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Researchers Use Electric Field to Reverse Phonon Chirality in Ferroelectric Crystal

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illustration shows cross section of two cars undergoing a collision; passengers in the car with metal foam front rails experience less impact than in the car with conventional front rails

Sep 3, 2026

Study Suggests Metal Foam Would Make Cars Safer in Collisions

In computer simulations, researchers found that incorporating metal foam into automobile “front rails” allow them to absorb more energy during high-velocity impacts.
two translucent, tear-drop-shaped loops with a small silver V at the pointy end lie in the grass, while a third loop hovers in the air as if captured in the middle of a jump

Aug 28, 2026

Light-Powered Soft Robots Can Keep Jumping Forever

The soft robots leap upward or forward when exposed to infrared light – and will keep jumping as long as the light is present.
Christina Koch at NC State.

Aug 24, 2026

A New Name at Home

NASA astronaut Christina Koch returned to the campus where she earned three degrees, welcomed by a cheering crowd, a renamed building with her name on it and a limited-edition taste of her own Howling Cow ice cream.
A headshot of Jingjie Hu.

Aug 17, 2026

Hu Wins Frontiers of Materials Award for Adaptive Biomaterials and Devices Proposal

An assistant professor is being recognized for her proposal on adaptive materials and devices that can facilitate minimally invasive treatment of diseases. Jingjie Hu, assistant professor in NC State’s Department…
Image shows a headshot of Katherine Saul.

Aug 14, 2026

Kate Saul Named as MAE Interim Department Head

Congratulations to Dr. Katherine Saul on becoming Interim Department Head of the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) department. Saul has worked at NC State for 13 years teaching, acting as…

Aug 5, 2026

Researchers Use Electric Field to Reverse Phonon Chirality in Ferroelectric Crystal

Researchers used an electric field to switch the chirality of phonons within a ferroelectric crystal.