automation, and biomedical devices. This area of study explores the ...

Scientists have developed a smart, reusable adhesive more than ten times stronger than a gecko's feet adhesion, pointing the way for development of reusable superglue and grippers capable of holding ...

A team of researchers has created smart, advanced materials that will be the building blocks for a future generation of soft medical microrobots. These tiny robots have the potential to conduct ...

Despite the prevalence of synthetic materials across different industries and scientific fields, most are developed to serve a limited set of functions. To address this inflexibility, researchers at ...