Scientists in Japan have uncovered unusual quantum behavior in “heavy” electrons within the crystalline compound CeRhSn, which could one day support advances in quantum computing. These electrons appear to carry hundreds of times their normal mass—not due to their intrinsic properties, but because of strong interactions with other particles in the material that slow them […]
Northwestern University chemists have developed a new plastic upcycling process that could revolutionize recycling by significantly reducing or even eliminating the need to pre-sort mixed plastic waste. Using an inexpensive nickel-based catalyst, the method selectively breaks down polyolefin plastics—such as polyethylenes and polypropylenes, which make up nearly two-thirds of global plastic use—allowing industrial users to […]
Professor Yoon Hyo-jae’s research team at Korea University has discovered that rubber plant leaves can naturally generate electricity through a phenomenon called the ionic Seebeck effect, without any additional processing. This effect occurs when moisture and ions within the plant tissues move in response to temperature differences, creating voltage. Notably, partially drying the leaves forms […]
Stretchable electronics are increasingly used in devices like smartphones, smartwatches, curved displays, and wearable sensors, but they face a trade-off between flexibility and electrical performance, as stretchable materials like elastomers typically underperform compared to rigid ones like metals or semiconductors. To address this, researchers have turned to origami and kirigami—Japanese techniques of folding and cutting […]
ASM is pleased to announce that Prof. Stefano Curtarolo, Director, Center for Autonomous Materials Design, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, is the 2026 J. Willard Gibbs Phase Equilibria Award recipient.
