Researchers found that a reduction in PM 2.5 concentrations in eastern China has led to an increase in ground-level ozone pollution, particularly in large cities. The study suggests that extra efforts are needed to reduce NOx and VOC emissions to stem the tide of ozone pollution.
Researchers have created a soft, non-toxic wearable sensor that measures force and motion to diagnose developmental disabilities. The sensor is designed for small children and has the potential to provide advantages not currently available.
Researchers have developed an adhesive that can strongly adhere to wet materials like hydrogel and living tissue, and be easily detached with specific frequencies of light. This technology has the potential to enable painless detachment of wound dressings and transdermal drug delivery devices.
A new study found that warming waters in the Indian Ocean are causing a decline in wind power potential in India, with western regions experiencing the steepest decrease. The research suggests that investing in wind turbines in areas with stronger monsoon winds can help minimize the impact of climate change.
A new meta-surface technology has been developed to correct for chromatic aberrations across all kinds of lenses, from simple to complex. This innovation uses a single-layer surface of nanostructures and can be incorporated into commercial optical systems, improving performance while reducing complexity.
A new study by Harvard researchers found that warmer temperatures and localized cooling have contributed to increased maize production in the US. A longer growing season and reduced exposure to high temperatures have boosted yields, with over a quarter of the increase attributed to these factors.
Research from Harvard suggests that reducing formaldehyde emissions could be more effective at reducing extreme wintertime haze than focusing solely on sulfur dioxide. Formaldehyde is formed by the reaction of SO2 with formaldehyde in clouds or fog droplets, and its sources are primarily vehicles and industrial facilities.
Researchers found that replacing coal-fired powerplants with clean energy could save an estimated annual 15 million years of life in China and 11 million years of life in India. The study used state-of-the-art atmospheric chemistry modeling to calculate province-specific changes in mortality and life expectancy due to power generation.
Researchers at Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences found that a strong chemical bond between the apical cation and oxygen in cuprate compounds impacts superconductivity temperature. This discovery sheds light on key component of complicated phenomena in cuprates, opening up new avenue for materials design.
Researchers found that large-scale wind farms would require five to 20 times more land area than previously estimated, and their operation would warm average surface temperatures by 0.24 degrees Celsius in the continental US. The study suggests that localized warming occurs even with smaller projections of wind power generation.
Bees exhibit unique behavior when exposed to external loads, such as wind and rain. By analyzing their responses, researchers have gained insight into the collective problem-solving mechanisms of living systems.
Researchers from Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences have developed a new method to fabricate and design integrated, on-chip modulators 100 times smaller and 20 times more efficient than current lithium niobite (LN) modulators
Researchers created a database of over 500 dragonfly specimens and developed an algorithm to differentiate unique wing shapes. They found similarities in distribution across families and species, proposing a developmental model for pattern formation involving inhibitory signals and random zone emergence.
Harvard researchers use acoustic forces to create a new technology that enables the printing of materials in a drop-on-demand manner. The technique expands possibilities for biopharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and optical materials, and is safe to use with sensitive biological cargo.
Researchers have developed a new class of endoscopic imaging catheters that overcome the limitations of current systems, achieving higher resolution and functionality. The nano-optic endoscope incorporates metalenses into its design, enabling high-resolution imaging at extended depth of focus without complex optical components.
Harvard researchers create a scale model of a beating heart ventricle using human heart cells and nanofiber scaffolds. The model can be used to study heart function and test new treatments for arrhythmia and other conditions.
Researchers have developed a new organic molecule that can store and release energy tens of thousands of times over multi-year periods. The 'Methuselah' quinone molecule avoids degradation problems of previous molecules, providing long-term stability and high energy storage.
HAMR can walk on land, swim on the surface of water, and walk underwater for as long as necessary, opening up new environments for exploration. The robot uses electrowetting to break the water surface and can paddle its legs at a frequency of up to 10 Hz.
Computer scientists at Harvard SEAS developed a new algorithm that exponentially speeds up computation by reducing parallel steps required to reach a solution. The algorithm samples directions in parallel and discards low-value directions, enabling real-world summarization processes to be developed at unprecedented scale.
Researchers at Harvard have developed an oral delivery method that can effectively deliver insulin to the bloodstream, overcoming the major obstacles of protein degradation and absorption. The innovative formulation uses an ionic liquid comprised of choline and geranic acid, which is released in a controlled manner once ingested.
A team of international researchers created a dynamic surface, FLIPS, that can sculpt and re-sculpt microscale to macroscale features, change friction and slipperiness based on magnetic fields. It has been shown to direct particle movement, remove biofilms, coat droplets, and act as an adhesive.
Researchers developed a new technique to generate an intense, nanoscale antenna that can detect single biomolecules by harnessing polaritons. The antennas concentrate light in small volumes, increasing its intensity and creating optical fields strong enough to exert force on nearby particles.
Researchers developed a refillable, implantable device called Therepi that can deliver drugs and therapies directly to diseased tissue. The device increases heart function for more than four weeks when stem cells are repeatedly delivered.
Researchers have engineered a cell-like structure that harnesses photosynthesis to perform metabolic reactions, including energy harvesting and cytoskeleton formation. This innovation opens up new possibilities for building artificial cells that can mimic complex biological behaviors.
Harvard researchers engineered diamond strings that can quiet a qubit's environment and improve memory from tens to several hundred nanoseconds, enough time for many operations on a quantum chip. This breakthrough could serve as the backbone of a future quantum internet.
