Researchers studied geckos' unique toe mechanism, which allows them to adjust and distribute weight on various surfaces. This adaptation enables agile locomotion and is crucial for designing effective robot feet and grippers.
A team at Colorado State University used a novel approach to test assumptions in NASA's model predicting health risks from space radiation. They found that the risk exceeds what is considered acceptable, highlighting the need for further research and validation.
Adnan was honored for his groundbreaking research in traumatic brain injury and multiscale mechanics, which has led to significant advances in the field. He is recognized as one of the best in the field, accorded by ASME to less than 3% of those in the field.
Researchers sequenced the genomes of 24 strains of Burkholderia bacteria from the ISS water dispenser and found them highly similar to Earth-based strains. The bacteria are susceptible to common antibiotics, making them treatable in the event of an infection.
Researchers at the University of Washington developed a mathematical model that describes how rotating detonation engines work. The model allows engineers to determine whether an engine is stable or unstable and assess its performance. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient and lightweight spacecraft.
Professor Maddalena, director of UTA's Aerodynamics Research Center, has been elected a fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society for his outstanding contributions to hypersonic research. He is a leading expert in mixing and combustion in turbulent supersonic flows and their application to hypersonic airbreathing propulsion.
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) has announced the 2020 International Student Conference winners, recognizing outstanding research in aerospace engineering. The top three winners are from Ohio State University, the University of Texas at San Antonio, and Georgia Institute of Technology.
Engineers at Caltech and Stanford have created a microelectronic controller that enables jellyfish to swim three times faster than usual without stressing the animals. The prosthetic uses electrical impulses to regulate and speed up the pulsing motion, making the jellyfish over 1,000 times more efficient than swimming robots.
The Air Force has awarded a $1 million grant to PlaneEnglish, a simulator developed by three Purdue University alumni, to enhance communication skills for pilots. The technology addresses key needs for the Department of Defense and is being used in dozens of airports across the US.
Jesse Little, associate professor at University of Arizona, recognized for outstanding contributions to aeronautics and astronautics. He conducts research on subsonic and supersonic flows, leading the Turbulence and Flow Control Laboratory.
Researchers create carbon nanotube film that generates heat, causing materials to fuse together without the need for huge ovens or autoclaves. The technique produces composites as strong as those made in conventional manufacturing methods, using only 1% of the energy.
Researchers found that classical laws of gas mixture behavior fail to apply in the presence of shock waves, affecting combustion, explosions, and supersonic jets. Further study is needed to explore the scope of the problem and develop a new theory explaining the observations.
The Greenland ice sheet has lost 3.8 trillion tonnes of ice since 1992, with the rate of ice loss increasing seven-fold over three decades. The study's findings show that the ice sheet is tracking the IPCC's high-end climate warming scenario, predicting 40 million people will be exposed to coastal flooding by 2100.
Researchers discovered that bees use a specific wing motion to create a wave and propel themselves forward, essentially 'surfing' on the water's surface. This unique adaptation enables bees to escape drowning by generating a strong enough force to reach land.
Biomedical engineers have combined ultrafast ultrasound imaging with ultrasonic tweezers to precisely track and target drug carriers within a phantom blood vessel. This new method could enable acoustic control and real-time tracking of drug release within the body, potentially improving targeted therapeutics.
A new study from MIT found that aviation emissions cause twice as much damage to air quality as to the climate. The researchers developed metrics for comparing climate and air quality impacts of aviation emissions.
Researchers have successfully grown elongated hexagon-shaped flakes of borophene on a silver substrate, overcoming a major hurdle in its production. The discovery could enable the creation of atom-width conductive wires for nanoelectronics devices.
PlaneEnglish, an app-based aviation radio simulator, has received a $50,000 grant from the Air Force to improve flight training. The simulator helps pilots acquire radio communication proficiency in realistic environments, enhancing situational awareness and response skills.
A University of Washington study proposes a model of plasma motion that explains the 11-year sunspot cycle and other solar phenomena. The model suggests that a thin layer beneath the sun's surface is key to understanding solar magnetic phenomena, including sunspots, magnetic reversals, and solar flow.
Researchers have developed a laser prototype that nearly meets the stringent requirements for the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission. The laser system features a seed laser, YDFA amplifiers, and an optical reference cavity to improve spectral purity and stability.
