Harvard researchers create first topological acoustic transistor, utilizing sound waves to control flow on and off. The device demonstrates scalable and controllable 'acoustic switches' with potential applications in efficient noise reduction, ultrasound imaging, and more.
A team of Harvard researchers has created a diverse multilingual speech dataset that spans languages spoken by over 5 billion people. The Multilingual Spoken Words Corpus offers a vast pool of keywords and audio examples for voice-enabled applications, enabling broader global access to voice technology.
A team of researchers from Harvard University has observed exotic fractional states at low magnetic field in twisted bilayer graphene for the first time. The discovery could lead to robust quantum bits and new types of quantum computing applications.
Researchers at Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences have developed a new way to measure the properties of spin waves in graphene, including energy and number of spin waves, chemical potential, and temperature. This breakthrough could help explore new ways of generating magnons and achieve spin superfluidity.
A new study models India's climate change impact from varying emissions strategies during the COVID-19 recovery. The research finds that greener scenarios may drive a positive feedback loop, while extreme temperature and precipitation events are expected to increase in magnitude and frequency regardless of the emissions commitments.
A team of researchers explored the possibility of producing hydrogen from offshore wind in China and delivering it to Japan at a cost competitive with the country's future projections. The study found that Chinese-produced hydrogen could supply Japan's net-zero transition needs by 2030, even under a high-cost scenario.
On-chip frequency shifters in the gigahertz range enable precise color shifting for high-speed optical communication. This innovation has significant implications for the development of quantum computers and future network infrastructure.
Researchers at Harvard SEAS developed a new silicon coating that counters chromatic dispersion in transparent materials like glass. The ultra-thin coating uses precisely designed silicon pillars to capture and re-emitting red light, allowing slower-moving blue light to catch up.
Researchers explore harnessing China's wind energy to produce carbon-free green hydrogen at a lower cost than coal-derived black hydrogen. Shifting from black to green hydrogen could reduce 100 million tons of CO2 emissions per year by 2030.
Researchers developed a bioinspired system using ultrasound measurements to create customized assistance profiles for users. The exosuit significantly reduced metabolic energy of walking across various speeds and inclines.
Researchers found that during hothouse periods, Earth may have experienced cycles of dryness followed by massive rain storms. This unexpected atmospheric state sheds light on Earth's distant past and far-flung future, potentially helping to understand climates of exoplanets.
A new study reveals that methane emissions from US cities are 2-10 times higher than recent estimates, with Boston's emissions being six times higher due to pipeline and end-use emitters. The research found that seasonal consumption-based emissions account for 56% of total natural gas emissions in Boston.
Researchers created a shape-shifting material that can morph into any stable shape, enabling independent control of geometry and mechanics. The totimorphic structural materials have the potential to be used in robotics, biotechnology, architecture, and other applications.
A new model suggests that integrating massive offshore wind generation, power storage, electric vehicles, green hydrogen production, and expanded transmission can reduce costs of renewable power integration into the grid. This strategy could make achieving China's carbon neutrality by 2050 feasible without significantly increasing costs.
Researchers from Harvard and Tsinghua University found that solar energy could provide 43.2% of China's electricity demands in 2060 at less than two-and-a-half U.S. cents per kilowatt-hour. The study highlights a crucial energy transition point for China and other countries, where combined solar power and storage systems become a cheap...
Researchers at Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences have developed a simple spatial light modulator made from gold electrodes covered by a thin film of electro-optical material. This device can control light intensity and pixel by pixel, enabling compact, high-speed, and precise optical devices.
Researchers at Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences developed a metasurface using ultra-deep holes to focus light to a single spot, achieving a record-breaking aspect ratio of nearly 30:1. This breakthrough enables the creation of large achromatic metalenses with diverse color control capabilities.
Researchers at Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences have developed an elastomer that is both stiff and tough, resolving the long-standing conundrum in polymer science. The new material has high toughness, strength, and fatigue resistance, making it suitable for applications such as tissue regeneration, bio...
Using observations, lab experiments, theory, and computation, researchers have developed a simple theory to explain the form and growth of apples' cusp-like features. The team found that mechanical instability and underlying fruit anatomy play joint roles in giving rise to multiple cusps in fruits.
A team of researchers from Harvard and MIT observed hydrodynamic electron flow in three-dimensional tungsten ditelluride for the first time using a new imaging technique. The findings provide a promising avenue for exploring non-classical fluid behavior in hydrodynamic electron flow, such as steady-state vortices.
Researchers discover brain forms a single motor plan to optimize task performance despite uncertainty, upending decades-old theory of motor averaging. The study used experiments and computational modeling to demonstrate the brain's ability to generate an optimal action choice under uncertain conditions.
Researchers developed electrically-driven soft valves to control hydraulic soft actuators, enabling faster and more powerful control of macro- and small-scale hydraulic actuators. The breakthrough allows for unprecedented motion control of soft robots with internal volume ranging from hundreds of microliters to tens of milliliters.
Scientists develop robotic model of mantis shrimp strike, revealing geometric latching process behind ultra-fast movements. The device accelerates to 26 meters per second, equivalent to a car reaching 58 mph in four milliseconds.
Researchers at Harvard SEAS have demonstrated a new way to control polarized light using metasurfaces, enabling holographic images with an unlimited number of polarization states and manipulation in virtually infinite directions. This advancement could lead to applications in imaging, microscopes, displays, and astronomy.
