The study highlights three new capabilities for engineers: understanding socio-economic contexts, optimizing resources, and navigating complex environments. Engineers of the 21st century must adapt to global challenges by considering their social and environmental responsibility.
Researchers studied blue bottle fly landing behaviors using high-speed videography, uncovering a wide range of rotational maneuvers. The results suggest the flies may use neural processes and sensory cues for inverted landings, informing efforts to engineer small robotic fliers.
A biomedical engineer at Worcester Polytechnic Institute is creating a new medical robot that uses photoacoustic imaging to detect and analyze three different indicators of prostate cancer. The system aims to be more accurate than current tests like ultrasounds and biopsies, while eliminating the need for radioactive contrast dye.
Researchers at Imperial College London aim to re-engineer stump skin using the tough properties of foot sole skin to reduce rubbing and pain from prosthetics. They found that thicker collagen fibers and different types of keratin are key factors in protecting sole skin from ulcers and blisters.
A University of California - Santa Barbara mechanical engineer's simple running hack uses a light resistance band to increase efficiency by approximately 6.4%. The device optimizes the work needed to swing legs, reducing energy required during each impact with the ground and allowing for shorter strides.
Researchers aim to develop treatments for behavioral symptoms of chronic stress and depression by understanding and controlling memory. Beier's project explores neuronal plasticity and synaptic protein interactions to engineer molecular reagents for selective modulation of memories.
Biomedical engineer Tara Deans receives $1.5 million grant to develop alternative platelets that can help stop tumor cells from spreading in the bloodstream. Her lab will engineer platelets with proteins that kill cancer cells, inspired by her friend's diagnosis with blood cancer.
A unique partnership between an engineer and a scientist challenged prevailing wisdom about Toxoplasma gondii's behavior, revealing potential targets for treatment. The team's work showed that parasites are actively replicating with complex patterns, forcing a reconsideration of the parasite's life cycle.
A West Virginia University chemical engineer is developing an online monitoring tool using AI to predict boiler behaviors and optimize power plant operations. The project aims to reduce forced outages, increase flexibility and profitability, and improve the nation's existing coal-fired power fleet.
A new research project called REBOOT aims to recover almost 100% of valuable resources in liquid waste management. The project uses continuous hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) technology to produce clean freshwater, hydrogen, and CO2 from sewage sludge and manure.
Researchers develop algorithm that can predict complex chemical reactions and provide a 'chemical map' to desired products, reducing time in preclinical drug discovery and materials science. The model achieves high accuracy by distilling patterns of reactivity from millions of published chemical reactions.
A UH engineer offers two winning proposals to the US Department of Energy to enhance the nation's electric grid, focusing on accommodating variable renewable energy generation. His projects include reconfiguring transmission networks and upgrading energy management systems with microgrids.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University and the Technion Institute of Technology discovered critical vulnerabilities in the Siemens S7 Simatic programmable logic controller. They successfully reverse-engineered the proprietary cryptographic protocol and gained control of the PLC's operations, demonstrating how a sophisticated attacker can a...
A University of Arizona research team discovered complex biochemical circuits in cells that follow control theory principles, controlling growth in response to nutrient availability. The study found that the TOR and PKA pathways work together like a thermostat, with one pathway speeding up response and the other maintaining stability.
Engineers create bone-like tissue in a dish to study disease processes and potential treatments for large bone injuries. The material has a 3D mineral structure populated with living cells, providing insights into cancer initiation, metastasis, and bone regeneration.
Scientists have developed a practical method to measure entanglement in chemical reactions, which could lead to breakthroughs in designing better solar energy systems and understanding the fundamental principles of chemistry. The study generalized Bell's inequality to include continuous measurements, validating its application in chemi...
Bin Wang, a University of Oklahoma assistant professor, has been awarded a five-year grant to develop an all-optical process for chemical transformation with high efficiency and selectivity. His research aims to control light-driven reactions at the molecular level using computational modeling.
A new framework for software management was recognized for its potential impact on computation-based science, enabling the Ohio Supercomputer Center to efficiently install and test applications for a wide range of users. The framework leverages automated tools and continuous integration to streamline the process.
Artificial cells have been created by Imperial College London scientists that can sense changes in their surroundings and respond with drug molecules or harm removal. This breakthrough uses a simpler approach to mimic complex biological responses, making it easier to engineer artificial cells for various biotechnological applications.
