ScienceNews: The spacecraft of tomorrow may look as svelte as their brethren of the past, thanks to a new type of thermal coating. At the American Chemical Society’s annual meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, today, researchers presented evidence that the new material--called a thin-film variable emittance electrochromic device--can protect sensitive electronics from the harsh environment of space, including impacts from micrometeorites. The material could usher in a new generation of tiny, long-lasting spacecraft, experts say.
The finding that the Saturnian moon may host layers of icy slush instead of a global ocean could change how planetary scientists think about other icy moons as well.
Modeling the shapes of tree branches, neurons, and blood vessels is a thorny problem, but researchers have just discovered that much of the math has already been done.
January 29, 2026 12:52 PM
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