Building the Materials of the Future

What if materials could change their behavior simply because of the shapes of the tiny pieces (or grains) they’re made from?
We created a new kind of material made of specially shaped grains that can hook and tangle with each other. Unlike sand, they don’t just pile up; they interlock, forming stable structures without glue. By changing the complexity of their shapes, we can control how strongly they stick together and how easily they come apart.
We even built a magnetic version that can grab and retrieve hard-to-handle materials like fresh herbs simply by tangling with them. In this way, the shape of the grains alone becomes a way to program how materials behave.
This research has led to a patented technology and the creation of a spinout company, The Wired Gripper Company, which is now working with fresh produce packaging companies to develop an autonomous system for packing delicate produce such as tomatoes, grapes, or even fresh rosemary.

Metals are everywhere in modern technology, but can they survive extreme conditions? In this talk, discover how scientists test materials under high pressure, repeated stress, and hydrogen exposure to understand why they fail — and how to make them stronger. From hydrogen pipelines to metal 3D printing, we explore how designing tougher materials is key to building safer infrastructure and enabling the clean energy technologies of the future.