Science

Under normal conditions, ice does not exhibit piezoelectric properties, since its crystalline structure with randomly oriented dipoles does not create a net electrical effect under uniform pressure or compression. However, when bent or unevenly deformed, the situation changes.

Scientists placed a sample of ice between two electrodes and controlled bending it, simultaneously recording the resulting electrical charge. The experiments showed a stable electrical response from negative temperatures up to the melting point.

At temperatures below -113 °C, a thin layer with ferroelectric properties was formed on the surface of the sample: its polarization could change under the influence of an external electric field, similar to how magnetic poles change.

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The new silver panel from the Roof-1 series features an aluminum texture that changes its appearance depending on the angle of incidence of light, creating the three-dimensional shadow effect desired by architects.

The panel has dimensions of 1915 x 384 x 30 mm, weighs 13 kg / m² and provides a power of 75 watts. It is made on the basis of weather-resistant fluorine-coated galvalum steel sheets and is equipped with a sealed IP68 junction box. The silver model complements the black version of the same series with a power of 110 watts.

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Scientists from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore have created an innovative sunscreen made from pollen from the Japanese camellia. It not only blocks the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays, but also helps keep skin cool, while reducing the environmental damage associated with traditional sunscreens.

The scientists claim that in their experiments, the pollen-based cream absorbed and blocked UV rays as effectively as commercially available options, which typically use titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.

In addition, the researchers say their tests showed that the cream was able to reduce the surface temperature of the skin, helping to keep it cooler for longer when exposed to simulated sunlight.

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Scientific objectivity is an ideal that is unattainable in practice, modern scientists believe. Research and conclusions always reflect the cultural, social and political contexts in which they are formed.

An example is the reconsideration of views on the process of conception: traditional ideas about the passivity of the egg and the activity of the sperm have changed in the era of the transformation of gender roles. Science develops within the framework of society, and scientists, being part of it, inevitably bring their beliefs and norms to research. Even the choice of topics, methods and interpretations are subject to this influence.

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In nature, such animals move without a leader, using local interactions and simple rules that form complex and flexible structures. Scientists have introduced the concept of curvity – the characteristics of the movement of each robot, similar to an electric charge, which regulates the attraction and repulsion within the swarm. With positive or negative curvity, robots either gather in dense groups or disperse, which provides adaptive coordination.

This technology allows you to control thousands of robots in a decentralized manner, without a single command center, ensuring effective joint movement and rapid response to changes in the environment.

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