These little things look exactly like flowers—and that's because they're meant to. But in real life you'd never be able to spot them, because they are in fact microscopic crystals grown on the surface of a razor blade. Read More >>

Weapons. Toys. Entire skulls. There’s no limit to the objects we can 3D print these days, but the materials themselves haven’t evolved as quickly—we’re still stuck in a world of plastic, steel, and ceramic. That’s all about to change, thanks to the work of a small Oakland fabrication studio called Emerging Objects. Read More >>

A scientist from the University of Trento in Italy claims to have made the world's toughest material. But this isn't some kind of exotic super material—it's just made from strands of fibre with knots tied in them. Read More >>

There's a new supermaterial in town, and while it might be known as white graphene, it doesn't contain a single atom of carbon. But that doesn't make the new form of boron nitride any less useful—because it can suck chemicals and oil out of contaminated water in a jiffy. Read More >>

Most of your exposure to silk probably comes in the form of uncomfortably sensual linens or cobwebs in a dusty old closet. In reality, though, silk is an incredible and overlooked material. While it may have roots in the ancient past, it could also form the building blocks of the future. Read More >>

The world is up to its ears in plastic. You would be hard pressed to find items in your life that are devoid of this amazingly versatile material. But plastics are a varied bunch and some could potentially even give you cancer. So, read on to avoid being suckered into buying a knockoff water bottle that infuses a nauseating chlorine-flavour into your drink because it's made from cheap, shiny PVC. Read More >>

Graphene is touted as being the supermaterial to beat all supermaterials—but not so fast! Researcher have discovered a weakness that occurs in many sheets of graphene that renders it half as strong as we thought. Read More >>

When a bomb explodes, you can't outmaneuver it; you probably can't even take cover quickly enough to protect yourself. Instead, you have to hope that there's something — anything — already in the way that can shield you from the blast. Here are five of the best future bomb-proof materials that could end up saving lives in our increasingly uncertain future. Read More >>

Ferrofluids are liquids that become super magnetized when they're in contact with a magnetic field. Ferrocious is a ferrofluid sculpture that uses the hyper-magnetic material respond to sound, like a high-tech musical lava lamp. Read More >>

Every day, scientists make discoveries that change the way we live. But sometimes, just sometimes, they achieve results that are so extraordinary or unexpected that they literally don't know what to do with them. Here are five of the most puzzling. Read More >>

Corning has made it known that next week, the company will tell us all about its latest ultra tough gadget glass. Details about Gorilla Glass 3 are scant right now, but here's what we do know: It'll be tough stuff. Read More >>

We already know that cork is the most amazing material in the world to keep your wine tasty but how does the material perform elsewhere? Like, for example, in shoes. Check out these new Nike Lebron X Cork shoes. Yes, shoes that are made from cork. Read More >>

This isn't an alien spine. Nor is it some elaborate climbing frame. In fact it's a new new synthetic material called NU-110—and it's the highest surface area material ever made. Read More >>

It looks like a wisp of smoke or even the work of a very confused spider, but this is actually a close up of the lightest material that has ever been created. Read More >>

Corning, the venerable creator of Gorilla Glass, is making a big deal showing off its latest creation. Meet Corning Willow Glass—the ultra-thin, flexible glass that bends and rolls like plastic. Read More >>