Living materials take inspiration from the natural world, where plants, animals and microbes routinely manufacture functional materials as part of their normal physiology. For instance, trees produce ...

Millions of years of evolution have enabled some marine animals to grow complex protective shells composed of multiple layers that work together to dissipate physical stress. In a new study, engineers ...

Natural fibers are better for the environment than synthetics — at least, that’s been a long-held tenet of fashion sustainability. But what if that’s not the case? A new research paper, co-authored by ...

Inspired by the shape-shifting skin of octopuses, Penn State researchers developed a smart hydrogel that can change appearance, texture, and shape on command. The material is programmed using a ...