--- title: "Scientists Develop Solid-State Cooling System Using Shape-Memory Alloys" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/tech/scientists-develop-solid-state-cooling-system-using-shape-memory-alloys" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/scientists-develop-solid-state-cooling-system-using-shape-memory-alloys" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/tech/scientists-develop-solid-state-cooling-system-using-shape-memory-alloys.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/scientists-develop-solid-state-cooling-system-using-shape-memory-alloys" category: "Science & Tech" published: "2026-09-02T20:46:20.344Z" source_reported: "2026-09-01T23:03:52.790Z" updated: "2026-09-02T20:46:20.344Z" trust_score: 50 critic_score: 55 hype_score: 35 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-02T20:25:49.346Z" --- # Scientists Develop Solid-State Cooling System Using Shape-Memory Alloys *A new prototype converts heat into mechanical motion for cooling, potentially reducing electricity use in electronics.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 50 of 100, higher is better. Two full reports corroborate core claims; digests add breadth but no new facts. - Craft 55 of 100, higher is better. Quotes and figures present; some digests lack context or sourcing. - Hype 35 of 100, lower is better. Headlines overstate practical impact; body tempers claims. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Scientists from the University of Tsukuba and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology have developed a solid-state cooling system using shape-memory alloys. - The prototype employs two ultra-thin metal films to transform heat into mechanical motion for cooling purposes. - Lab tests showed the system achieved a 12.9K temperature difference on the refrigerant film and a 4K difference between hot and cold parts. - This technology is intended to decrease the electricity required for cooling in data centers and electronics. A new solid-state cooling system has been developed by scientists from the University of Tsukuba in Japan and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany. This prototype utilises shape-memory alloys to convert heat into mechanical motion, which then drives the cooling process. The technology aims to address the substantial electricity demands of cooling systems in data centres and other electronic devices. The system is built using two ultra-thin metal films, identified as TiNi and TiNiFe. When the TiNi film is heated, it shrinks, converting thermal energy into mechanical force. This force then stretches the TiNiFe refrigerant film, causing a reversible phase change that results in cooling. In laboratory tests, the system demonstrated a 12.9K temperature difference on the refrigerant film and a 4K temperature difference between the hot and cold components. Further testing indicated that the prototype reached 84% of its theoretical maximum cooling efficiency. While current iterations cannot yet cool modern processors due to limitations such as response time and system geometry, researchers are exploring ways to increase cooling capacity, including connecting multiple films in parallel. The technology could potentially be powered by waste heat generated by the devices it cools. ## Coverage comparison ## What the coverage left out None of the centre-rated reports mentioned the specific temperature differences achieved in lab tests, such as the 12.9K on the refrigerant film or the 4K between hot and cold parts. The efficiency figure of 84% of theoretical maximum cooling efficiency was also not included in these reports. ## Who covered it Shares of the 10 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 0% (0) - Centre: 100% (10) - Right: 0% (0) 11 of 21 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-02T20:25:49.346Z. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 9 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-02T23:00:08.136Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left No separate framing summary. ### Centre - The centre-rated reports highlighted the development of a cooling system that uses waste heat and could save electricity. Reuters noted that beyond Nvidia, power and cooling firms are benefiting from data centre expansion. The digests from mannheim24.de, Kreiszeitung, and op-online.de all focused on Karlsruhe researchers turning waste heat into cold to save electricity for cooling, mentioning a KIT prototype that demonstrates how cooling can work with heat and reduce electricity demand for electronics. ### Right No separate framing summary. