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Lightweight Metal Foam Blocks Blastwave, Debris From High-Explosive Rounds

mechanical and aerospace engineering

diagram shows how soft robot design was inspired by cheetahs

May 8, 2020

Inspired by Cheetahs, Researchers Build Fastest Soft Robots Yet

Inspired by the biomechanics of cheetahs, researchers have developed a faster soft robot. 
fabric sleeve that is also a video game controller

Apr 30, 2020

‘Breathable’ Electronics Pave the Way for More Functional Wearable Tech

Stretchable electronic material can 'breathe' – making it more comfortable for users. 
Two images of composite metal foam

Mar 19, 2020

Pool Fire Testing Moves Composite Metal Foams Closer to Widespread Applications

Study finds composite metal foams can handle the heat. A lot of heat. 
diagram of a greenhouse with translucent solar panels on the roof.

Feb 7, 2020

Next Generation of Greenhouses May Be Fully Solar Powered

Many greenhouses could become energy neutral by using see-through solar panels to harvest energy. 
series of photos showing simple, self-folding robots

Dec 16, 2019

Researchers Make Robots From Self-Folding Kirigami Materials

Researchers have demonstrated a new way to make robots. 
composite metal foam with a ruler for scale

Oct 21, 2019

Composite Metal Foam Outperforms Aluminum for Use in Aircraft Wings

Metal foam outperforms aluminum for use in airplane wings. 
graphic of bone with osteoporosis compared to normal bone

Sep 17, 2019

Novel Approach to Ultrasound Raises Possibility of New Medical Applications

A new ultrasound technique provides a non-invasive way of assessing bone structure on the microscale. 
Jim Prim and George Prude pose in the Gemini Trainer used in the Apollo 11 mission.

Jul 15, 2019

Moon Landing: How NC State Helped Make That Giant Leap

The Apollo 11 space mission put men on the moon — with the aid of more than two dozen NC State scientists, researchers and engineers. 
photo of an in situ scanning electron microscopy heating and loading device.

Jul 8, 2019

New Technique Allows Real-Time Microscopy at High Heat and Loading

Researchers have demonstrated a technique that allows them to track microscopic changes in metals or other materials in real time even when the materials are exposed to extreme heat and loads for an extended period of time. 
.50 caliber round striking a target

Jun 5, 2019

Metal Foam Stops .50 Caliber Rounds as Well as Steel – At Less Than Half the Weight

Armor using composite metal foam can stop ball and armor-piercing .50 caliber rounds as well as conventional steel armor, even though it weighs less than half as much. 
photo of tetra fish and two diagrams of nanocolumns

Mar 20, 2019

Fish-Inspired Material Changes Color Using Nanocolumns

Inspired by the flashing colors of the neon tetra fish, researchers have developed a technique for changing the color of a material by manipulating the orientation of nanostructured columns in the material. 

Aug 1, 2018

New Technique Uses Templates to Guide Self-Folding 3-D Structures

Researchers have developed a new technique to control self-folding 3-D structures. 

Jul 9, 2018

New Microscopy Works at Extreme Heat, Sheds Light on Alloys for Nuclear Reactors

A new microscopy technique allows researchers to track microstructural changes in real time, even when a material is exposed to extreme heat and stress. 
Skyline view of Raleigh

Jun 26, 2018

New Tech Improves Ability to Reflect Sound Back to Its Source

Researchers have developed a device that reflects sound in the direction it came from, rather than deflecting it at an angle. 

Mar 26, 2018

Lightweight Metal Foam Blocks Blastwave, Debris From High-Explosive Rounds

Stainless steel composite metal foam can block blast pressure and fragmentation at 5,000 feet per second from high explosive incendiary rounds that detonate only 18 inches away.