A team of computer scientists has developed an assembly selection process that balances representation and fairness in citizens' assemblies. By using a machine learning-based algorithm, the researchers ensure that all volunteers have an equal chance of being chosen, regardless of demographic quotas or education level.
Researchers at Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences have developed a technique to control and shape optical singularities, opening up possibilities for wide-ranging fields including super-resolution microscopy techniques and new atomic particle traps.
Correcting historic sea surface temperatures improves hurricane model accuracy, aligning with observed hurricane frequency variations. This approach provides a more confident basis for predicting the impact of climate change on future hurricane frequency.
Researchers at Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences developed a single metasurface that can tune different properties of laser light, including wavelength, without additional optical components. This opens the door for lightweight and efficient optical systems for various applications.
Researchers from Harvard developed a system harnessing mechanical instabilities in curved beams to create light, compact, and customizable deployable structures. The innovation enables easy deployment of objects into elaborate 3D configurations on various scales.
A new study published in Science Advances reveals that the pre-industrial Southern Hemisphere was much smokier than previously thought, shedding light on the future impacts of global climate change. This research used ice core samples to determine the amount of smoke aerosols in the pre-industrial atmosphere.
Research from Harvard University suggests that solar geoengineering may be surprisingly effective in alleviating some of the worst impacts of global warming on crops. The study found that all three potential methods have a strong cooling effect benefiting crop yields.
Research from Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences found that people changed their behavior in response to national guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a uniform rise in mobility across the country when the guidelines expired.
Harvard researchers develop a stable solid-state lithium battery that can be charged and discharged at least 10,000 times, increasing the lifetime of electric vehicles to 10-15 years. The battery's multilayer design prevents dendrite growth, allowing for high current density and quick charging.
Researchers developed bistable inflatable structures using triangular building blocks that can fold flat and be combined to build closed, multistable shapes. These structures maintain their shape without constant input of pressure, enabling faster deployment and use in various applications.
Scientists transform circles into squares by temporarily softening a stiff material using capillary force, allowing for durable and reversible topological changes. The new approach enables applications in information encryption, selective particle trapping, and tunable mechanical properties.
Researchers identified a Goldilocks zone for raindrop size to determine which drops make it to the surface. This behavior helps model cloud cycles and predict exoplanet habitability.
A new study found that oil production emits 90% higher methane than the EPA's estimated figures, while natural gas production emissions are 50% higher. The research team developed a method to trace and map total emissions using satellite data to identify areas with discrepancies.
Researchers challenge prevailing views that warmer climate means more dry land by developing a new metric of drylands based on land surface properties. The study found that climate models don't project a dramatic and rapid global expansion of drylands, but still struggle with uncertainty about future land changes.
Researchers have developed a new testing method to identify and quantify previously undetectable per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) compounds in watersheds on Cape Cod. The study found large quantities of PFAS, including those from fire-retardant foams, exceeding state maximum contaminant levels.
Computing has a significant environmental impact due to hardware manufacturing and infrastructure. Researchers at Harvard are working to design more sustainable computing systems by reducing emissions from chip manufacturing and improving device efficiency. They also aim to incorporate environmental factors into computational design.
A COVID-19 lockdown in Northern China led to a significant decrease in nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions but an increase in ground-level ozone pollution. Researchers found that volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were driving the increased ozone production, as NOx levels scavenged radicals and prevented ozone formation during summer months.
A team of researchers at Harvard University has developed a two-millimeter achromatic metalens that can focus RGB colors without aberrations, opening a path to new virtual reality platforms. The lens uses nanostructures to focus light and is the largest RGB-achromatic metalens to date.
Scientists have created a mathematical framework to understand how termites construct intricate mounds without a plan. By analyzing the spacing and arrangement of floors and ramps, researchers have made predictions for the spontaneous formation of linear and helical ramps, shedding light on swarm intelligence.
Researchers developed fish-inspired robots that synchronize movements in 3D space, exhibiting complex collective behaviors such as aggregation and circle formation. The system uses blue LED lights for vision-based coordination and demonstrates autonomy in underwater environments.
A study from Harvard University found that COVID-19 transmission tends to be lower in weeks following higher UV exposure, with a 7-percentage point decrease in growth rate on average across the Northern Hemisphere. This effect is modest compared to social distancing measures.
Researchers at Harvard have developed an ionic forcefield coating that allows nanoparticles to bypass the immune system's first line of defense. In mouse experiments, coated nanoparticles survived longer in the body and reached their target location with increased efficiency.
Researchers develop a strain sensor that can detect small changes in muscle movement through clothing, demonstrating its high sensitivity. The sensor's resilience allows it to withstand repeated exposure to harsh conditions like being stabbed with a scalpel or run over by a car.
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from endothelial cells have been shown to revive heart cells after a heart attack and keep them functioning while deprived of oxygen. The researchers demonstrated this functionality in human tissue using a heart-on-a-chip model.
Researchers at Harvard SEAS developed a new lattice design inspired by marine sponge skeletons, achieving higher strength-to-weight ratios than traditional designs. The diagonal reinforcement strategy improves structural strength without adding material, paving the way for innovative infrastructural applications.
Researchers at Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences have developed a biocompatible material with reversible shape memory. The material, made from recycled keratin protein, can be 3D-printed into any shape and change its structure in response to moisture.