(Funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Defense)
Researchers at Penn Engineering have made a surprising discovery: a new type of material that can pull water from the air and release it onto surfaces without any need for external energy. Originally stumbled upon by accident during unrelated experiments, the material combines water-attracting and water-repelling components at the nanoscale in a way that allows it to both capture moisture and push it out as visible droplets. This discovery could lead to new ways of collecting water in dry areas or cooling buildings and electronics using only evaporation without the need for any external energy.

(Funded by the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. National Science Foundation)
Scientists at Florida State University have mapped the internal structure of blacktip sharks in unprecedented detail. At the nanoscale, the researchers observed tiny needle-like bioapatite crystals – a mineral also found in human bones – aligned with strands of collagen. Even more intriguing, the team discovered helical fiber structures primarily based on collagen – suggesting a sophisticated, layered design optimized to prevent cracks from spreading. Under strain, fiber and mineral networks work together to absorb and distribute force, contributing to the shark’s resilience and flexibility. This detailed understanding of how sharks build such tough yet adaptable structures could inspire the creation of new, more resilient materials for medical implants or protective gear.

(Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy)
Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory have unveiled a novel approach to understanding stochasticity in tiny magnetic structures. Their work explores the intricate decision-making processes of nanomagnetic Galton boards, a modern take on a classical concept in statistics and computing. Their insights have the potential to transform computing architectures, leading to more sophisticated neural networks and enhancing encryption technologies to secure data against cyber threats. A Galton board uses a triangular array of pegs. As balls fall through the grid, they randomly bounce left or right, eventually landing somewhere along the bottom. In a nanomagnetic version of the Galton board instead of pegs, the boards use tiny magnetic structures made from a nickel-iron alloy. Instead of balls, they use domain walls, which are boundaries that separate regions with different magnetic orientations within a material. Nanostructures in this work were fabricated at the Center for Nanoscale Materials, a DOE Office of Science user facility at Argonne.

(Funded by the National Institutes of Health)
A child diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder has been successfully treated with a customized CRISPR gene editing therapy by a team of researchers at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine. The researchers targeted the infant’s specific variant of a gene that codes for an enzyme in the liver that converts ammonia to urea (which is later excreted in urine). The researchers designed and manufactured a gene-editing therapy delivered via lipid nanoparticles to the liver in order to correct the infant’s faulty enzyme. As of April, the infant had received three doses of the therapy with no serious side effects.

(Funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation)
Imagine a T-shirt that could monitor your heart rate or blood pressure. Or a pair of socks that could provide feedback on your running stride. This futuristic idea is getting closer to reality, thanks to new research from Washington State University. Scientists there have developed a more durable and comfortable way to print electronic materials onto fabrics, creating “smart” textiles. Unlike earlier attempts that relied on stiff or rigid components sewn or glued onto fabrics, this new method uses a direct ink 3D printing technique. Researchers printed a solution containing carbon nanotubes and a biodegradable polyester onto two types of fabric. This solution bonded well with the fibers, making the printed materials wash-friendly and able to hold up through abrasion.