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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1992

The NASA Specialized Center of Research and Training (NSCORT) in Gravitational Biology

The Life Sciences Division of NASA has initiated a NASA Specialized Centers of Research and Training (NSCORT) program. Three Centers were designated in late 1990, as the culmination of an in-depth peer review analysis of proposals from universities across the nation and around the world. Kansas State University was selected as the NSCORT in Gravitational Biology. This Center is headquartered in the KSU Division of Biology and has a research, training, and outreach function that focuses on cellular and developmental biology.

NASA Discipline Cell Biology↗
DOE OSTI2020

Software Requirements for a Consequence Management Sample Data Simulator for Training and Drills

This document describes the requirements for a software tool that will enable FRMAC to simulate large sets of sample result data that is based realistically on simulated radionuclide deposition grids from NARAC. The user of this tool would be scientists involved in exercise and drill planning or part of the simulation cell of an exercise controller team. A key requirement is that this tool must be able to be run with a reasonable amount of training and job aids by any person within the Assessment, Laboratory Analysis, or Monitoring and Sampling divisions of the FRMAC to support any level of exercise from the small IPX to the national level full scale exercise. This tool should be relatively lean and stand-alone so that the user can run it in the field with limited IT resources. This document will describe the desired architecture, design characteristics, order of operations, and algorithms that can be given to a software development team to assist them in project scoping, costing, and eventually, development.

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY↗
DOE OSTI2018

Involvement of mitochondrial fission in calcium sensing receptor-mediated vascular smooth muscle cells proliferation during hypertension

Hyperproliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Proper mitochondrial fission and fusion is involved with VSMC function. However, the role and mechanism of mitochondrial morphological changes in VSMC proliferation are not well understood. Here, we found that calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) was increased in the aortas from spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHRs) compared with age-matched Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats. There was also an increase in mitochondrial fission and VSMC proliferation, which was attenuated by Calhex231. In primary rat VMSC, angiotensin II (Ang II) stimulation induced cytosolic [Ca{sup 2+}]{sub i} increase, mitochondrial shortening and proliferation, all of which could be attenuated by pretreatment with mitochondrial division inhibitor-1 (Mdivi-1) and Calhex231. Our data indicate that CaSR-mediated mitochondrial fission could be a therapeutic target for hyperproliferative disorders.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Data for "Viral-mediated Delivery of Morphogenic Regulators Enables Leaf Transformation in Sorghum bicolor (L.)"

Recent advancements in monocot transformation, using leaf tissue as explant material, have expanded the number of grass species capable of transgenesis. However, the complexity of vectors and reliance on inducible excision of essential morphogenic regulators have so far limited widespread application. Plant RNA viruses, such as Foxtail Mosaic Virus (FoMV), present a unique opportunity to express morphogenic regulator genes, such as Babyboom ( Bbm ), Wuschel2 ( Wus2 ), Wuschel-like homeobox protein 2a ( Wox2a ) and the GROWTH-REGULATING FACTOR 4 (GRF4) GRF-INTERACTING FACTOR 1 (GIF1) fusion protein transiently in leaf explant tissues. Furthermore, altruistic delivery of conventional and viral vectors could provide opportunities to simplify vectors used for leaf transformation—facilitating vector optimization and reducing reliance on morphogenic regulator gene integration. In this study, both viral and conventional T-DNA vectors were tested for their ability to promote the formation of embryonic calli, a critical step in leaf transformation protocols, using Sorghum bicolor leaf explants. Although conventional leaf transformation vectors yielded viable embryonic calli (43.2 ± 2.9%: GRF4-GIF1, 50.2 ± 3%: Bbm/Wus2), altruistic conventional vectors employing the GRF4-GIF1 morphogenic regulator resulted in improved efficiencies (61.3 ± 4.7%). Altruistic delivery was further enhanced with the use of viral vectors employing both GRF4-GIF1 and Bbm/Wus2 regulators, resulting in 75.1 ± 2.3% and 79.2 ± 2.5% embryonic calli formation, respectively. Embryonic calli generated from both conventional and viral vectors produced shoots expressing fluorescent reporters, which were confirmed using molecular analysis. This work provides an important proof-of-concept for the use of both altruistic vectors and viral-expressed morphogenic regulators for improving plant transformation.

