Materials science grew the fastest among all physical sciences during the last three decades, and the field holds great potential for 21st century manufacturing and innovation. The global research landscape is changing: Asia now produces half the world's papers in materials science, China has become the largest single country producer, and the USA and EU, the report notes, should review funding to reverse declining shares in vital research. The report also highlights three specialties that have seen enormous increases in research output: graphene, metal organic frameworks, and electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds—each offering potential revolutions in global economies.

Materials Science Supplement. Review supplemental interviews, the top 100 chemists and materials scientists, and more.

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