A team of engineers has created a portable device for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy using minuscule chips, reducing the footprint for multidimensional analysis of molecules. The devices can operate accurately over a wide temperature range and may be assembled into a massively parallel array to accelerate analysis of com...
Researchers developed cellular composite materials with unprecedented light weight and stiffness using epoxy-based resins and 3D printing techniques. The materials mimic balsa wood's mechanical properties and offer improved performance over commercial 3D-printed polymers and polymer composites.
Harvard-led researchers successfully measured the collective mass of 'massless' electrons in motion in graphene, shedding light on fundamental kinetic properties. The discovery has implications for designing more sophisticated plasmonic devices with graphene and miniaturizing electronic circuitry.
A Harvard-led team identified a possible mechanism by which normal cells turn malignant in mammary epithelial tissues. They discovered that the physical forces and chemical environment in dense breast tissue can drive cells into an invasive, proliferating mode.
The project aims to create rapidly configurable metasurfaces that can be tuned in real-time, enabling the development of advanced optical technologies and quantum information devices. The research team will combine nanophotonics with quantum photonics to achieve unprecedented control over photon emission.
Researchers at Harvard's SEAS discovered a hemihelix shape, rarely seen in nature, by stretching and joining rubber strips. The shape has a predictable and deterministic growth from a two-dimensional state to a three-dimensional state.
Researchers have developed a system to produce structural color through microcapsules filled with disordered particles, allowing for the creation of paints and electronic displays that never fade. This technology has the potential to replace toxic synthetic dyes and create ageless colors.
Researchers at Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences envision a device that harnesses energy from Earth's infrared emissions into direct-current power. The proposed technology, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, could provide a new source of renewable energy.
A team of researchers created an autonomous robotic construction crew that builds complex structures without a central command, using collective intelligence and stigmergy. The TERMES system consists of simple robots that cooperate to modify their environment, achieving impressive results in building towers, castles, and pyramids.
LineUp is an open-source application that allows users to assign weights to different parameters and create a custom ranking. It introduces a dynamic element to static analysis, enabling side-by-side comparisons of alternative weighting systems.
Researchers at Harvard University have discovered the secrets behind the cuttlefish's adaptive camouflage, enabling it to change its skin color and pattern in response to visual cues. The study reveals that a sophisticated biomolecular nanophotonic system underlies the cuttlefish's color-changing abilities.
A new type of battery that could transform grid-scale energy storage, making power from renewables more economical and reliable. The innovative technology relies on naturally abundant, inexpensive quinone molecules, which are similar to those found in plants and animals.
Researchers have demonstrated that powerful probabilistic reasoning algorithms can be implemented using chemical reactions, enabling the creation of intelligent machines at tiny scales. This breakthrough could lead to the development of 'smart drugs' that can automatically detect, diagnose, and treat diseases.
A study published in PNAS found that US methane emissions are nearly five times higher than previously estimated, with fossil fuel extraction and refining activities accounting for a major contributor. Livestock operations may also be twice as high as previously thought.
Researchers created a synaptic transistor that mimics the behavior of a synapse, enabling continuous adaptation to changing signals. The device offers several advantages over traditional transistors, including non-volatile memory and inherent energy efficiency.
Researchers at Harvard SEAS have developed a thin coating that intrinsically conceals its own temperature to thermal cameras, demonstrating the potential for new military and everyday applications. By introducing impurities or defects in vanadium oxide, the team can create a wide range of interesting behaviors.
Researchers from Harvard and MIT found that data visualizations with recognizable images, such as photographs and logos, and unusual types of charts like tree diagrams and network diagrams, are more memorable. This challenges the conventional wisdom that traditional charts are more effective.
Researchers find that US national parks are experiencing 'accidental fertilization' at or above critical thresholds due to nitrogen compounds carried on the wind. The team predicts significant increases in agricultural land and fertilizer use by 2050, requiring a 55% reduction of anthropogenic NH3 emissions.