Researchers at MIT developed a material that is 10 times blacker than anything reported previously, using vertically aligned carbon nanotubes. The new coating absorbs greater than 99.995% of incoming light from any angle, making it the blackest material on record.
Researchers have successfully stored and released mechanical waves without losing energy, paving the way for improved technology in structural integrity monitoring, energy harvesting, and quantum computing. This breakthrough has significant implications for efficient wave propagation and control.
NASA has implemented three initiatives to make it easier for small businesses to collaborate with the agency, including an annual Request for Information and Industry Day events. These efforts aim to increase commercialization of innovations and improve collaboration between NASA and the small business community.
Researchers at Imperial College London used supercomputers and graphics processors to simulate turbulent fluid flow and solve a longstanding question about disturbance dissipation. Their results lead to the development of new empirical models for turbulence, improving engineering designs in fields like wind turbines and Formula 1 cars.
Purdue University researchers have developed a novel micropropulsion system for nanosatellite applications, providing a robust, efficient option with reduced contamination risks. The system uses a liquid fed pulsed-plasma thruster and has the potential to address current challenges in CubeSat micropropulsion systems.
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics announced technical excellence awards to recognize outstanding contributions in space automation, robots, and propulsion. Winners include DARPA, NASA, and top aerospace professionals for their pioneering work and innovative achievements.
The Exploring Ocean Worlds project aims to determine the potential of ocean worlds to harbor life, focusing on Europa and Enceladus. A new Network for Ocean Worlds will facilitate nationwide research coordination.
Researchers at MIT develop a new algorithm that can accurately pick out an object, such as a small animal, in a dense cloud of dots within seconds. The technique prunes away outliers quickly, even for increasingly dense clouds, making it suitable for applications like driverless cars and robotic assistants.
Researchers at MIT have developed an algorithm that accurately aligns partial trajectories in real-time, allowing motion predictors to anticipate the timing of a person's motion. This breakthrough enables robots and humans to work together in close proximity without unnecessary pauses or conflicts.
Researchers have discovered a large mass of material beneath the South Pole-Aitken basin, the Moon's largest crater. The mass, weighing over half a mile, may contain metal from an asteroid that crashed into the Moon and formed the crater.
Scientists from NUST MISIS developed a new strong Al-Ni-La composite material that combines flexibility, strength, and lightness. The material uses ultrafine structure to form a reinforcing structure, making it more efficient than traditional aluminum-based composites.
University of Washington researchers create a novel solution to reduce impact forces using origami-inspired metamaterials. The team's design softens impact forces by promoting relaxation stresses in the chain, reducing stress on rocket legs during landing.
A study of a tiny grain of stardust older than our solar system has provided new insights into planetary system formation. The presolar graphite grain contained oxygen-rich silicates, contradicting the scientific hypothesis on two types of stardust material.
The University of Ljubljana won the $2,500 first-place prize, while Georgia Tech took second place with a $1,500 award. The competition encouraged students to design and build radio-controlled aircraft while carrying a payload and landing without damage.
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics has announced the winners of its 2019 Technical Excellence in Aerospace Awards. The awards recognize pioneering work in various fields of aerospace engineering, including aerodynamics, aircraft design, fluid dynamics, and more.
UTSA joins NASA's Resilient ExtraTerrestrial Habitats institute (RETHi) to advance space smart habitat designs for deep space habitats, leveraging expertise in civil infrastructure with advanced technology fields.
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Foundation has honored three K-12 educators for their outstanding contributions to STEM education. The winners, Charlotte Cook, Patricia Palazzolo, and Megan L. Tucker, have inspired their students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
A new software tool has been developed to analyze Airborne Wind Energy Systems (AWES) that utilize lightweight kites or large drones. This innovation offers a cost-effective way to harness wind energy at high altitudes, where traditional wind turbines are not feasible.
The SPHEREx mission, led by Caltech and managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, will conduct an all-sky spectroscopic mapping of the universe. Argonne researchers will contribute to the mission's cosmological simulations, galaxy identification, and large-scale structure analysis.
Purdue researchers develop a technology to address uncertainty in CubeSat ignition systems, enabling reliable propulsion for extended lifetimes. The innovation uses nanosecond-long pulses to initiate ignition, successfully testing over 1.5 million pulses without significant damage.
MIT engineers have developed an algorithm that enables autonomous underwater vehicles to weigh the risks and potential rewards of exploring unknown regions. The algorithm assesses risk levels and reward probabilities in real-time, allowing AUVs to take calculated risks when justified by potential scientific rewards.
