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Three Stanford faculty named American Physical Society Fellows
Wendy Mao, Xiao-Liang Qi, and Alberto Salleo have been honored for work in compressed-matter physics, quantum many-body systems, and organic and polymer electronic materials.
Sarasota tape manufacturer acquires Iowa shrink film maker
Intertape Polymer Group has acquired Clysar.
New Open-Access Journal Puts Sustainable Polymers at the Center of Materials Science
Polymers are quietly the most successful materials story of the modern era, and the scientific community is now giving them a dedicated stage. Springer Nature has launched the Journal of Materials Science: Polymers, a new open-access title created to advance the science,
DNA Has a Four-Letter Alphabet. Scientists Just Expanded It to Eight
Researchers showed how a natural bacterial enzyme can accurately transcribe DNA containing four extra genetic letters. Life uses a four-letter DNA alphabet, but could its genetic machinery read a larger one? Researchers at the University of California San Diego have shown that RNA polymerase, the enzyme that copies DNA instructions into RNA, can accurately transcribe
Chemistry professor honored for work on biodegradable polymers
Geoffrey Coates was named a co-winner of the prestigious Balzan Prize for his work transforming renewable feedstocks and recovered carbon dioxide into high-performance, degradable and recyclable materials.
Chemistry professor wins prestigious Balzan Prize for work on biodegradable polymers
Geoffrey Coates was named a co-winner of the prestigious Balzan Prize for his work transforming renewable feedstocks and recovered carbon dioxide into high-performance, degradable and recyclable materials.
Frank Leibfarth wins 2027 Carl S. Marvel Award - College of Arts and Sciences
The award, given once every other year, recognizes outstanding accomplishments and unusual innovation in basic or applied polymer science by scientists early in their careers.
Tokyo University of Science develops 137 MJ/m3 tough glassy polymer
Researchers combined bulky DMAP counterions with an ionic comb polymer to achieve both high stiffness and toughness while suppressing nanoscale phase separation.
A spatially programmable microfluidic chip for multi-stage particle and cell separation
A programmable microfluidic device developed at Institute of Science Tokyo, Japan, combines deterministic lateral displacement, a microfluidic technique that is used to separate particles according to their size, with temperature-responsive polymer micropillars to dynamically change the separation conditions along a single channel. Using this device, the researchers successfully separated multiple particle populations. Additionally, they efficiently isolated viable cancer cells, white blood cells, and red blood cells from diluted whole blood.
Pelican Unveils Next-Generation Protector Cases with Advanced HPX Polymer Science & Modular Accessories
Pelican Products recently launched its Next Generation Protector series, upgrading its namesake case line with advanced polymer formulations and modular...
Scientists turn tiny “defects” into a 5.5x heat transfer boost
Scientists have developed an ultrathin coating that could dramatically improve how efficiently heat is transferred during condensation. By turning tiny polymer structures once considered “defects” into places where water droplets can form, then helping those droplets detach quickly, the new surface keeps exposing fresh areas for condensation. In tests on copper tubes, it transferred heat up to 5.5 times more effectively than conventional copper and more than 50% better than a standard water-repelling coating.
Single-Atom Catalysis research earns science award
As the invisible engines of modern chemistry, catalysts help produce the gasoline that powers cars, the fertilizers that promote food cultivation and the polymers used to make clothing, making them indispensable to modern life.
NE Ohio university ranks No. 1 in North America for polymer science, plastics engineering
A recent EduRank report ranks the University of Akron No. 1 in North America and the U.S. and No. 2 in the world for polymer science and plastics engineering based on research performance.
The Science Of Speed: How Mizuno’s Nanoalloy Face Changes What’s Possible In Driver Design
Mizuno is the first company to put a functional polymer layer in front of a driver face. The implications go well beyond ball speed. For most of the
Lighter X-ray aprons could spare health care workers from chronic pain
A light, flexible polymer material developed at the University of Waterloo could replace the lead in heavy X-ray aprons, providing the same protection from harmful radiation while reducing their weight ...
