Researchers at the University of Manchester have broken the record for creating the tightest knot ever, using a strand of 192 atoms.

The Mary Rose, a flagship of Henry VIII’s English fleet, sank off the coast of Portsmouth in 1545. The hull now resides in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard alongside a number of the discovered artefacts. These provide us with a unique insight into Tudor Maritime life and act as a time capsule for this particular moment in […]

Since the development of the heart lung machine in the middle of the last century, cardiac surgeons have dreamed of developing an artificial heart to deal with the failing human heart. Those dreams have now reached reality, and the first fully implantable artificial hearts are in use. Previously considered a bridge to heart transplantation, they […]

In this video interview series, we ask Imperial College scientists to explain their research. This episode features material scientists Dr Ainara Aguadero.

Materials perform. Stuff is constantly getting up to things. Matter isdoing all of the time, just to exist and make up the world of objects. In this demo-led exploration of materials, Zoe Laughlin will show the micro becoming macro, the inanimate becoming animate, and material science performing. This is your chance to witness some of […]

Much of the technology we take for granted would have seemed miraculous even 30 years ago. The majority of these technological breakthroughs are based on developments in the fabrication of new materials. This lecture will highlight some examples of the ways materials have influenced he modern world and go on to explain the current research […]

Bentley Crudgington examines how X-ray crystallography has allowed us to understand what we really are

Andrew McMahon looks at a new optical metamaterial

A new rubber-like material can change shape limitlessly without physical manipulation.

Photo credit: Katherine McAlpine/Royal Institution After the storming success of his family-friendly talk at the Ri itself and online, Andrew Szydlo is back to take us through the fantastic world of steel and iron. Expect spectacular white hot reactions, wacky colour changes and chemical illusions in this demonstration-packed performance.

Daisy McInnerney puts the science of atom-level material manipulation under the microscope

A new technique using graphene could help improve lithium ion battery life …

How did comic books heroes get their superpowers and could we ever join their ranks? …

The remarkable story of mysterious polymer Starlite, and how we may never know its full potential …

‘I, Science’ writers on six inventions or practices they feel will be commonplace in the future …

Part of the Imperial Festival podcast series: Stefan Croniszewski talks to us about uses for this new wonder material …

Imperial College PhD student Zoltan Hiezl describes his experiences in the field of materials science …

Aryaman Singh discovers how demand for ever-smaller gadgets has set scientists working on new materials to replace cumbersome battery technology …

Reporting from Diamond Light Source’s 10th Anniversary event: How a particle accelerator has helped us learn how to protect the cultural heritage of limestone buildings…

Pluto’s fifth moon discovered Image: Hubblesite A new moon has been found orbiting Pluto, bringing the number of satellites known around the former planet to five. P5 – the moon’s temporary designation – is between 10 to 25 km across (less than the diameter of London’s North Circular Road), and was discovered by scientists at […]

The recent alarm over use of sub-standard breast implants has exposed serious flaws in the European health regulatory system. But leaders must ensure that they strike a balance between managing risk and stifling innovation in coming up with a better model. Nearly two years ago, in March 2010, the French health regulatory authorities conducted a […]

Power of Making Victoria and Albert Museum 6 September 2011 – 2 January 2012 There are three types of making: adding, subtracting and transforming. The V&A aims to take visitors on a journey through these processes to explore the cultural, historical and physical consequences of the objects in our world and the people who made […]

“And how can you mend a broken heart? How can you stop the rain from falling down?”  If soul legend Al Green’s song tugged at your heartstrings, you might want to reach out for some tissues now.  Tissues can wipe your tears, but if you talk to an engineer, you’ll learn that they can also […]

Capturing carbon dioxide at coal power stations is a great way of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but energy companies are put off by the high cost of technology.  Could a new type of carbon-filtering membrane be the economical answer? According to recent estimates, it costs $150 to remove one tonne of CO2 from power station outflow. […]

Anne Coleman, photography Jonathan Primmer – April 2010   Introduction   We are all familiar with London’s sprawling skyline, or rather river-line. Dotted with structures such as the London Eye, the Millennium Bridge and Canary Wharf, which are all household names, it is hard to picture a London without them. They represent our culture, our […]