Chemistry & Materials Discoveries

NSF's public investment in science, engineering, education and technology helps to create knowledge and sustain prosperity. Read here about the Internet, microbursts, Web browsers, extrasolar planets, and more... a panoply of discoveries and innovations that began with NSF support.

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		How to Make Adhesive as Good as a Gecko Materials scientist Ali Dhinojwala and his team use nanotechnology to develop adhesive tapes that stick better than a gecko’s foot Released  Thu Oct 16 00:00:00 EDT 2008
		Students Give High Marks to First U.S.-Japan Glass Science School Meeting brings U.S. university students and researchers together with their Japanese counterparts to talk about new developments and potential collaborations in glass research Released  Thu Aug 21 00:00:00 EDT 2008
		The Choreography of Dancing Molecules Photochemist Elizabeth Harbron and her students investigate the properties of conjugated polymers that can be activated by light Released  Tue Aug 05 00:00:00 EDT 2008
		Math Could Aid in Curing Cancer Scientists and medical doctors couple math and medicine for unusual, promising marriage Released  Mon Aug 04 00:00:00 EDT 2008
		Chemist 'Really Jazzed' About Creating New Molecules Lyle Isaacs talks about cool things that chemists do, such as his work to build new molecular containers that are as good as what is found in nature Released  Fri Jul 18 00:00:00 EDT 2008
		How Desert Dust Feeds the World's Oceans Scientists sample dust and trace metals in seawater to learn more about climatic change Released  Fri May 09 00:00:00 EDT 2008
		2007: Year in Review A look back at some of the NSF-supported advances and activities reported last year Released  Wed Jan 30 00:00:00 EST 2008
		Top Scientists Promote Innovative, Multidisciplinary Global Problem-Solving Strategies   Released  Tue Dec 11 00:00:00 EST 2007
		New Coating Could Prevent Infection From Surgical Tools and Implants Development of penicillin-coated surfaces could save thousands of lives from infection Released  Fri Sep 07 00:00:00 EDT 2007
		The Surprising Truth Behind the Construction of the Great Pyramids Were the stone blocks carved from natural limestone or cast with an early version of concrete? A materials science research team provides evidence to answer this age-old mystery. Released  Fri May 18 00:00:00 EDT 2007
		2006: Year in Review A look back at some of the NSF-supported activities highlighted last year Released  Tue Jan 09 00:00:00 EST 2007
		Fueling Ideas in Global Environmental Collaboration Pan-American Advanced Studies Institute melds student teams and experts for a fresh look at fuel cell design and emissions control Released  Wed Oct 18 00:00:00 EDT 2006
		Nanotubes Not for Toothpaste . . . Yet Researchers Squeeze Even Rock-Hard Materials Through Minuscule Carbon Tubes Released  Tue Jul 25 00:00:00 EDT 2006
		Purple Haze Ancient pigment reveals secrets about unusual state of matter Released  Tue Jul 11 00:00:00 EDT 2006
		Bonding in the Middle East Nobel chemist helps young scientists across the region strengthen ties, work together Released  Thu Apr 06 00:00:00 EDT 2006
		Micro Pills Could Deliver Drugs on Demand Temperature-sensitive capsules release chemicals at tightly controlled rates Released  Mon Mar 27 00:00:00 EST 2006
		From Fingerprints to Fiberprints Forensic technique leads to new method for creating nanofibers Released  Wed Feb 15 00:00:00 EST 2006
		Computer Program Streamlines Complex Work Scheduling Chemical engineers develop an algorithm that could transform scheduling Released  Tue Dec 06 00:00:00 EST 2005
		The World’s Smallest Fountain Pen? New microscope tips use capillary action to print patterns tens of nanometers across Released  Wed Oct 05 00:00:00 EDT 2005
		Modified Collagen Could Be a Boon for Medicine Altered protein could help shape the growth of engineered tissue Released  Tue Sep 20 00:00:00 EDT 2005
		The Tiniest Test Kits: A Medical Future for Carbon Nanotubes? Imagine if diabetics could read blood-glucose levels by reading a watch. Or if researchers could monitor hormone levels, in real-time, in their subjects. What sounds like science fiction today could be reality soon, thanks to carbon nanotubes. Released  Fri May 20 00:00:00 EDT 2005
		Nano-engineered Powders Tackle Toxic Chemicals Thirsty grains act fast to clean up messes Released  Thu Apr 28 00:00:00 EDT 2005
		Artificial Heart Valves Face the Curdled Milk Test A graduate student and her colleagues have developed what they think is a better way to test artificial heart valves. Using curdled milk as a blood substitute, their approach could improve preclinical testing of new devices, saving money and lives. Released  Tue Apr 26 00:00:00 EDT 2005
		It’s Elemental: Detecting Toxicity in a Controversial Fuel Additive U.S.-German Team Develops New Analytical Technique Released  Thu Jan 27 00:00:00 EST 2005
		Of Microbes and Mars Desert microbe discovery has extraterrestrial implications Released  Fri Dec 17 00:00:00 EST 2004
		Researchers Get First Look into Antimatter Atoms Physicists have probed the properties of whole atoms of antimatter, the "mirror image" of matter, providing the first look inside an antimatter atom and taking a big step on the way to testing standard theories of how the universe operates. Released  Fri Jul 30 00:00:00 EDT 2004
		Researchers Solve 100-Year-Old Puzzle of How Layer of Particles Coats the Surface of a Sphere Researchers have discovered how nature arranges charged particles in a thin layer around a sphere. Understanding this theoretical problem may help reveal chinks in the armor of viruses and bacteria and guide engineers designing new molecules. Released  Fri Jul 30 00:00:00 EDT 2004
		Spider Venom Could Yield Eco-Friendly Insecticides You could call Glenn King "The Spider Man." The University of Connecticut research scientist is mapping spider toxins at the molecular level. His work may result in an insecticide that takes out agricultural pests without harming other insects. Released  Mon May 03 00:00:00 EDT 2004
		Researchers Find Trigger for Devastating Digestive Disease and Propose a Possible Treatment Researchers discover what triggers severe inflammation of the intestine in people with celiac sprue, a common genetic disease that, if untreated, can lead to malnutrition and worse, and they propose a potential treatment. Released  Fri Jul 25 00:00:00 EDT 2003
		Finding Cures from Corals A chemical that protects a rare type of marine coral from predators may also prove to be a potent medicine for humans in the fight against cancer. Released  Fri Jul 18 00:00:00 EDT 2003