Researchers found that private electric vehicles can reduce CO2 emissions by incentivizing slow charging, while electrifying buses and taxis is the most effective option for improving air quality in Beijing. The study's strategy aims to maximize the benefits of renewables by managing vehicle charging.
Researchers at Harvard have discovered a new phenomenon in quantum cascade laser frequency combs, enabling devices to act as integrated transmitters or receivers for efficient information encoding. This breakthrough has the potential to increase Wi-Fi capacity and pave the way for faster data transfer rates.
Researchers have developed an algorithm that can discover and optimize thermoelectric materials in a matter of months, rather than years. The new method simplifies computational approaches for electron-phonon scattering, speeding up the process by about 10,000 times and reducing development time.
Researchers estimate that airborne dust levels could increase by 10-30% due to drought conditions, resulting in a 20-130% rise in premature deaths and a 60-300% growth in hospitalizations. The US Southwest is projected to experience severe and persistent droughts by 2100, posing a substantial public health burden.
Researchers from Harvard have quantified the effect of NOx pollution on OH radicals in the Amazon rainforest, finding that daytime peak OH concentrations increase by at least 250% in polluted areas. This study highlights the impact of human activities on atmospheric chemistry, with potential implications for cloud formation and rainfall.
Research from Harvard University shows that agricultural fires in Punjab, India can increase air pollution in Delhi by 20 times the safe limit. The study used satellite data and modeling to track the impact of smoke particles on urban areas.
Researchers developed two nanofiber dressings that use naturally-occurring proteins to promote healing and regrow tissue. The dressings, inspired by fetal tissue and soy-based molecules, showed significant improvements in wound healing, including 84% tissue restoration within 20 days.
Researchers at Harvard SEAS developed a flat metalens that can resolve details smaller than a wavelength of light, generate optical vortices and holograms, and exhibit achromatic behavior in multiple colors.
Researchers have developed a new method to chemically bond multiple soft materials without sacrificing their properties. The technique allows for manufacturing of more complex soft machines, including wearable devices and flexible electronics.
Researchers at Harvard University have developed a platform for creating soft robots with embedded sensors that can sense movement, pressure, touch, and even temperature. This innovation enables complex sensing motifs to be easily integrated into soft robotic systems, opening new avenues to device design and fabrication.
A new machine learning algorithm allows for quick optimization of personalized control parameters for assistive wearable devices, achieving significant improvements in metabolic performance and reducing costs. Researchers achieved a 17.4% reduction in metabolic cost compared to walking without the device.
Harvard researchers create an adaptive metalens that controls focus, astigmatism and image shift in real-time, like the human eye. The device is made possible by combining metalens technology with artificial muscle technology, enabling dynamic aberration correction for various applications.
A team of researchers developed a soft robot that uses kirigami to achieve locomotion, gripping the ground like snakeskin. The robot's surface transforms into a textured surface as it stretches, allowing it to crawl without rigid components.
A team of engineers and biologists have developed a bioinspired structure that can increase airfoil lift and decrease drag. The new vortex generators are based on the shape of shark scales and have shown significant improvements over traditional designs.
Researchers at Harvard developed a novel 3D printing method that enables control of short fibers in polymer matrices, resulting in enhanced strength, stiffness, and damage tolerance. This breakthrough has broad applications in materials engineering.
The study reveals that archaea use the same mechanism to regulate cell size as bacteria and budding yeast, with some variability in precision. The researchers found that Halobacterium salinarum controls its size by adding a constant volume between two events in the cell cycle.
Researchers at Harvard have developed a single metalens that can focus the entire visible spectrum of light, including white light, in high resolution. This breakthrough eliminates chromatic aberrations and reduces thickness and design complexity compared to traditional lenses.
Harvard researchers have developed a technique to fabricate high-quality lithium niobate devices with ultralow loss and high optical confinement. This breakthrough opens the door to practical integrated photonic circuits for applications in quantum photonics, microwave-to-optical conversion, and more.
Scientists at Harvard have created a new tool to study novel aspects of light, enabling more complex operations and applications. The metasurface connects two aspects of light, allowing for the creation of any structured beam, including spirals, corkscrews, and vortices.
The new RoboBee, 1,000 times lighter than previous robots, uses floating devices and an internal combustion system to stabilize on the water's surface before propelling itself back into the air. The robot can perform search-and-rescue operations, environmental monitoring, and biological studies.
A new method to control the momentum of broadband light has been demonstrated in a widely-used optical component known as a whispering gallery microcavity. This breakthrough enables coupling of all color lights with a single optical coupler, paving the way for applications in optical quantum processing and photonics.
Computer scientist Jelani Nelson finds Johnson-Lindenstrauss lemma best approach to reduce data dimensionality. The theorem helps speed up algorithms across various fields.
Scientists have discovered a new method to generate terahertz frequencies, long considered challenging to source, using an infrared frequency comb. The innovative system produces extremely pure terahertz tones, opening up new applications for wireless communications and high-speed digital communication.
Scientists from Harvard SEAS develop a technique to grow any target shape from any starting shape using a bilayer of elastic materials. The researchers demonstrate the system by modeling the growth of various shapes, including a flower petal and the face of Max Planck.
Scientists have successfully developed a zero-index waveguide compatible with current silicon photonic technologies, allowing them to observe standing waves with infinitely-long wavelengths. This breakthrough could enable the creation of ultra-compact optical devices and pave the way for new quantum computing applications.