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An analysis of the mechanical properties of fencing swords, and implications for weapon selection

Redmond et al. | Aug 24, 2026

An analysis of the mechanical properties of fencing swords, and implications for weapon selection
Image credit: Jonathan Falcon

The sword is the most important piece of equipment a fencer uses. In this study, we compared the mechanical and physical properties of two of the most common types of swords used in foil fencing.We that found that maraging steel blades had a significantly greater stiffness and were damped more effectively than low carbon steel blades. These properties affect how the blade behaves during particular maneuvers and techniques, and our findings therefore provide useful insights for fencers who want to select the optimal sword configuration to suit their personal style.

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Performance comparison of indoor polyculture utilizing hydroponic and soil-based systems

Sreenath et al. | Jul 26, 2026

Performance comparison of indoor polyculture utilizing hydroponic and soil-based systems

Hydroponics is often promoted as a highly efficient alternative to traditional soil farming, but its effectiveness in small indoor polyculture systems is not well understood. In this study, students compared plant growth and maturity across hydroponic and soil-based indoor polycultures and found that soil grown plants were generally taller and more mature than those grown hydroponically. These results suggest that soil-based methods may outperform hydroponics in certain household polyculture settings.

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