Polymer behavior as a research area examines how polymeric materials respond to external and internal stimuli across multiple length and time scales, integrating polymer physics, chemistry, and materials science. It encompasses the study of chain conformation, segmental dynamics, entanglements, and relaxation processes, as well as phase behavior, crystallization, glass transition, and viscoelasticity in melts, solutions, gels, and solid states. Researchers investigate how molecular architecture (e.g., linear, branched, crosslinked, block copolymers), interactions, and processing conditions govern mechanical, rheological, thermal, and transport properties, using theoretical models, simulations, and experiments to predict and tailor macroscopic performance from molecular-level structure and dynamics.
The tiny bones in your fingers withstand countless taps and swipes thanks to a precise blend of materials. Flexible collagen fibers form the framework, reinforced by hard calcium phosphate hydroxyapatite crystals. This is ...
Plastic pollution is not only a marine litter issue; it is also closely linked to resource circulation and chemical management. Plastic products contain a wide range of additives, including antioxidants, plasticizers, ultraviolet ...
Environment
Aug 10, 2026
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One of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease is the accumulation of a peptide in the brain known as amyloid beta. A new study published in Nature Communications on July 22 has uncovered the atomic structure of the peptide ...
Bio & Medicine
Aug 6, 2026
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Researchers at the University of Bayreuth, together with colleagues from Freie Universität Berlin and the Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden, have developed a synthetic fiber system inspired by the cellular cytoskeleton ...
Nanophysics
Aug 5, 2026
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"Spider-Man: Brand New Day" turns organic web production into a superpower. In the 2026 film, Tom Holland's character, Peter Parker, begins producing webbing inside his body and shooting it from his wrists, rather than firing ...
Plants & Animals
Aug 4, 2026
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In a study published in Nature Communications biophysicists unravel the mystery of how muscles form at the molecular level and maintain their function. The findings may help design treatments for muscle diseases such as dilated ...
Cell & Microbiology
Jul 30, 2026
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Next-generation energy devices like fuel cells and water electrolyzers depend on ion-exchange membranes that allow only water and certain ions to pass through.
Nanomaterials
Jul 27, 2026
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The shape of biological structures, ranging from flower petals to the limbs or organs of animals, is often naturally best suited for performing specific functions. Biological structures also often present curved surfaces ...
Olive oil and water do not naturally mix. Water molecules are polar, having a net electric dipole moment due to the bend angle of about 104.5° between the two oxygen-hydrogen bonds. Olive oil is nonpolar due to its long hydrocarbon ...
When Jasmin Imran Alsous peered down her microscope lens, she expected to see chaos—a mishmash of tangled cells. She was viewing the inside of a male fruit fly's sperm storage organ, using a powerful microscope at the CCBScope ...
Evolution
Jun 22, 2026
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