Lighter X-ray aprons could spare health-care workers from chronic pain
Researchers at the University of Waterloo have developed a lightweight, flexible polymer material that could replace lead in X-ray aprons while providing comparable protection from harmful radiation. By incorporating specially engineered tungsten nanoparticles into a silicone-based nanocomposite, the team created a shielding material that is nearly 90 per cent lighter than traditional lead aprons, potentially reducing the back and neck injuries commonly experienced by health-care workers who wear them for extended periods.
Scientists Discover Cheap Material That Kills Deadly Superbugs
A new sulfur-rich antimicrobial polymer shows strong effectiveness against fungal and bacterial pathogens and may offer an affordable solution to antimicrobial resistance.
2026 National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship Award
First year Materials and Nanoscience graduate student Stéphane Miaule (Tolbert group) has been awarded the 2026 National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship, one of the country’s most prestigious honors for graduate students in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). The program, jointly sponsored by the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force, supports doctoral students across a broad range of scientific and technological fields of strategic importance. This highly competitive fellowship provides full tuition, fees, and a monthly stipend for three years. In 2026, only 102 fellowships were awarded nationwide, and Stéphane is the sole recipient from UCLA. Before transferring from Santa Monica College to UCLA, Stéphane interned at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and Marshall Space Flight Center, where he researched the mechanical and thermodynamic properties of lunar regolith, as well as radiation shielding materials for lunar habitation development. At UCLA, he joined the Soft Materials Research Laboratory under Professor Qibing Pei, focusing on the synthesis and characterization of hafnium oxide nanocomposite scintillators. After earning his bachelor’s degree in chemistry, he remained in the Soft Materials Research Laboratory as a post-baccalaureate researcher for one year before joining Professor Sarah Tolbert’s group as a Ph.D. student. Stéphane’s Ph.D. research is focused on improving the properties of conjugated polymers, which are a family of plastic materials that can conduct electricity. Stéphane is specifically looking at self-assembling polymers that can be processed in water to create light-weight, flexible, high-conductivity polymer devices without the need for toxic or volatile organic solvents. After completing his Ph.D., Stéphane hopes to work in a national laboratory, researching semiconducting polymers for applications in new electronic devices. “The Graduate (1967) featured a memorable scene in which the protagonist was told that ‘there’s a great future in plastics.’ We know this still holds true today, as polymer research has expanded rapidly due to the wide variety of applications these materials enable. Through my work on semiconducting polymers, I hope to contribute to the continued development of plastic electronics,” Stéphane said. Penny Jennings, UCLA Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, penjen@g.ucla.edu.
Former Southern Miss president and polymer science pioneer Shelby Thames dies at 89
The University of Southern Mississippi is mourning the loss of one of its former presidents.
Scientists rethink DNA after discovering it can be built from scratch in a process they call 'doodling'
Scientists show DNA polymerases can build long, patterned DNA without a template called "doodling," opening new paths for synthetic biology.
Scientists rethink DNA after discovering it can be built from scratch
Scientists show DNA polymerases can build long, patterned DNA without a template, opening new paths for synthetic biology and gene design.
Sharing her passion for science
By Danielle Rush Communications Specialist, Indiana University Kokomo Hisako Masuda, Indiana University Kokomo professor of biochemistry, was honored by the Indiana Academy of Science (IAS) as its 2026 Distinguished Scholar. The award is given to an individual who is recognized by the IAS as having an exceptional record of scholarship. Recipients are selected from nominations submitted to its awards committee. “I was surprised,” said Masuda, who joined IU Kokomo’s faculty in 2013. “I feel there are many good scientists in the Academy, so I wasn’t expecting it at all.” Patrick Motl, dean of the School of Sciences, said the Academy recognizes up to one member per year, and that Masuda is the second or third IU Kokomo faculty member to receive the commendation. “Clearly this speaks to the strength of Dr. Masuda’s accomplishments in research and scholarship and that her work stands out amongst her peers in Indiana,” said Motl, who received the award in 2019. “Many of the institutions that participate in the IAS are undergraduate institutions or primarily undergraduate institutions, but even having that caveat, Dr. Masuda has built and maintains a very active research program in her lab, working exclusively with undergraduates. She is passionate about science and can