Engineering · Mechanical Engineering
A study of apple, pear and kiwifruit pollen finds that adhesion to the stigma depends on several interacting forces. Pollen surface structures, pollenkitt, moisture and electrostatic charge each contribute to how pollen attaches and is positioned.
Researchers created hydrogel composites that can be reshaped in water by changing the direction of polarized light. The cubes stretched to as much as twice their original side length, and the team made microscopic wells that could fully close.
Researchers developed a 3D-printed gripper that changes shape at 40.5 °C, close to physiological temperatures. In laboratory tests, it recovered about 94% of its programmed shape and retained about 98% of that recovery after 15 cycles.
Researchers developed light-sensitive hydrogels that rapidly form twists, helices and other handed shapes when selected areas are illuminated. The shapes can be erased in darkness and reprogrammed with light, and the gel can rotate for robotic movement.