Researchers at Rutgers University have developed a technique to assemble proteins into fractal shapes that resemble flowers, trees, or snowflakes. This innovation could lead to new technologies such as bioremediation filters and synthetic matrices for studying human disease and tissue engineering.
Research aims to reprogram immune system cells to target urothelial bladder cancer, a high-recurrence rate type with limited treatment breakthroughs. The new immunotherapy strategy could revolutionize bladder cancer treatment and increase survival rates.
Chemical manufacturers in the US are opposing new tariffs proposed by the Trump administration on $300 billion worth of Chinese goods. The additional taxes could hurt US companies' competitiveness and pricing advantage over foreign firms that do not have to pay tariffs.
Researchers engineered artificial proteins to self-assemble on a crystal surface, creating new biomolecules with customized colors, chemical reactivity or mechanical properties. The design enables the creation of novel materials and filters, such as tiny sensors and electronic circuits.
Researchers engineer bacteria to target CD47 on cancer cells, inducing local inflammation and boosting T cell activation. The therapy leads to complete tumor regression and reduced metastasis in mouse models.
A new study explains why salt crystals are piling up on the Dead Sea's floor by proposing a 'salt fingering' process where tiny disturbances create channels for salt to flow down. This finding helps understand the formation of massive salt deposits found in Earth's crust, including those beneath the Mediterranean Sea.
Companies like Stora Enso and Kemira are using sustainability-linked loans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve resource-use efficiency. This approach is gaining traction, with banks increasingly considering environmental factors in loan decisions.
A KAUST-led team has developed a new platform for speeding up and controlling the evolution of proteins inside living plants. This allows plant breeders to rapidly engineer new crop varieties with improved yield and immunity to pathogens.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have identified a protein called TOX as the key regulator of exhausted immune cells in cancer. The discovery could lead to new immunotherapies that target or engineer TOX to reverse exhaustion and improve immunity to infections or cancer.
Researchers developed a fast and efficient way to engineer metabolic pathways using cell-free protein synthesis and SAMDI mass spectrometry. This enables the creation of thousands of potential mixtures to be tested in a single day, providing new insights for synthetic biologists.
A new genetic engineering approach removes a specific component of human-made DNA to make it invisible to bacterial defenses, allowing for more efficient and time-saving gene editing. This breakthrough enables researchers to engineer clinically relevant bacteria with reduced resources and increased flexibility.
Researchers from the University of Minnesota and University of Massachusetts Amherst have discovered a way to speed up chemical reactions using oscillating catalysts. This breakthrough could significantly reduce equipment costs and increase production efficiency in various industries.
Researchers discovered how plant cells shield themselves from excessive reactive oxygen molecules that can cause cellular damage. By diverting these reactivity into other processes, plants minimize self-inflicted harm, which could help scientists engineer crops with improved yields.
A team of scientists discovered that the elasticity of gels arises from the packing of clusters of particles in the gels. The researchers used graph theory to identify the boundaries between these clusters, which act as rigid units within the gel, determining its elastic modulus.
Researchers used CRISPR-Cas9 to engineer cassava plants resistant to viruses, but found mutated viruses that evolved resistance instead, threatening crop yields. The study warns of potential unintended consequences of gene-editing technology in agriculture.
Researchers at Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science have developed a system called BSCC, which enables rapid screening of engineered bacterial therapies in vitro. They successfully tested a potent therapy for colon cancer using a novel bacterial toxin combined with an optimal drug delivery genetic circuit.
Justin W. Jaworski, a Lehigh University mechanical engineer, has developed a predictive noise framework to design quieter aircraft wings. His work aims to predict how edge serrations affect fluid flow and acoustic signature, reducing the disturbance caused by wind turbines and increasing the viability of new transportation technologies.
Researchers at EMBL have engineered a membraneless organelle that can build proteins from natural and synthetic amino acids, allowing for detailed study and control of cellular function. The innovation uses phase separation to create a wobbly wall-less organelle with precise tasks.
Researchers have engineered HBV-specific T cells to treat Hepatocellular carcinoma, a commonly occurring liver cancer. The treatment was individualised and showed promise in reducing tumour size in patients with HBV-related liver cancer.
A biomedical engineer is developing a therapeutic option that would prevent the opiates from crossing the blood-brain barrier, preventing the high abusers seek. The treatment involves generating an anti-opioid antibody that will arrest the drug in circulation and prevent it from getting to the brain.
University at Buffalo aerospace engineer James Chen is working on a new study that aims to solve problems associated with exceeding the sound barrier. The research focuses on Austrian physicist Ludwig Boltzmann's classical kinetic theory, which uses gas molecules to explain everyday phenomena.
