Materials science

Kristin Persson stands in front of a brick wall.

Kristin Persson awarded Pritzker Prize for AI in Science Research Excellence

10/20/26 — University of Chicago: Materials science and engineering professor recognized for pioneering data-driven materials design and for founding and leading The Materials Project

Electron microscopy image showing new defects forming between neighboring crystals of the niobium-titanium-based alloys, seen as ridges on the material.

New study reveals metal alloys that unexpectedly resist extreme cold, staying tough at -253°C

10/14/26 — University of Oxford: This discovery could provide a new strategy for designing metals capable of operating in exceptionally cold environments

Photo of Vir Karan, Gerbrand Ceder and Kristin Persson standing together in their research lab.

New AI modeling approach accelerates the development of advanced materials

08/03/26 — Berkeley Lab: Innovative machine learning model can help researchers avoid years of experimental trial and error

The glass sponge Euplectella aspergillum on the seafloor.

New metamaterials take inspiration from deep-sea sponges

07/15/26 — Researchers look to nature to design material with dual mechano-fluidic properties

New rules

05/11/26 — A groundbreaking way of designing polymers could lead to eco-friendly plastics

Omar Yaghi in a suit, sitting at a desk in front of molecular structures

The making of a Nobel Prize

05/11/26 — Professor Omar Yaghi was awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work in creating metal-organic frameworks

Straight to the heart

05/11/26 — A heart-on-a-chip model could lead to new advances in treatments for cardiac failure

Close-up view of a semiconductor wafer, reflecting different colors.

Researchers discover a new pathway to building energy-efficient computing chips

05/04/26 — Ultrathin titanium dioxide film exhibits surprising properties that could advance semiconductor technology

Kristin Persson elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences

04/24/26 — Materials scientist is among seven UC Berkeley faculty recognized for excellence

Professor Ting Xu shown working in her lab wearing safety goggles and a blue lab coat. She is working at a table full of lab equipment.

UC Berkeley-led biodegradable fabric research awarded $10M from Bezos Earth Fund

04/24/26 — Protein-based spider silk inspires new fibers sourced from compost

Two sets of sensor data images. The top row depicts crops from above while the bottom shows leaves.

New AI sensor ‘sniffs’ out spectral targets

02/11/26 — Berkeley Lab: First-of-its-kind smart sensor performs AI tricks to identify targets while it captures spectral images

Record-breaking ‘molecular sponge’ pulls carbon from air faster than ever before

02/09/26 — BIDMaP: Professor Omar Yaghi’s lab achieves a breakthrough in direct air capture technology

Top row, from left: Henry Corrigan-Gibbs, Igor Jovanovic, Asir Intisar Khan. Bottom row, from left: Scott McCormack and Kater Murch.

Berkeley Engineering welcomes five new faculty members

01/20/26 — New tenure-track professors will bring their research expertise to multiple departments

Molecular illustrations of energy compounds predicted by Materials Project-trained machine-learning models.

The Materials Project helps usher in the AI revolution for materials science

01/16/26 — Berkeley Lab: Pioneering database accelerates new materials discovery, is the most-cited resource for materials data and analysis tools in materials science

Illustration of proteins as colorful, ribbon-like structures.

Researchers uncover new rules for designing protein-like polymers

01/01/26 — Findings could lead to eco-friendly plastics and other materials

Nature provides the answers

11/10/25 — Phillip Messersmith harnesses the natural world to engineer medical innovations

Sweat sense

11/10/25 — A tiny sweat sensor opens the door to hydration monitoring using wearables like smartwatches

Salty science

11/10/25 — An energy-efficient memsensor that uses vanadium dioxide works in wet, salty environments

A microfluidics device mimicking the human heart under blue fluorescent lighting.

Heart-on-a-chip may lead to new treatments for heart failure

11/03/25 — Model helps identify nanoparticles that can deliver mRNA directly into heart muscle cells

Omar Yaghi, UC Berkeley professor of chemistry, in his lab.

UC Berkeley’s Omar Yaghi shares 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

10/08/25 — Created metal-organic frameworks that can harvest water from desert air, capture carbon dioxide, store toxic gases, catalyze chemical reactions