The National Science Foundation is partnering with federal agencies to expand its STEM diversity program and create new graduate internship opportunities. The partnerships aim to increase diversity in the STEM workforce and remove barriers to STEM careers.
Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory are developing a machine learning-based framework called BLAST to accelerate and simplify materials modeling and simulation. This software will enable companies to quickly perform molecular dynamics simulations needed for new material vetting, with applications in polymers and steel alloys.
MIT engineers have built and flown the first-ever plane with no moving parts, powered by an 'ionic wind' that generates enough thrust to propel the aircraft over a sustained flight. The lightweight aircraft is silent, doesn't depend on fossil fuels, and produces zero combustion emissions.
Tropical Cyclone Bouchra has regenerated into a tropical storm after dissipating as a low-pressure area, with winds reaching 50 knots. The storm's elongated shape indicates wind shear affecting its circulation center and weakening it.
A new study suggests that nurses' subjective experience of work demand plays a crucial role in the quality of care they provide. The study found that perceived workload was consistently associated with missed essential care activities, regardless of staffing ratios or patient acuity.
Tropical Cyclone 03S has formed in the Southern Indian Ocean with maximum sustained winds near 35 knots. The storm is moving west-southwestward and is expected to strengthen over the next several days, according to NASA satellite imagery.
A new MIT study suggests that most fantasy sports, including football, baseball, basketball, and hockey, are contests that reward skill over chance. The researchers analyzed thousands of fantasy players' win/loss records over multiple seasons, finding a clear signal for skill in the data.
Researchers develop autonomous drone system that collaboratively maps terrain under dense forest canopies without GPS, enabling more efficient searches for lost hikers. The system uses LIDAR and path-planning software to fuse individual drone maps into a global 3D map, facilitating human rescuers.
QuesTek and Pitt engineering researchers will utilize new computer modeling and optimization techniques to enable faster adoption of additive manufacturing in various NASA missions. They aim to improve the quality and structural integrity of components with reduced costs.
The Army Research Laboratory has granted over $130,000 to Kent State University's Blake Stringer to study propulsion systems for intermediate-sized drones. The goal is to create a drone that can serve various functions, such as supply delivery and personnel extraction.
Researchers developed innovative business models for space-related start-ups, including DIT Space, which commercialized satellite images and created competitive advantages. The study highlights the growth of space entrepreneurship worldwide, with a focus on Central America.
A new MIT study finds that 10 major European auto manufacturers produced diesel cars emitting up to 16 times more NOx on the road than in lab tests, resulting in approximately 2,700 premature deaths per year across Europe. Improving emissions control technologies could prevent up to 1,900 premature deaths annually.
The optical society laser engineers have successfully designed and tested a high-resolution laser system for the GEDI mission, which will study Earth's forests and topography from the International Space Station. The laser systems must withstand heat and vibration for journey to and operation aboard ISS.
Researchers found that fruit flies use a small, bright spot (the simulated sun) as a landmark to fly straight with respect to its position. The study also shows that these flies have compass neurons in their brains associated with this navigational behavior.
Coastal wetlands in the southeastern United States are expanding and building soil to keep pace with sea level rise. Mangroves are showing increased surface elevation when warmed, indicating their potential as a natural barrier against severe weather events like hurricanes.
Ken M. Mitchell, a mechanical engineering graduate student at the University of Memphis, has won the 2018 AIAA Foundation Abe M. Zarem Award for his research paper on thermal conductivity and specific heat measurements. The award recognizes his outstanding scholarship in astronautics and aeronautics.
Graduate student Geoffrey Andrews from Purdue University has won the 2018 AIAA Foundation Abe M. Zarem Award for Distinguished Achievement in Aeronautics. He received the award for his paper on hybrid length scale similarity solution for swirling turbulent jets, which explores a crucial aspect of hypersonic aerodynamics.
A new procedure harnessing ultrasound technology to reposition kidney stones is being tested in emergency patients at UW Medicine's Harborview Medical Center and University Center. The approach could benefit astronauts as well as Earth-side patients, providing quick relief and avoiding unnecessary pain medications.
Purdue researchers have developed methods to make batteries safer, which could be scaled up for larger batteries used in naval strategic systems. The project aims to incorporate these safety measures into lithium-sulfur technology, potentially increasing energy density and reducing overheating.