Qi Wang, a neural engineer at Columbia University, has won a $500,000 NSF CAREER Award to develop closed-loop peripheral neural stimulation technology for enhancing perception and cognition. His project aims to use vagus nerve stimulation to control arousal levels and minimize side effects.
Scientists are working on modifying human breast milk cells to produce specific proteins, such as vaccines, for premature babies. These engineered cells could potentially address birth defects, provide necessary proteins, or even treat certain diseases.
Researchers have discovered that the microscopic surface geometry of mako shark scales can control flow separation, reducing drag on smooth surfaces. This passive mechanism could lead to innovative designs to increase agility in aircraft and helicopters.
Researchers are developing a new material that delivers drugs directly to damaged heart tissue, preserving the structural support network and preventing further damage. The gel will slowly release the drugs over four weeks, promoting blood vessel creation and enzyme inhibition.
A new genetic tool has been developed by MIT researchers, allowing for easier engineering of plants that can survive drought or resist fungal infections. The technique uses nanoparticles to deliver genes into the chloroplasts of plant cells, which have the potential to revolutionize plant biology and agriculture.
Scientists have developed new metasurfaces that can manipulate reflected light and sound waves with high efficiency. These artificial structures use periodic arrangements of meta-atoms to engineer the direction of reflected waves, breaking classical laws of reflection.
Researchers at RMIT University developed a nano-enhanced material that captures 99% of light and converts it into chemical energy, offering a sustainable alternative for the chemical manufacturing industry. The innovation has potential applications in desalination, night vision technology, and producing valuable chemicals.
Dr. Cato T. Laurencin is being honored for his groundbreaking contributions to biomedical engineering, including the development of biocomposite interference screws and soft tissue implants that have transformed orthopedic therapies. He has also played a key role in shaping US technology policy and mentoring minority scientists.
University of Arizona professor Robert Fleischman is leading an integrated research and teaching program in earthquake engineering at the University of Salento in Lecce, Italy. He will focus on retrofitting historic buildings and developing modern techniques for ancient structures.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a method to engineer muscle tissue that integrates with neurons, enabling functional and responsive muscle. The approach uses grooved platforms to promote ordered muscle fiber growth and neuronal integration.
Scientists create efficient, affordable pathway for terpene synthesis using E. coli bacteria, enabling mass production of these molecules for various industries.
Gene-editing techniques may enable mass-producing capsaicinoids in tomatoes, which have nutritional and antibiotic properties. Researchers aim to develop commercial applications for these compounds.
Aalto University scientists develop gradient metasurfaces that can appear 'bright' at one direction and 'dark' for the opposite direction, breaking conventional symmetric responses of mirrors. This innovation uses evanescent fields engineering to engineer contrast ratios in angle spectrum.
Researchers at NYU Tandon School of Engineering have developed a machine learning system that pairs artificial neural networks with infrared imaging to control and interpret small-scale chemical reactions. This technique can reduce the decision-making process from one year to weeks, saving tons of chemical waste and energy.
Researchers from China and Germany discover the geometric phase effect in a benchmark chemical reaction, providing new insights into molecular systems with conical intersections. The study uses high-resolution velocity map ion imaging technique to observe rapid oscillations of H2 products, which can only be reproduced by theoretical ca...
The US military seeks to protect its troops against chemical attacks with a new color-changing fabric developed by University of Cincinnati Professor Anastasios Angelopoulos. The fabric, made from the polymer Nafion, detects chemical agents in the air while preventing them from interacting with the skin.
A Pitt engineer-clinician team has discovered that artificially creating dynamic topography on synthetic vascular grafts can resist platelet fouling, a key factor in thrombosis. The research may lead to the development of medical devices that improve treatment of injured or diseased arteries.
The article highlights the threat of future chemical attacks during a period of rapid scientific change. The authors emphasize the need for collective review and strengthening of global measures to prevent the re-emergence of chemical weapons.
The Chemical Weapons Convention comprehensively bans development, production, and use of chemical weapons worldwide. The OPCW must address scientific issues to prevent re-emergence, particularly regarding toxic 'non-lethal' or 'incapacitating' chemicals.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University have developed a personalized tissue implant technology that uses patients' own cells and materials, allowing for the creation of any type of tissue implant with minimal immune response risk. This breakthrough has the potential to regenerate damaged or diseased organs with high efficiency.