Physics & Materials

Ice skating at speeds exceeding 50 kilometres per hour. How do olympians achieve that top speed on the ice? The push-off is crucial, of course, but did you know that at Olympic speeds, approximately 80 per cent of the opposing force is air resistance? In this episode of Kees Study, I dive into the wind tunnel to discover how aerodynamics can make the difference between silver and gold.

Olympic speed skaters glide effortlessly over the ice. Figure skaters spin as if friction barely exists. Ice skating looks effortless, but for physicists, that is deeply strange. In fact, ice skating should not work at all.

New Year’s Eve, loud bangs from milk churns in the meadow, a mug of hot chocolate in hand: a true Twente tradition. In several regions, carbide shooting is firmly rooted in the turn-of-the-year celebrations, complete with clear safety regulations to keep the custom both enjoyable and secure. Will carbide shooting gain popularity now that private fireworks will be banned from 2026? And is it actually safer?

How can CO₂ be captured without complex installations or high energy costs? A research team in Twente discovered that the answer was literally beneath our feet: clay. From that insight emerged CarbSorbTec, a University of Twente spin-off that uses a special clay material to remove CO₂ from biogas.

We’ve all experienced it: your phone or laptop seems to run out of battery faster and faster. But why does that happen? In this video from the University of the Netherlands, materials scientist Mark Huijben from the University of Twente explains what’s happening inside a battery – and how you can extend its lifespan.

Every old phone in your drawer is more than forgotten tech—it’s a treasure chest of critical materials like gold, cobalt, and rare earth elements. Recycling them could save the planet, reduce dependency on China and Congo, and power Europe’s green future. Here’s why your old phone matters.

Heatwaves, droughts, and a growing population are making it more challenging to meet water demand, even in a water-rich country such as the Netherlands. By 2030, our society is estimated to need an additional 100 million cubic metres of drinking water per year. A membrane technology studied at the University of Twente could turn the North Sea into a source of fresh water, preventing water shortage in the future. But Prof. Wiebe de Vos asks, “Is this the smartest choice?”

What do billiard balls and Newton’s laws have in common? Quite a lot. Gijs Frijters, an Applied Physics student at the University of Twente, and his classmates studied force, motion, and rotation using a pool table. Gijs shares, “To some extent, studying Physics does change how I look at everyday things.”

An electronic nose that can tell different whiskies apart? It might sound like a joke, but behind the idea lies a serious technology with significant impact. Dr Ir Sissi de Beer, scientist and programme director of Applied Physics at the University of Twente, is developing a portable sensor that, much like the human nose, can recognise scents. Handy at a whisky tasting, perhaps, but primarily intended to help farmers detect diseases in their livestock at an early stage — even before a vet would notice.

From the tyres that keep our cars safely on the road to the soles of our shoes that provide comfort with every step – rubber is everywhere. But what makes this material so essential to our daily lives? In this story, we delve into the world of rubber alongside Professor Dr Anke Blume, an expert in elastomer technology at the University of Twente, to understand its many uses and why it matters so much.

Batteries are everywhere. In your pocket, in your car and in lots of other places. Yet, despite their ubiquity, batteries are far from reaching their full potential. They degrade over time, charge slowly and are often made of unethically sourced or environmentally harmful materials. Prof. Mark Huijben and his Research Group are looking into novel battery materials to extend battery life and improve performance across applications, from smartphones to heavy machinery.

How does your raincoat stop rain while letting your sweat through? This is due to the special properties of the fabric and design. In this video, UT professor Wiebe de Vos explains how this works.

Foam is everywhere around us, even though we often don’t notice it. Think of the cushioning in your headphones, the seat of your desk chair, your car seat, and even your shoes. However, that also means a lot of foam ends up in landfills, and production dramatically impacts the environment.

More than you might think! Did you know that nanotechnology plays a vital role in everyday products like sunscreen, water-repellent clothing, and even tennis balls? Nanotechnologist Femke Witmans from the University of Twente takes you on a journey into the fascinating world of nanoparticles.

Have you ever stood on the platform, frustrated because your train was delayed yet again? Spoiler: it’s not just the leaves on the tracks.

The Netherlands faces a water crisis: too much water, a shortage of water, agricultural fertilisers, and industrial pollution such as PFAS and medicine residues threaten our drinking water supply. Some new businesses are already denied drinking water connections; new residential areas may soon meet the same fate. It is crucial to invest in water technology for a sustainable future.

As the world switches to renewable energy, the electric grid — originally designed for the stable energy flows from centralised fossil fuel power plants - is struggling to keep up. Electric vehicles, heavy machinery, and fluctuating sources like solar and wind are putting more strain on the grid. Could blue and green hydrogen be a solution to keep the lights on and machines running?

