Collective creativity and job insecurity: what the case study reveals
A recent study investigates how job insecurity affects collective creativity in research settings. Interviews in a major Italian institute reveal how contracts, workloads, and leadership changes influence innovation and team dynamics.
Defects in materials and structural fatigue: the new challenges of engineering
Over the past decades, research on material defects has become increasingly central to the study of structural reliability and material fatigue. The growing complexity of engineering applications—from infrastructure to aerospace and biomedical sectors—demands a deeper understanding of microstructural imperfections and their effects on mechanical performance.
Artificial Drivers: the new frontier of autonomous driving on road and track
Over the past five years, autonomous vehicle competitions have become real experimental labs for smart mobility. Prestigious events such as the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League and Formula Student Driverless have brought Formula 1-style cars to race without a human driver, pushing real-time planning, control, and perception capabilities to the limit. However, these challenges have also highlighted unresolved obstacles that arise when a vehicle must operate at high speeds and handle near-limit driving conditions.
Building Energy Efficiency: Cold Sintering for Ceramic-Polymer Materials
Traditionally, ceramic materials are produced at extremely high temperatures, requiring significant energy consumption. Cold sintering completely changes the process, allowing materials to be processed at temperatures below 250°C. This means lower energy consumption (up to 80% less) and the ability to integrate thermally sensitive fillers, which would otherwise not withstand the high temperatures of traditional production.
LISA: the space mission that will revolutionize astrophysics
Gravitational waves, predicted by Einstein in his general theory of relativity, are disturbances in spacetime generated by cataclysmic cosmic events such as the merger of black holes and neutron stars. Until a few years ago, these phenomena were unreachable by science. However, with the advent of terrestrial observatories like LIGO and VIRGO, we began to perceive these cosmic “ripples.” Now, LISA promises to extend this observational capability beyond the limits of ground-based instruments.
MAGICIAN: innovation revolutionizing production with Intelligent Robots
One of MAGICIAN’s most innovative aspects is its robots’ ability to learn from human experience. Through advanced sensors and AI-driven systems, these machines will be able to identify and correct defects just as an expert worker would.
Less health risk, more precision, and greater productivity.
Smart Materials: the future of artificial muscles
In our daily lives, robots are silent companions, present in factories, homes, and even hospitals. From robust and powerful industrial robots to small household assistants, robotics technology is constantly evolving to meet diverse human needs. So, what will be the next revolution? The so-called soft robotics.
Microplastics: a macro problem
The term “microplastic” was coined by Richard Thompson and refers to plastic particles smaller than 5 mm. This definition was chosen because these particles are visible under a microscope, requiring detailed observation to identify them. But where do these microplastics come from, and what materials are they made of?
The resilience of natural systems: a fascinating mystery
The complexity of natural mechanisms represents one of the most intriguing and challenging issues to tackle. A fascinating mystery lies in how natural systems manage to be so resilient. How do they maintain stable behaviors and fundamental properties essential for survival despite vast environmental variations and the uncertainty of the contexts in which they operate?
Towards sustainable decarbonization: innovations and challenges in offshore platforms
The transition from fossil fuels is still ongoing, with oil and gas accounting for 80% of global energy consumption. To reduce emissions from offshore production, solutions like floating wind farms are being adopted, but their intermittency presents technical challenges.
