Researchers uncover why cracks in materials break their symmetry while spreading

All materials, including those in our bodies and the structures around us, contain tiny imperfections like cracks, which can sometimes spread suddenly and dangerously—but also form fascinating patterns. Physicists have long struggled to explain why these cracks often branch unpredictably and slow down. However, two recent studies from the Weizmann Institute of Science have revealed […]

Tiny hopping robots

In this video from MIT, see the insect-sized jumping robot that leaps over tall obstacles and navigates rough terrain using far less energy than similar aerial robots, while carrying about 10 times more payload-opening the door to exciting new applications.