gene editing↗
DOE OSTI2011

Atomistic Simulations of Perfluoro Phosphonic and Phosphinic Acid Membranes and Comparisons to Nafion

We used classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to investigate the nanoscale morphology and proton transport properties of perfluoro phosphonic (FPA) and phosphinic acid (FPA-I) membranes as they are being considered for use in low temperature fuel cells. We systematically investigated these properties as a function of the hydration level. The changes in nanostructure, in transport dynamics of water and hydronium ions, and in water network percolation were extracted from MD simulations and compared with Nafion. Phosphonic and phosphinic acid moieties in FPA and FPA-I, have lower acidity than sulfonic acid in Nafion, yet the diffusion of water was observed to be faster in FPA and FPA-I than in Nafion, particularly at low hydration levels. However this did not give rise to notable differences in hydronium ion diffusion and water network percolation for these membranes over Nafion. Similar observations were also reported by our group recently in a study of perfluoro-sulfonyl imide membranes carrying stronger super-acids than sulfonic acid of Nafion. These findings together suggest no strong apparent correlation between the acidity strength of the functional acid groups and the dynamics of water and hydronium ions in hydrated polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) with similar fluorocarbon backbones and acidic group-carrying side chains. This work was supported by the US Department of Energy Basic Energy Sciences' Chemical Sciences, Geosciences & Biosciences Division. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is operated by Battelle for the US Department of Energy.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗
DOE OSTI2023

Addendum 2 to the Closure Report for CAU 577 Area 5 Chromium Containing Waste Disposal Cells, NNSS, Nevada

Corrective Action Unit (CAU) 577, “Area 5 Chromium Containing Waste Disposal Cells,” includes five low-level waste cells at the Nevada National Security Site Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management Site where buried waste received from Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc., was subsequently determined to contain chromium that exceeded the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure regulatory limit, which would require the waste to carry hazardous waste code D007. CAU 577 was created to satisfy the requirements of the Settlement Agreement (SA) executed between the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) and the U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration Nevada Field Office (NNSA/NFO) on April 25, 2019 (NDEP 2019). The SA required that the chromium-containing waste received from NFS would be addressed following the closure process laid out in the Federal Facility Agreement and Consent Order (FFACO). The FFACO process ensures proper closure of the chromium-containing waste and documentation of that closure through FFACO-type documents. The following three Corrective Action Sites (CASs) were closed, and their closure was documented in the Closure Report for Corrective Action Unit 577: Area 5 Chromium Containing Waste Disposal Cells, Nevada National Security Site, Nevada, DOE/EMNV--0030, dated September 2021 (U.S. Department of Energy [DOE] Environmental Management [EM] Nevada Program 2021a): • CAS 05-21-02, Waste Disposal Cell 12 • CAS 05-21-03, Waste Disposal Cell 15 • CAS 05-21-04, Waste Disposal Cell 17 Closure of the following CAS was previously documented in the Addendum to the Closure Report for Corrective Action Unit 577: Area 5 Chromium Containing Waste Disposal Cells, Nevada National Security Site, Nevada, DOE/EMNV--0030-ADD, dated September 2022 (DOE EM Nevada Program 2022): • CAS 05-21-05, Waste Disposal Cell 20 This second addendum to the Closure Report documents the closure activities that have occurred for CAS 05-21-06, Waste Disposal Cell 21. This is the last CAS in CAU 577. The final waste shipment was placed in the waste disposal cell on November 21, 2022. Following this, closure activities began on November 28, 2022, and were conducted according to the Corrective Action Decision Document/Corrective Action Plan (CADD/CAP) for CAU 577 (DOE EM Nevada Program 2021b). The following closure activities were performed: • Constructing an engineered evapotranspiration cover • Installing two subsidence monuments and vadose zone monitoring equipment • Seeding the cover with a mixture of native plant species • Installing four concrete monuments on the corners of the cover and placing two use restriction (UR) warning signs on each monument These activities fulfill applicable federal and state regulations for closure of CAS 05-21-06 and minimize potential future exposure pathways to buried waste. Completed closure activities are also consistent with closure of the nine historical Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) units included in Section 10.2.2 of the RCRA Permit that governs hazardous waste management activities at the Nevada National Security Site (Permit NEV HW0101) (NDEP 2023). UR documentation for this CAS is included in Appendix B of this report. The post-closure plan is presented in detail in the CADD/CAP for CAU 577 (DOE EM Nevada Program 2021b), and the requirements are summarized in Section 5.2 of this document. In accordance with paragraph 5D of the SA, a request to incorporate the requirements for post-closure monitoring of CAU 577 was included with the permit application for RCRA Permit NEV HW0101 that was submitted in January 2022 (NNSA/NFO 2022). The request included the post-closure requirements for the three CASs that had been closed at the time of submittal of the application as well as requirements that would be implemented upon future approval of closure of the remaining two CASs. All CAU 577 post-closure monitoring requirements have been captured in the April 4, 2023, Revision 7 of the RCRA Permit (NDEP 2023). As the RCRA Permit NEV HW0101 has been revised since the submittal of the original CAU 577 Closure Report (DOE EM Nevada Program 2021a) and Addendum 1 (DOE EM Nevada Program 2022), the post-closure requirements in this Addendum 2 report do not align with the previous documents. Specific changes resulting from the issuance of Revision 7 of the RCRA Permit are discussed in Section 5.2 of this report. The requirements in this report are consistent with the current permit (NDEP 2023) and supersede all requirements listed in the CAU 577 Closure Report and Addendum 1. All CAU 577 post-closure requirements should be conducted in accordance with the version of the RCRA Permit that is current at the time of the activities being performed. The DOE EM Nevada Program is requesting a Notice of Completion from NDEP for closure of CAU 577. Although CAU 577 is not a legacy site, the FFACO process is being followed to ensure proper closure of the chromium-containing waste. Therefore, transfer of CAU 577 from Appendix III of the FFACO to Appendix IV, Closed Corrective Action Units, is requested, as all closure activities have been completed.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2025

