Researchers have developed silk materials that can wrinkle into highly detailed patterns, which can be erased by flooding the silk surface with vapor
New silk materials put wrinkle into pattern creation
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Natural Materials
Wood toughens up spider silk
Adding spider silk protein to wood cellulose nanofibrils makes tougher, but flexible composite
Nanotubes, gel and linen produce first thread-based transistor
Engineers have developed a transistor made from linen thread, by coating the thread in carbon nanotubes and immersing it in an electrolyte gel
Mimicking mussel materials
Research is taking inspiration from these mollusks and looking at how biomimetic materials might be used
Simple tweak reprogrammes DNA-responsive hydrogel smart materials
With a single RNA tweak, researchers produce user-friendly hydrogels that respond to different environmental triggers in various ways from chemical release to electrical fusing
Biocomposite packs a punch for mantis shrimp
Powerful punch of the mantis shrimp could be the next target for a biomimetic material
Researchers use eggshell particles to grow bone tissue in the lab
Technique can be used for bone grafts and regenerating cartilage, teeth, tendons
A better way to stop bleeding
Modifying starch creates a biocompatible, biodegradable and inexpensive material that stops bleeding
Seashells inspire shatterproof glass
Researchers have created a new type of glass by mimicking the nacre structure in mollusc shells