University of Missouri researchers designed a prototype of a small, lightweight active ‘metamaterial’ that can control the direction and intensity of energy waves.
Professor Guoliang Huang of the University of Missouri has developed a prototype metamaterial that can control the direction and intensity of energy waves using electrical signals. The innovative material has potential applications in the military and commercial sectors, and can also be used to monitor the structural health of bridges and pipelines.
For more than 10 years, Guoliang Huang, the Huber and Helen Croft Chair in Engineering at the University of Missouri, has been investigating the unconventional properties of “metamaterials” — an artificial material that exhibits properties not commonly found in nature as defined by Newton’s laws of motion — in his long-term pursuit of designing an ideal metamaterial.
The prototype metamaterial uses electrical signals transported by these black wires to control both the direction and intensity of energy waves passing through a solid material. Credit: University of Missouri
Now, Huang’s one step closer to his goal. In a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) on May 18, Huang and colleagues have developed a prototype metamaterial that uses electrical signals to control both the direction and intensity of energy waves passing through a solid material.
Potential applications of his innovative design include military and commercial uses, such as controlling radar waves by directing them to scan a specific area for objects or managing vibration created by air turbulence from an aircraft in flight.
“This metamaterial has odd mass density,” Huang said. “So, the force and acceleration are not going in the same direction, thereby providing us with an unconventional way to customize the design of an object’s structural dynamics, or properties to challenge Newton’s second law.”
This is the first physical realization of odd mass density, Huang said.
“For instance, this metamaterial could be beneficial to monitor the health of civil structures such as bridges and pipelines as active transducers by helping identify any potential damage that might be hard to see with the human eye.”
News
Does COVID increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease?
Scientists discover that even mild COVID-19 can alter brain proteins linked to Alzheimer’s disease, potentially increasing dementia risk—raising urgent public health concerns. A recent study published in the journal Nature Medicine investigated whether both mild and [...]
New MRI Study Reveals How Cannabis Alters Brain Activity and Weakens Memory
A massive new study sheds light on how cannabis affects the brain, particularly during cognitive tasks. Researchers analyzed over 1,000 young adults and found that both heavy lifetime use and recent cannabis consumption significantly reduced brain [...]
How to Assess Nanotoxicity: Key Methods and Protocols
With their high surface area and enhanced physicochemical properties, nanomaterials play a critical role in drug delivery, consumer products, and environmental technologies. However, their nanoscale dimensions enable interactions with cellular components in complex and [...]
Nanotech drug delivery shows lasting benefits, reducing need for repeat surgeries
A nanotechnology-based drug delivery system developed at UVA Health to save patients from repeated surgeries has proved to have unexpectedly long-lasting benefits in lab tests – a promising sign for its potential to help human patients. [...]
Scientists Just Found DNA’s Building Blocks in Asteroid Bennu – Could This Explain Life’s Origins?
Japanese scientists detected all five nucleobases — building blocks of DNA and RNA — in samples returned from asteroid Bennu by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission. NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission brought back 121.6 grams of asteroid Bennu, unveiling nitrogen-rich organic matter, including DNA’s essential [...]
AI-Designed Proteins – Unlike Any Found in Nature – Revolutionize Snakebite Treatment
Scientists have pioneered a groundbreaking method to combat snake venom using newly designed proteins, offering hope for more effective, accessible, and affordable antivenom solutions. By utilizing advanced computational techniques and deep learning, this innovative [...]
New nanosystem offers hope for improved diagnosis and treatment of tongue cancer
A pioneering study has unveiled the Au-HN-1 nanosystem, a cutting-edge approach that promises to transform the diagnosis and treatment of tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC). By harnessing gold nanoparticles coupled with the HN-1 peptide, [...]
Global Trust in Science Is Stronger Than Expected – What’s Next?
A landmark global survey conducted across 68 countries has found that public trust in scientists remains robust, with significant support for their active involvement in societal and political matters. The study highlights the public’s [...]
Microplastics in the bloodstream may pose hidden risks to brain health
In a recent study published in the journal Science Advances, researchers investigated the impact of microplastics on blood flow and neurobehavioral functions in mice. Using advanced imaging techniques, they observed that microplastics obstruct cerebral blood [...]
AI Surveillance: New Study Exposes Hidden Risks to Your Privacy
A new mathematical model enhances the evaluation of AI identification risks, offering a scalable solution to balance technological benefits with privacy protection. AI tools are increasingly used to track and monitor people both online [...]
Permafrost Thaw: Unleashing Ancient Pathogens and Greenhouse Gases
Permafrost is a fascinating yet alarming natural phenomenon. It refers to ground that remains frozen for at least two consecutive years. Mostly found in polar regions like Siberia, Alaska, and Canada, permafrost plays a [...]
Frequent social media use tied to higher levels of irritability
A survey led by researchers from the Center for Quantitative Health at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School has analyzed the association between self-reported social media use and irritability among US adults. Frequent [...]
Australian oysters’ blood could hold key to fighting drug-resistant superbugs
Protein found in Sydney rock oysters’ haemolymph can kill bacteria and boost some antibiotics’ effectiveness, scientists discover An antimicrobial protein found in the blood of an Australian oyster could help in the fight against [...]
First U.S. H5N1 Death Sparks Urgency: Scientists Warn Bird Flu Is Mutating Faster Than Expected
A human strain of H5N1 bird flu isolated in Texas shows mutations enabling better replication in human cells and causing more severe disease in mice compared to a bovine strain. While the virus isn’t [...]
AI Breakthrough in Nanotechnology Shatters Limits of Precision
At TU Graz, a pioneering research group is leveraging artificial intelligence to drastically enhance the way nanostructures are constructed. They aim to develop a self-learning AI system that can autonomously position molecules with unprecedented precision, potentially [...]
How Missing Sleep Lets Bad Memories Haunt Your Mind
Research reveals that a lack of sleep can hinder the brain’s ability to suppress unwanted memories and intrusive thoughts, emphasizing the importance of restful sleep for mental health. Sleep deprivation has been found to [...]