HFIR Activity Workbook Generator (HAWK) User Guide

The HFIR Activity WorkbooK generator (HAWK) is a Python code that automates and streamlines the activity calculation of samples after irradiation in the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR). HAWK’s results provide estimates of the activity and nuclide inventory of irradiated specimens before they are moved to hot cell facilities, where they undergo post-irradiation examination. The samples’ activity results guide the packing of shipping containers and inform the accountable inventories for the hot cell facilities. The toolkit was originally developed by Charles Daily, a former R&D staff member at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). As of May 2025, HAWK is developed by the Radiation Transport & HPC Methods Group (Nuclear Energy and Fuel Cycle Division) at ORNL. Figure 1 presents HAWK’s workflow. To use HAWK, users need to: 1. Develop an Excel input workbook (i.e., XLSX extension) containing data from the experiment’s materials, irradiation history (cycles), and irradiation positions. 2. Make minor edits to an existing template JSON file (i.e., auxiliary_data.JSON) and to the Python driver. The driver sets the necessary environment variables, defines the material compositions, and ultimately calls HAWK. Once configured, HAWK runs the Oak Ridge Isotope Generation code (ORIGEN) to calculate the masses, activities, and heat load at the end of irradiation for each isotope in the specimen. ORIGEN is part of SCALE, ORNL’s in-house computational tool for performing nuclear safety and design calculations. Following this step, HAWK postprocesses the results and generates three output workbooks summarizing the activity calculations.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
NASA NTRS2006

Nano Goes Magnetic to Attract Big Business

Glenn Research Center has combined state-of-the-art electrical designs with complex, computer-aided analyses to develop some of today s most advanced power systems, in space and on Earth. The center s Power and On-Board Propulsion Technology Division is the brain behind many of these power systems. For space, this division builds technologies that help power the International Space Station, the Hubble Space Telescope, and Earth-orbiting satellites. For Earth, it has woven advanced aerospace power concepts into commercial energy applications that include solar and nuclear power generation, battery and fuel cell energy storage, communications and telecommunications satellites, cryocoolers, hybrid and electric vehicles, and heating and air-conditioning systems.

