Nacre, the rainbow-sheened material that lines the insides of mussel and other mollusk shells, is known as nature’s toughest material. Now, a team of researchers has revealed precisely how it works, in real time.

Original source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/10/191023150330.htm

To inspire advanced robotic technology, researchers have published the most complete description of how flying insects land upside-down.

Original source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/10/191023150314.htm

Researchers propose a new method of identifying the morphologies of atomic clusters. They have confirmed that the distinctive geometric shapes of some clusters, as well as the irregularity of amorphous structures, can be fully identified mathematically.

Original source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/10/191025094030.htm

Researchers have presented a swarm of tiny drones that can explore unknown environments completely by themselves. This work forms a significant step in the field of swarm robotics.

Original source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/10/191023172112.htm

Going upstream, and against a current, involves a front-first downward tilt and then moving along a surface, shows new research by a team of scientists, which created ‘nano-motors’ to uncover this effective means of locomotion under such conditions.

Original source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/10/191028164316.htm

A new study shows how micro-scale ‘rockets,’ powered by acoustic waves and an on-board bubble motor, can be maneuvered through 3D landscapes of cells and particles using magnets.

Original source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/10/191025170817.htm

To improve the safety of autonomous systems, MIT engineers have developed a system that can sense tiny changes in shadows on the ground to determine if there’s a moving object coming around the corner.

Original source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/10/191028164411.htm

Inspired by jumping spiders, researchers have developed a compact and efficient depth sensor that could be used on board microrobots, in small wearable devices, or in lightweight virtual and augmented reality headsets. The device combines a multifunctional, flat metalens with an ultra-efficient algorithm to measure depth in a single shot.

Original source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/10/191028164335.htm

Bacteria and other swimming microorganisms evolved to thrive in challenging environments, and researchers struggle to mimic their unique abilities for biomedical technologies, but fabrication challenges created a manufacturing bottleneck. Microscopic, 3D-printed, tori — donuts ­­– coated with nickel and platinum may bridge the gap between biological and synthetic swimmers, according to an international team of researchers.

Original source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/10/191030073337.htm

Engineers, along with an economist, have created an energy model that helps to remove carbon-generated power from the US electric grid — replacing it with a greener, financially feasible wind, solar and hydro energy system.

Original source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/10/191028175142.htm