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Earth Sciences

New Class of Matter

Scientists at the California Institute of Technology have developed a groundbreaking new class of matter known as polycatenated architectured materials, or PAMs. These materials exhibit dual behavior, acting as both a solid and a granular substance depending on the forces applied to them. When compressed, PAMs function like a rigid crystalline structure, but under shear or lateral force, they behave more like a granular material—such as sand or rice—rearranging their structure to accommodate movement. Once the compressive force is removed, they return to their original, flexible state.

“We have a clear distinction between solids and granular materials,” explained Chiara Daraio, the director of the research laboratory. “Solids are often crystalline lattices, while granular materials like rice or coffee consist of individual particles that move relative to each other. PAMs blur this distinction by linking particles as in a crystal but allowing them to slide and change positions like grains of sand.” The research team used computer modeling to design PAMs, creating a lattice structure with interconnected particles capable of infinite rearrangements. This concept mirrors the mechanics of medieval chain mail, which absorbed and dispersed energy while remaining flexible.

To bring PAMs to life, Daraio’s team used 3D printing with materials such as acrylic polymer and metal, followed by extensive compression, shear, and rheology tests to confirm their unique properties. The potential applications for PAMs are vast, spanning fields such as soft robotics, biomedical technology, and protective or insulative equipment. By combining the stability of solids with the adaptability of granular substances, PAMs could revolutionize the design of advanced materials for a wide range of industries.

Lifestyle

UK’s 4-Day Work Week

A growing number of UK businesses and charities are embracing a four-day workweek without cutting pay, with 200 organizations now committed to the change. Spanning industries such as marketing, tech, IT, software, and charity work, these companies collectively employ over 5,000 people. The initiative, led by the 4 Day Week Foundation, underscores a shifting workplace culture that prioritizes work-life balance as a means of enhancing productivity.

“A four-day week gives people the freedom to live happier, more fulfilling lives,” said Joe Royle, the foundation’s campaign director. He points to the success of hundreds of British businesses and even a local council that have already made the shift, demonstrating benefits for both employees and employers. While not all companies are convinced, competitive pressures could drive wider adoption. If businesses with shorter workweeks see improved retention and motivation, others may need to follow suit to attract and keep top talent. London has been particularly receptive, with 59% of participating companies based in the capital.

Evidence suggests the model is viable. A Washington state government report found that switching to a four-day schedule led to a 48% drop in employee resignations and retirements, while 55% of staff reported no impact on workflow. Even in Japan, where work culture is traditionally intense, shorter workweeks have been linked to increased productivity. As more companies experiment with this approach, the four-day workweek could become a defining shift in the modern workplace.

Lifestyle

76 Million Years-old Fossil

Seventy-six million years ago, a young pterosaur descended to the water’s edge in what is now Alberta, Canada, perhaps hunting for prehistoric fish. Instead, it may have become prey—or at least a scavenged meal—for an ancient crocodile. A recently discovered fossil from Dinosaur Provincial Park exhibits a smooth, conical puncture in a cervical vertebra, indicating a bite mark likely inflicted by a croc. Researchers, led by Dr. Brian Pickles from the University of Reading, used CT scans to confirm the origin of the bite, though it remains uncertain if the crocodile ambushed the juvenile pterosaur or scavenged its carcass.

The fossil belongs to a juvenile Cyrodrakon boreas, a pterosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous when multiple ancient crocodile species inhabited the area. While adults of this species could rival a giraffe in stature and span the wingspan of a small bus, this individual likely had a wingspan of just over six feet—potentially making it an easier target. “Pterosaur bones are very fragile, so finding fossils with clear bite marks is extremely rare. This specimen’s juvenile size makes it even more exceptional,” said Dr. Caleb Brown of the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology and lead author of the study.

Because pterosaurs had hollow bones and typically favored coastal or aquatic habitats, their fossils rarely enter the record in pristine condition, leaving many questions about their roles in ancient ecosystems. This crocodile bite mark offers a glimpse into the Late Cretaceous food web, suggesting that smaller pterosaurs—or those already deceased—could become prey for ancient crocodiles. By analyzing such rare evidence, researchers hope to better understand how these flying reptiles interacted with the formidable predators that shared their prehistoric world.

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Mind Stretchers

⁉️ 

I stand in silence, dressed but not alive,
Watching the world as the seasons arrive.
I have no voice, yet I chase away,
Those who come to steal the day.
What am I?

Yesterday’s Answers to the Mind Stretchers:

I wake with the sun but never yawn, I have no hands, yet scratch the lawn. A traveler I’m not, yet I roam with ease, I give what I make, with feathers to tease. What am I? — chicken! Albert Knox got this right! 🐔 

 

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