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materials

Frost on leaves

Technology

Artificial leaves made from aluminium could keep windows frost-free

In winter, the veins of leaves don’t get completely covered in frost. Mimicking this effect could be the best way to create ice-resistant surfaces

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Liquid metal that floats on water could make transformable robots

Chemistry

Liquid metal that floats on water could make transformable robots

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Spider hairs

Life

Millions of hairy tarantula skins could be used to mop up oil spills

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Electrified artificial skin can feel exactly where it is touched

Technology

Electrified artificial skin can feel exactly where it is touched

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Living sand hydrogel

Earth

Living 'concrete' made from bacteria used to create replicating bricks

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Welcome to Lunarville: Building a permanent settlement on the moon

Video

Welcome to Lunarville: Building a permanent settlement on the moon

Video

Sam rogers rocket man

Video

Rocket man: How I became a jet suit pilot

Video

National Ignition Facility Laser System

Physics

Blasting lead with 160 lasers makes it incredibly strong, then explode

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steel making

Technology

Steel and concrete are climate change's hard problem. Can we solve it?

Features

steel workers

Environment

Tackling emissions from heavy industry is key to fixing climate change

Ramping up renewable energy, electrifying transport and ending energy waste is the easy stuff, the hard problem of climate change is reducing emissions from steel and concrete production

Leader

Technology

Here's how we can stop a mountain of electric car batteries piling up

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Technology

Fridges made from twisty materials could be better for the environment

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Physics

A strange new type of crystal is made of fluid tied into knots

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Technology

Coated paper holds secret messages that can be erased with a hairdryer

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