share that passion with her students. To carry on a quality research program with so many students involved in so many projects is truly remarkable and I am glad that the IAS acknowledged that for Dr. Masuda.” The IAS specifically commended her for involving more than 50 undergraduates in her research in bacterial metabolism, genomics, and their phenotypic plasticity at IU Kokomo, and publishing 23 articles with many student co-authors. Masuda’s current work primarily focuses on biodegradation and chemical repurposing of nylon. Using soil bacteria, her lab studies bacterial biodegradation of nylon and other environmental pollutants. She applies principles of green chemistry while developing a method to convert nylon waste into other nontoxic polymers. In collaborative work with health scientists, her lab investigates gut microbiomes of Indiana native birds as well as human subjects in a clinical study. She became interested in converting plastic waste while earning her Ph.D. at Rutgers University, working on methods to remove environmental waste not using chemicals or other intrusive methods. She learned about Nylon 11, which is used in pipes for transferring oil, interior components for cars, catheters, and in other industrial hard plastics. Nylon 11 is nontoxic, she added, so it is safe to include students in the research. “Those are considered to be nonbiodegradable, and have to go to a landfill,” she said. “I thought if we could come up with a way to biodegrade it, that would make some kind of impact.” Eventually, she wants to develop a product that would convert nylon waste to something useful, and to reduce waste and microplastics in the environment. “That would be my goal at some point, that we can make that change, and also make people more aware of their use of plastics,” she said. “I hope students stop to think about what we can do as scientists to address issues currently impacting us.” She appreciates the IAS for its support of scientific research at Indiana institutions, and IU Kokomo and the School of Sciences for providing funding for students to attend the Academy’s annual meeting. She added that IU Kokomo has also supported her research with funding from the School of Sciences and Academic Affairs. “Without that, I couldn’t do my research,” she said. Masuda has also earned a Senior Research Grant from the IAS, IU Kokomo’s Distinguished Research Award, and the IU Kokomo Junior Faculty Annual Research Award. She is a Fellow of the Indiana Academy of Science. Education is KEY at Indiana University Kokomo.
Stanford scientists create shape-shifting material that changes color and texture like an octopus
A new shape-shifting material can change both its texture and color in seconds, inspired by the camouflage abilities of octopuses. By precisely controlling how a polymer swells with water, researchers can create detailed, reversible patterns at the nanoscale. The material can even mimic realistic surfaces and dynamically adjust how it reflects light. In the future, AI could allow it to automatically blend into its surroundings.
Scientists unlock a powerful new way to turn sunlight into fuel
Scientists have developed a powerful new computational method that could accelerate the search for next-generation materials capable of turning sunlight into useful chemical energy. The work focuses on polyheptazine imides, a promising class of carbon nitride materials that absorb visible light and can drive reactions such as hydrogen production, carbon dioxide conversion, and hydrogen peroxide synthesis. By analyzing how 53 different metal ions influence the structure and electronic behavior of these materials, researchers created a framework that predicts which combinations will perform best.
Scientists Map the Hidden Chemistry of Solar-Powered Catalysts
A new computational approach reveals how subtle structural changes in polyheptazine imides can dramatically influence their ability to convert sunlight into chemical energy. Photocatalysis offers a promising way to convert abundant sunlight into useful chemical energy. Among the materials attract
Organic molecules found in a 500-million-year-old fossil, upending the science of paleontology
Biological polymer chitin survives 500 million years in fossils, revealing carbon conservation and ancient chemistry.
Needle-free insulin? Scientists invent gel that delivers insulin through the skin in animal studies
A new polymer gel can deliver insulin through intact skin in animal tests. It could someday offer a path toward needle-free diabetes treatment, some say.
A simple chemistry trick could end forever plastic
Seeing plastic trash while hiking inspired a Rutgers chemist to rethink why synthetic plastics last forever while natural polymers don’t. By mimicking tiny structural features used in DNA and proteins, researchers designed plastics that remain durable but can be triggered to fall apart naturally. The breakdown speed can be precisely tuned, from days to years, or switched on with light or simple chemical signals. The discovery could reshape everything from food packaging to medicine delivery.
Disney Inches Closer to 3D-Printed Attractions With a Jungle Cruise Polymer Prop Canoe
3D-printed boats? Anything is possible when Disney's Imagineers combine forces with new tech companies.