Source record↗
DOE OSTI2019

Nevada National Security Site 2018 Data Report: Groundwater Monitoring Program, Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management Site

This report is a compilation of the groundwater and waste cell leachate sampling results from the Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management Site (RWMS) at the Nevada National Security Site, Nye County, Nevada. Groundwater samples from the aquifer immediately below the Area 5 RWMS have been collected and analyzed and static water levels have been measured in this aquifer since 1993. These groundwater data are evaluated for evidence of effects on the aquifer related to the Area 5 RWMS. Leachate from one lined mixed waste cell at the Area 5 RWMS (Cell 18) has been sampled since the cell opened in 2011. These leachate data are analyzed for hazardous contaminants to determine appropriate leachate handling and disposal. A second lined mixed waste cell at the Area 5 RWMS (Cell 25) began receiving waste in August 2018, but no leachate samples were collected or analyzed during 2018. This report includes data from 2014 through 2018 but focuses on the 2018 data. During 2018, groundwater samples were collected and static water levels were measured at three wells surrounding the Area 5 RWMS. Groundwater samples were collected at wells UE5PW-1, UE5PW-2, and UE5PW-3 on March 6 and August 14, 2018. Static water levels were measured at each of these wells on March 5, June 4, August 13, and October 25, 2018. Groundwater monitoring at the Area 5 RWMS complies with Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 264.97, General ground-water monitoring requirements , and 40 CFR 264.98, Detection monitoring program. Groundwater samples were analyzed for indicators of contamination (pH, specific conductance [SC], total organic carbon, total organic halides, and tritium) and, beginning in 2017, toxicity characteristic metals (arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, selenium, and silver). General water chemistry parameters (calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium, sulfate, chloride, fluoride, bicarbonate, and silicate) were also measured. Results from samples collected in 2018 are within the limits for each parameter established by the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection in Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Permit NEV HW0101, Revision 6. Data from the shallow aquifer indicate there has been no measurable impact to the uppermost aquifer from the Area 5 RWMS, and there were no significant changes in measured groundwater parameters compared to previous years. Leachate from lined mixed waste Cell 18 drains into a sump and is pumped into an above ground tank. Samples are collected from the tank when the leachate volume approaches the 3,000-gallon tank capacity. During 2018, leachate samples were collected on March 1, 2018 and August 1, 2018. All leachate analysis results are below the regulatory levels for toxicity characteristic contaminants (40 CFR 261.24) and below the investigation levels for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), tritium, pH, and SC specified in RCRA Permit NEV HW0101, Revision 6. No quantifiable PCB levels were detected in any leachate sample. Based on the leachate analysis results, RCRA Permit NEV HW0101 allowed all leachate collected from Cell 18 to be pumped from the collection tank and used for dust control at Cell 18.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
NASA NTRS1985

Advances in Joining Techniques Used in Development of SPF/DB Titanium Sandwich Reinforced with Metal Matrices

Three and four-sheet expanded titanium sandwich sheets have been developed at Douglas Aircraft Company, a division of McDonnell Douglas Corporation, under contract to NASA Langley Research Center. In these contracts, spot welding and roll seam welding are used to join the core sheets. These core sheets are expanded to the face sheets and diffusion bonded to form various type cells. The advantages of various cell shapes and the design parameters for optimizing the wing and fuselage concepts are discussed versus the complexity of the spot weld pattern. In addition, metal matrix composites of fibers in an aluminum matrix encapsulated in a titanium sheath are aluminum brazed successfully to the titanium sandwich face sheets. The strength and crack growth rate of the superplastic-formed/diffusion bonded (SPF/DB) titanium sandwich with and without the metal matrix composites are described.

Fischler, J. E.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Some Pecularities of the Graviresponse in Vaucheria

The growth and position of nuclei in the siphonaceous alga Vaucheria sessilis were investigated under conditions of hypergravity and hypogravity. Under hypergravity conditions, active sporogenesis was observed. The accumulation of nuclei in the apical and branching zone preceeded the sporogenesis. The anti-microtubular agent, colchicine inhibits sporogenesis and the response of Vaucheria to hypergravity. Under hypogravity conditions, the quantity of nuclei increased throughout the whole branch. Colchicine prevents the migration of nuclei from the apical zone to the basal part of the branch. The anti-actin agent phalloidin prevents the formation of an actin network, and phalloidin-poisoned cells lose a cluster of nuclei in the apical zone. However, the gravity dependent response is less pronounced. It is supposed that, in Vaucheria sessilis, the primary stages of the reception and translation of gravitational signals coincide with those for light signals and active division of nuclei in the growth zone is an integral part of the graviresponse.

