Tel Aviv University researchers develop unique glass which could revolutionize satellite communication, biomedicine

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A team of Israeli researchers from Tel Aviv University (TAU) has developed an innovative glass with unique self-repairing and self-adhesive properties that could revolutionize fields such as satellite communication, optics, biomedicine and electro-optics.

The research findings were published in June in the renowned scientific journal Nature.

“In our laboratory, we study bio-convergence and specifically use the wonderful properties of biology to produce innovative materials,” said TAU Prof. Ehud Gazit, who led the groundbreaking academic study along with PhD student Gal Finkelstein-Zuta from the Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research at the Faculty of Life Sciences and the Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering.

“Among other things, we study sequences of amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins. Amino acids and peptides have a natural tendency to connect to each other and form ordered structures with a defined periodic arrangement, but during the research, we discovered a unique peptide that behaves differently from anything we know: it didn’t form any ordered pattern but an amorphous, disordered one, that describes glass,” the Tel Aviv university professor explained.]

The innovative liquid glass combines solid properties with flexibility on the molecular level, allowing the transparent glass to be easily repaired through contact with water at room temperature.

“The commercial glass we all know is created by the rapid cooling of molten materials, a process called vitrification,” Finkelstein-Zuta said. She then compared liquid glass with conventional glass production.

“On the other hand, the glass we discovered, which is made of biological building blocks, forms spontaneously at room temperature, without the need for energy such as high heat or pressure. Just dissolve a powder in water – just like making Kool-Aid, and the glass will form,” she explained.

“The amorphous liquid-like organization should be fixed before it arranges in a more energy-efficient way as in crystals, and for that energy is required – it should be heated to high temperatures and cooled down immediately,” Finkelstein-Zuta added.

Israeli academic institutions have played a central role in transforming Israel into a leading international tech and research hub despite the current war in Gaza between Israel and the Hamas terror group.

However, one TAU professor, Ido Wolf, believes the conflict has exacerbated a subtle yet pervasive boycott against Israeli researchers, making it increasingly difficult to secure cooperation with international pharmaceutical companies and scientific journals.