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - high: 2 - unknown: 12 - veryHigh: 7 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Reuters](https://reuters.com/business/energy/not-just-nvidia-these-power-cooling-firms-are-riding-trillion-dollar-data-centre-2026-09-01) — Not just Nvidia: these power and cooling firms are riding the trillion-dollar data centre boom - [CyberNews](https://cybernews.com/ai-news/solid-state-cooler-data-centers-no-electricity) — Data center cooling could run on its own waste heat - [Heti Világgazdaság](https://hvg.hu/tudomany/20260901_mechanikai-hutes-hulladekho-kornyezetbarat-hutes) — The New Refrigerator Has Been Built, Powered by Waste Heat - [Unknown](https://techno.nv.ua/ukr/innovations/tverdotilne-oholodzhennya-bez-elektrodviguna-vcheni-predstavili-novu-sistemu-50637399.html) — Solar Energy. Scientists Have Created a Cooling System that Converts Heat to Cold without Electricity - [Aroged](https://aroged.com/2026/09/01/chips-will-be-able-to-use-their-own-heat-to-cool-themselves-scientists-create-unusual-solid-state-refrigerator) — Chips will be able to use their own heat to cool themselves - scientists create unusual solid-state refrigerator - [Thanh Niên](https://thanhnien.vn/dot-pha-cong-nghe-lam-mat-moi-khong-can-su-dung-dien-185260901132142468.htm) — A Breakthrough in New Cooling Technology that Doesn't Require Electricity. - [onlinemarketingscoops.com](https://onlinemarketingscoops.com/2026/08/31/scientists-create-motor-free-cooling-system-powered-entirely-by-heat) — Scientists Create Motor Free Cooling System Powered Entirely By Heat - [op-online.de](https://op-online.de/welt/karlsruher-forscher-machen-aus-abwaerme-kaelte-und-wollen-damit-strom-fuers-kuehlen-sparen-zr-94467162.html) — Karlsruhe Researchers Turn Waste Heat Into Cold – and Thus Want to Save Electricity for Cooling - [mannheim24.de](https://mannheim24.de/welt/karlsruher-forscher-machen-aus-abwaerme-kaelte-und-wollen-damit-strom-fuers-kuehlen-sparen-zr-94467162.html) — Karlsruhe Researchers Turn Waste Heat Into Cold – and Thus Want to Save Electricity for Cooling - [Kreiszeitung](https://kreiszeitung.de/wissen/karlsruher-forscher-machen-aus-abwaerme-kaelte-und-wollen-damit-strom-fuers-kuehlen-sparen-zr-94467162.html) — Karlsruhe Researchers Turn Waste Heat Into Cold – and Thus Want to Save Electricity for Cooling - [merkur.de](https://merkur.de/wissen/karlsruher-forscher-machen-aus-abwaerme-kaelte-und-wollen-damit-strom-fuers-kuehlen-sparen-zr-94467162.html) — Karlsruhe Researchers Turn Waste Heat Into Cold – and Thus Want to Save Electricity for Cooling - [tz.de](https://tz.de/wissen/karlsruher-forscher-machen-aus-abwaerme-kaelte-und-wollen-damit-strom-fuers-kuehlen-sparen-zr-94467162.html) — Karlsruhe Researchers Turn Waste Heat Into Cold – and Thus Want to Save Electricity for Cooling - [hna.de](https://hna.de/wissen/karlsruher-forscher-machen-aus-abwaerme-kaelte-und-wollen-damit-strom-fuers-kuehlen-sparen-zr-94467162.html) — Karlsruhe Researchers Turn Waste Heat Into Cold – and Thus Want to Save Electricity for Cooling - [Tom's Hardware](https://tomshardware.com/tech-industry/manufacturing/motorless-solid-state-cooler-uses-heat-to-cool-itself-could-recycle-processor-heat-into-cooling-shape-memory-alloy-films-could-turn-data-center-exhaust-into-refrigeration) — Motorless solid-state cooler uses heat to cool itself; could recycle processor heat into cooling — shape-memory alloy films could turn data center exhaust into refrigeration - [ChannelNews](https://channelnews.fr/des-chercheurs-germano-japonais-inventent-une-technologie-sans-electricite-pour-refroidir-les-datacenters-158542) — German-Japanese Researchers Invent Electricity-Free Technology to Cool Data Centers - [Génération-NT](https://generation-nt.com/actualites/datacenter-refroidissement-sans-electricite-conversion-chaleur-2080384) — What if the Heat of the Servers Could Cool It Itself, without Electricity? - [Nature](https://nature.com/articles/s41560-026-02122-6) — Heat-driven elastocaloric cooling with shape memory films - Nature Energy - [datacenterdynamics.com](https://datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/electricity-free-cooling-system-for-data-centers-prototyped-by-researchers-in-germany-and-japan) — Electricity-free cooling system for data centers prototyped by scientists in Germany and Japan - [Interesting Engineering](https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/heat-driven-solid-state-elastocaloric-cooling-system) — Scientists create motor-free cooling system powered entirely by heat - [The Register](https://theregister.com/science/2026/08/28/german-japanese-researchers-invent-electricity-free-tech-that-could-cool-datacenters/5293364) — German-Japanese researchers invent electricity-free tech that could cool datacenters - [kit.edu](https://kit.edu/kit/pi_2026_075_stromfreie-festkoerperkuehlung-aus-waerme-wird-kaelte.php) — KIT - The KIT - Media - Press Releases - PI 2026 - Electricity-Free Solid-State Cooling: Heat Becomes coldKIT - Karlsruhe Institute of Technology ## Questions **What is the new cooling technology?** Scientists have developed a solid-state cooling system using shape-memory alloys that converts heat into mechanical motion for cooling. This prototype aims to reduce electricity consumption in electronics and data centers by utilising waste heat. **How does the prototype work?** The system uses two ultra-thin metal films, TiNi and TiNiFe. When heated, the TiNi film converts thermal energy into mechanical force, which stretches the TiNiFe film, causing a phase change that results in cooling. **What are the potential applications for this technology?** The technology is intended to reduce the electricity used for cooling in data centers and other electronic devices. It could potentially be powered by the heat generated by the devices themselves. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/tech/scientists-develop-solid-state-cooling-system-using-shape-memory-alloys. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Scientists Develop Solid-State Cooling System Using Shape-Memory Alloys", https://mediabias.news/tech/scientists-develop-solid-state-cooling-system-using-shape-memory-alloys