Gavrilova, O. V.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Updraft Width Modulates Ambient Atmospheric Controls on Convective Cloud Depth

Abstract The depth of convective clouds affects vertical transport of atmospheric constituents, influencing downstream weather and climate. Atmospheric controls on the maximum depth reached by moist convection are investigated with radar‐tracked convective cells tagged with sounding‐derived atmospheric parameters from a field campaign in central Argentina. Regression analyses show that narrow (<12‐km diameter) and wide (>16‐km diameter) cell depths respond to disparate factors, where cell areas are defined using composite reflectivity signatures. Undiluted lifted parcel indices including convective available potential energy (CAPE) and level of neutral buoyancy (LNB) are top predictors of wide cell maximum depth while mid‐tropospheric relative humidity is the top predictor of narrow cell maximum depth. Because narrow cells are more numerous than wide cells, the overall outcome of the full cell population does not strongly correlate with CAPE and LNB conditions. Tracked cells and atmospheric conditions in a simulation with 3‐km grid spacing covering the field campaign produce similar results to those observed. Narrow cells that are relatively deep have a cooler and moister mid‐troposphere with weaker free tropospheric subsidence, while relatively deep wide cells have much warmer and moister lower tropospheric conditions. These atmospheric differences are present 1 hr before cell initiation at both a fixed observing site and variable cell initiation locations. Simulated narrow cell maximum equivalent potential temperature decreases with height at a rate similar to the ambient vertical gradient, causing these cells to fall short of their LNB and supporting the view that entrainment‐driven dilution is a dominant control on their depth.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Bioimaging Science Program Principal Investigator Meetings Proceedings (2021)

As part of the 2021 Biological Systems Science Division (BSSD) Principal Investigator (PI) Meeting, the Bioimaging Science program (BSP), within BSSD's Biomolecular Characterization and Imaging Science portfolio, held its annual PI meeting virtually February 22–23. BSP's mission is to understand the translation of genomic information into the mechanisms that power living cells, communities of cells, and whole organisms. The goal of BSP is to develop new imaging and measurement technologies to visualize the spatial and temporal relationships of key metabolic processes governing phenotypic expression in plants and microbes. BSP convenes annual PI meetings to bring together its contributing investigators to review progress and current state-of-the-art bioimaging research. Holding the BSP meeting as part of the broader BSSD PI meeting allowed researchers to interact with the extended Genomic Science program community. This convergence provided a platform for networking and exchange of ideas, helping to forge new multidisciplinary collaborations among investigators from the two sister programs. An important highlight of the BSP meeting was the keynote presentation “Enhancing Fluorescence Microscopy with Computation” by Dr. Hari Shroff of the NIH National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering. All the BSP PIs made presentations describing their research focus and progress, and these were followed by roundtable discussions of each project. The meeting’s proceedings provide an outline of the program’s current state and potential future directions and opportunities.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS2004

NASA Glenn's Engine Components Research Lab, Cell 2B, Reactivated to Support the U.S. Army Research Laboratory T700 Engine Test

The U.S. Army Vehicle Technology Directorate at the NASA Glenn Research Center has been directed by their parent command, the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL), to demonstrate active stall technology in a turboshaft engine as the next step in transitioning this technology to the Army and aerospace industry. Therefore, the Vehicle Technology Directorate requested the reactivation of Glenn's Engine Components Research Lab, Cell 2B, (ECRL 2B). They wanted to test a T700 engine that had been used previously for turboshaft engine research as a partnership between the Army and NASA on small turbine engine research. ECRL 2B had been placed in standby mode in 1997. Glenn's Testing Division initiated reactivation in May 2002 to support the new research effort, and they completed reactivation and improvements in September 2003.

