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Researchers combined experiments and computer simulations to uncover why contractile asters, made of biopolymers, slow down in coalescence and can have liquid or solid traits. They identified the reasons for asters becoming solid and created new ways to form liquid-like asters. Additionally, other studies looked at how actin filaments affect the movements of these asters. This work helps fill in knowledge gaps about the behavior of these structures in living systems.

Understanding the ultrafast dynamics of charge/spin transitions in magnetic insulators (MI) is crucial for developing new materials interfaces for spin-electronics and quantum information science applications. Supported by CEM, the groups of Yang and Baker reported a femtosecond extreme UV (XUV) spectroscopy of yttrium iron garnet (Y3Fe5O12, YIG), one of the important MI garnets for the NM/MI interfaces in this IRG.

A new neural network-based method called Neural Network Kinetics (NNK) has been developed to predict how chemicals and structures change over time in complex environments. This technique effectively models atom movements and diffusion barriers. Researchers applied NNK to study the NbMoTa alloy, discovering a key temperature where a specific chemical order peaks. They found significant variations in atom mobility near this temperature, which are crucial for understanding chemical ordering and the formation of the B2 structure.

Flat bands have been associated with excoct effects in materials, such as strong correlations, superconductivity, or the fractional quantum Hall effect. In bulk materials they are difficult to be isolated form other electronic states. In addition, they are often at non-accessible energies. In this work, Schoop and Bernevig collaborated to access flat bands in a new material using soft-chemical modification of a known materials.

Block polymers are a class of versatile self-assembling soft materials that can form exquisite nanostructures for applications including ion transport membranes for batteries and fuel cells, and templates for inorganic oxide catalysts. Using molecular dynamics simulations and transferable force fields, we designed a series of symmetric triblock amphiphiles (or high-χ “block oligomers”) comprising incompatible sugar-based (A) and hydrocarbon (B) blocks that can self-assemble into ordered nanostructures with full domain pitches as small as 1.2 nm.

Fig. 1 Device schematic, optical micrograph, and initialization scheme.

Designable Porous Organic Networks Represent A New Strategy for Nanoparticle Assembly

The artist residency program at the Center for Dynamics and Control of Materials enables artists to work with CDCM faculty to create contemporary art installations that demonstrate emerging science and technology, bringing fundamental concepts in science to the public in very tangible, engaging ways.

Replacing steel with lightweight Aluminum alloys could significantly improve fuel economy of vehicles.  Existing lightweight alloys are difficult to use, because they have poor ductility, and tend to tear while they are stamped to form a complex part.  Adding small quantities of additional allying elements to lightweight alloys could improve their ductility.  But at present the only way to identify the correct elements is to make, and test, many possible combinations - an impossible task.

Researchers developed active solids made of centimeter-scale building blocks that can move and adapt in different environments. These prototypes show unique elasticity, which allows them to change their movement patterns and navigate various terrains effectively, similar to complex robotic systems. This study highlights the potential of these materials to link robotics and material science and suggests new ways to control dynamic systems in nature and technology.