Technologies & Applications

In the fight against Covid-19 our clothes could help in the future. A Japanese company has developed a high-tech textile that destroys bacteria and viruses piezoelectrically.

In the future, blades will provide better and cheaper solar cells, LEDs or displays. Researchers are transforming the leaf veins into electrodes with excellent optical and electronic properties.

Gartner was first in the annual round of forecasts with its Top 10 Strategic Technology Trends for 2020. Of course, looking just one year into the future won’t produce any truly big surprises.

Energy efficiency is one of the most crucial tasks that we face in the 21st century. This effort also includes the use of immense amounts of waste heat—on a large and small scale. “Contradictory” materials play an important role in the process.

In industry, robots are already working safely alongside humans without any protective fences. However, more “feeling” is desired for robots that work in homes or in health care. New honeycomb-shaped skin cells could be the answer in the future.