Beltran, Luis R.↗
NASA NTRS2000

International Space Station United States Oxygen Generator Development Testing

A life test of a liquid anode feed oxygen generator assembly (OGA) using SPE(R) (United Technologies Corporation, Hamilton Sundstrand Division) membrane technology was terminated in June of 1999. In the total 15,658 hours of operation at MSFC since delivery in 1995, the OGA has produced 2,103 kilograms (kg) (4,632 pounds mass (lbm)) of oxygen, and 263 kg (579 lbm) of hydrogen. Evaluation of cell stack characteristics and oxygen and hydrogen hydrophilic/hydrophobic membrane separators will be discussed.

Erickson, Robert J.↗
NASA NTRS1988

ECUT (Energy Conversion and Utilization Technologies) program: Biocatalysis Project

Fiscal year 1987 research activities and accomplishments for the Biocatalysis Project of the U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Conversion and Utilization Technologies (ECUT) Division are presented. The project's technical activities were organized into three work elements. The Molecular Modeling and Applied Genetics work element includes modeling and simulation studies to verify a dynamic model of the enzyme carboxypeptidase; plasmid stabilization by chromosomal integration; growth and stability characteristics of plasmid-containing cells; and determination of optional production parameters for hyper-production of polyphenol oxidase. The Bioprocess Engineering work element supports efforts in novel bioreactor concepts that are likely to lead to substantially higher levels of reactor productivity, product yields, and lower separation energetics. The Bioprocess Design and Assessment work element attempts to develop procedures (via user-friendly computer software) for assessing the economics and energetics of a given biocatalyst process.

Source record↗
DOE OSTI2024

Correlation of Band Bending and Ionic Losses in 1.68 eV Wide Band Gap Perovskite Solar Cells

Abstract Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are promising for high‐efficiency tandem applications, but their long‐term stability, particularly due to ion migration, remains a challenge. Despite progress in stabilizing PSCs, they still fall short compared to mature technologies like silicon. This study explores how different piperazinium salt treatments using iodide, chloride, tosylate, and bistriflimide anions affect the energetics, carrier dynamics, and stability of 1.68 eV bandgap PSCs. Chloride‐based treatments achieved the highest power conversion efficiency (21.5%) and open‐circuit voltage (1.28 V), correlating with stronger band bending and n‐type character at the surface. At the same time, they showed reduced long‐term stability due to increased ionic losses. Tosylate‐treated devices offered the best balance, retaining 96.4% efficiency after 1000 h (ISOS‐LC‐1I). These findings suggest that targeted surface treatments can enhance both efficiency and stability in PSCs.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Smart Droplets Stabilized by Designer Surfactants: From Biomimicry to Active Motion to Materials Healing

The science and technologies of emulsion droplets have been a long‐term focus of extensive research endeavors for their practical utility across a breadth of industries, including pharmaceutical products, oil recovery processes, and the food sciences. However, with advances in materials chemistry and characterization tools, new emerging areas are arising with a focus on “smart droplets”. The versatility of emulsion droplets across is based on their ability to partition and create isolated systems with properties defined by the liquid–liquid interface, while preparative routes allow manipulation of droplet size, stability, and encapsulated contents. As described in this article, significant efforts are being devoted to creating new types of droplets by “activating” this interface through the incorporation of reactive structures that trigger droplet response to applied or environmental stimuli (e.g., pH, temperature, salt, or external fields). Moreover, parallels between droplets and live cells inspire efforts to conceive systems that resemble biological motifs or that can produce cellular behaviors that imitate biology (e.g., swarming, communication, or motion). Here, the authors highlight recent advances in smart droplets, with emphasis on organic, polymer, and/or particle surfactants that give rise to inter‐droplet communication (via aggregation, fusion, division, or mass transfer), droplet vehicles for controlled delivery, autonomous droplet motion, and tunable emulsion inversion. Especially emphasized is the macromolecular design to produce reactive and functional surfactants, which are crucial to responsive droplet behavior and their underlying mechanisms. More generally, the exquisite interplay between materials science and biology inspires the review of this research area that provides unique opportunities for insight and inspiration into the capabilities of new droplet designs.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