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Recently researchers met to inform NSF research centers about this effort and large-scale vision for broadening the participation of underrepresented groups in STEM fields, and invite and encourage them to get involved.

In the world of materials science, researchers are constantly seeking new ways to create more efficient, durable, and adaptable materials. One promising avenue is the study of bottlebrush block polymers, a unique class of macromolecules that self-assemble into intricate nanostructures. Researchers at the University of Minnesota have been at the forefront of this research, uncovering new possibilities for these polymers and their applications.

A group of around 80+ mostly Hispanic K–5 students and their families showed up for the November 5th Cena y Ciencias (Spanish for “Supper and Science”) at Dr. Preston Williams Elementary School in Urbana.

Division: Materials Research (MPS/DMR) Directorate: Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS) Job Type:  STEM Appointment Type:  Temporary / Rotator Position Summary

The analytical facilities at Penn State, the University of Illinois, the University of Wisconsin, and the University of Minnesota are collaborating on a free seminar series on characterization. One hour Zoom lectures will be held three times per week starting March 30th. The initial lectures will provide broad overviews of various analytical techniques. Future lectures will address more specific measurements, applications and materials.

Researchers at UC Santa Barbara and UC Berkeley recently discovered that the venomous bloodworm, Glycera dibranchiata creates its four sharp fangs made of hardened melanin and infused with copper by relying on what’s called a multitasking protein—made primarily of two amino acids. The research was funded by the MRSEC program and was recently published in the journal, Matter as well as covered in the New York Times.

New research by engineers at the University of Illinois combines atomic-scale experimentation with computer modeling to determine how much energy it takes to bend multilayer graphene – a question that has eluded scientists since graphene was first isolated. The findings are reported in the journal Nature Materials.

Northwestern University engineers have developed a new nanoelectronic device that can perform accurate machine-learning classification tasks in the most energy-efficient manner yet. Using 100-fold less energy than current technologies, the device can crunch large amounts of data and perform artificial intelligence (AI) tasks in real time without beaming data to the cloud for analysis.

Helium may be the second-most abundant element in the universe, but on Earth it’s a finite, nonrenewable resource. Helium is so light that it’s not trapped by the lower levels of Earth’s atmosphere. And it’s extremely challenging to capture, since it’s relatively unreactive. Liquid helium is a critical ingredient in systems for cooling equipment used to study quantum systems and image atoms, as well as in the high-performance magnets used in MRI scanners and particle accelerators. But if it is not carefully contained, helium flies to the farthest reaches of the atmosphere or even out into space when it boils.

This past summer, about a dozen PREM faculty and students from the University of Central Florida joined MRSEC faculty and students at the University of Washington for their annual retreat at the Pack Forest Conference Center in Washington State. Against the beautiful backdrop of Douglas firs, nearly 85 materials scientists had the opportunity to share research ideas, brainstorm solutions, and collaborate.