In this story, Dr. Yashar Hajimolana, Assistant Professor Energy Systems Integration at the University of Twente, explains how hydrogen can contribute to a more sustainable and stable energy system.

The greatest athletes are awarded medal after medal at the Paris Olympics. At the same time, very small athletes in Twente are imitating them. In MESA+'s Nanolab, a group of enthusiastic PhD students are making Olympians-on-a-chip. They organise the Nanolympics. The best sports fragments are given a place on chips measuring just five by five millimetres.

Imagine sipping your favourite beer from a cup made of sewage sludge. Researchers at the University of Twente are making it a reality. A team of Profs. Jeroen Cornelissen, Frederik Wurm, and Boelo Schuur are investigating a new process for converting waste materials into bioplastics with the help of bacteria that feed on what people discard daily.

The Universitent at the Zwarte Cross, the largest festival in the Netherlands, has been a successful concept for years. In this summer series you can watch the mini-lectures again. In episode 2, Jeroen Cornelissen talks about the beer cups of the future.

Imagine a roller coaster without a safety bar. Sounds incredible, but Jurnan Schilder, a mechanical engineer at the University of Twente, proves that it is possible. In this video from De Universiteit van Nederland, he demonstrates how physical forces keep you safely in your seat, even during a looping. He explains how these forces act on us every…

The switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy is going to need some nifty technology that depends on chemical elements that we have not used much before, and most of these come from minerals in rocks in the Earth’s crust. Five of these minerals stand out as Earth’s potential lifesavers.

The province of Overijssel is known for its robust agricultural and animal-farming activities. But the bustling livestock farms come with a cost. The animals produce an overwhelming amount of manure, leading to water pollution and harmful emissions. But what if this ‘waste’ could become a source of energy?

We are living in the Plastic Age, such is the ubiquity of plastics in our lives. The plastic waste in water ecosystems alone is expected to nearly triple from 11 million tonnes in 2016 to 29 million tonnes in 2040*. Biodegradable materials, such as polylactic acid, are seen as an alternative for use in packaging, agriculture, and medical devices. But how biodegradable are these materials in reality? Could they be the plastics of the future?

Researcher Bettina Schwab was awarded an ERC Starting Grant in September 2023 for her research on deep brain stimulation. With her project ‘DECODE’ she investigates the influence of this unexplored factor of deep brain stimulation: weak electric fields.

How can we make our holidays more sustainable? A question that concerns many engineers, scientists, and citizens. Emissions need to decrease, but in the aviation industry, that's not so simple yet. Research at the University of Twente is investigating a promising technology that could lead to hydrogen-powered airplanes: cryogenic superconductivity.

A looming shortage of clean drinking water is screaming for innovations in water treatment. The Waterlab of the Membrane Science and Technology cluster gives an insight into possible solutions.

Lee Calladine has been diabetic for 25 years and the insulin top-up routine is so familiar to him that he’s long past feeling squeamish about piercing his skin. Still, the practice is burdensome. Scientists at the TechMed Centre of the University of Twente are closing in on a pain-free method for people like Calladine.

University of Twente startup STERN Motorcycles, unveils a revolutionary electric enduro motorcycle with a distinctive interchangeable battery pack. Their mission? A motorcycle world that embraces electric riding.

For years, we've diligently sorted our waste, but a significant portion of the waste stream remains (yet) unrecyclable. The University of Twente, in collaboration with companies, is researching how to create new products from complex and 'wet' waste streams. This involves efficiently isolating chemical components used in new materials. The multi-year project ReBBloCS - Renewable Building Blocks from Complex and Wet Waste - began last year with a subsidy of €3.8 million from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency.

The waste from potatoes as a source for candy, vegan cheese or other food products. Thanks to UT researcher Sissi de Beer, also director of the Applied Physics programme, it will be possible. She develops innovative separation technologies that are much less harmful to our environment. Sissi and her team received a substantial research grant from NWO a few years ago and the first significant results are now being achieved.

The Netherlands has been fighting a battle against water for centuries. This symbolism of water as the enemy was popular among 20th-century engineers. In the 21st century, there is more focus on natural processes, and we speak of water management instead. But what will the Dutch water landscape look like in another century?

Brace yourself for a mind-boggling journey into the tiny world of nanotechnology. This research area focuses on materials existing of just a few atoms or small molecules. Sometimes, the smallest structures hold the key to groundbreaking advancements. On this scale, the world doesn't follow the same rules.