Carbon nanotubes have been found to act like super-compressible springs, flexing and rebounding under compression. The new nanotube foams maintain their resilience even after thousands of compression cycles, offering a unique combination of strength and flexibility.
A Senate committee hearing explored the cause of levee failures in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. The investigation found that a soft, spongy layer of swamp peat underneath some levee sections may have contributed to breaches, and further analysis is needed to determine its extent.
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have developed a new polymer membrane that may facilitate hydrogen separation, purification, and transport at high temperatures. The team will test the membranes for use in fuel cell systems to address global energy security concerns.
A Rensselaer researcher has been awarded $845,000 in federal funding to improve computer representations of terrain on the Earth's surface. The research aims to reduce errors in commercial mapping products and enhance navigation of unmanned aerial vehicles.
Computer simulations reveal that heat conduction is surprisingly high between liquid interfaces, challenging conventional wisdom on thermal conductivity. This finding has significant implications for fields like cancer treatment and computer chip manufacturing.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has received an NIH grant to establish a center for cheminformatics research, which will utilize computational techniques to predict chemical compound behavior. The RECCR aims to strengthen collaboration between researchers in various disciplines and advance biotechnology and life sciences research.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is partnering with the National Center for Supercomputing Applications to lead a national environmental monitoring capability. The CLEANER project aims to develop technology and infrastructure for effective prediction of environmental changes.
A team of experts is investigating the damage caused by wind-driven waves and overtopping, as well as emergency patch effectiveness and decision-making processes behind levee configurations. The study aims to improve levee design to withstand potential terrorist attacks and natural disasters.
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are exploring nanomechanical systems with a $1.15 million NSF grant. They aim to develop energy-efficient light emitters, solar cells, and sensitive sensors using nano springs, rods, and beams.
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have developed a technique to make magnetic diamond particles, which could find use in medicine and information technology. The tiny magnets have several advantages over metal counterparts, including being lightweight, stable, simple to process, and less expensive.
A team of researchers, including Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, has developed a network of distributed sensing devices and water-monitoring robots that use solar power to extend their deployment time. This technology will enable the detection of chemical and biological trends in lakes, rivers, and waterways to improve water quality ...
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute President Shirley Ann Jackson warns of a growing science, engineering, and technology talent gap in the US. She emphasizes the need for a national commitment to develop more science, engineering, and technology talent from underrepresented groups.
A new tool developed by McGown could help answer questions about the role of G-quartets in health and disease, including their connection to diabetes. The study aims to identify new biomarkers and medical therapies.
Rensselaer researchers have developed a predictive modeling approach that can determine protein behavior for use in bioseparation applications. The model uses molecular information obtained from the protein structure to predict adsorption isotherm parameters and chromatographic behavior, replicating experimental results.
Researchers are creating a library of realistic 3D models of patients to improve radiation dose accuracy, enabling safer and more effective treatment. This project aims to bring about a paradigm change in radiation protection by facilitating image processing and simulation.
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute developed a heat spreader that uses phase-change heat process to cool the brain during epileptic seizures. The device, implanted on the neocortex, cools the brain from 38°C to 20°C to render it seizure-free.
The program combines academics, research, and entrepreneurship to accelerate the development of fuel cell technology. 28 doctoral students will study fuel cell science and engineering over five years.
The new Center for Future Energy Systems will focus on renewable energy and energy conservation systems, prioritizing fuel cells, smart lighting, and emerging renewable energy systems. The research aims to make New York state a world leader in energy research and generate jobs.
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are developing smart lighting sources with improved spectral power distribution, polarization, and color temperature to enable new functions in various fields. These innovations have the potential to reduce energy consumption, dependency on oil, and greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers discovered minimum melting conditions on early Earth, 200 million years after solar system formation, using a new zircon thermometer technique. This finding provides important information about the first eon of Earth's history and opens up possibilities for life's early foothold.
Rensselaer researchers have developed an omni-directional reflector (ODR) that enhances LED brightness, accelerating the replacement of conventional lighting. The new technology has significant implications for energy savings and reducing mercury exposure, which can cause health problems.
A virtual reality-based surgery simulator will allow surgeons to practice manipulating 3-D models of human organs using their sense of touch and vision, reducing operating room errors and improving patient outcomes. The simulator uses a novel computational technique to model human tissue and provide realistic touch feedback.
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute developed a software program that quickly identifies molecules with sound medicinal properties. The software uses shortcuts in chemistry and math to rapidly analyze vast molecular databases, predicting which compounds have the right chemical features for specific therapies.
The study replicates and extends earlier results on bubble fusion, a method for achieving nuclear fusion without strong magnetic fields or lasers. The new data show significant neutron emission rates, consistent with theoretical predictions.
Researchers at Rensselaer aim to develop a key set of tools to synthesize and screen promising compounds rapidly, identifying those most suitable for further development as potential new drugs. The proposed techniques could speed up the drug development process, reducing costs from $1.7 billion to an unknown amount.
The Academy of Electronic Media has received a two-year, $350,000 NSF grant to produce new Web-based materials that support electrical engineering education. The grant will also enable the development of new online tools to stimulate interest in STEM fields among students from kindergarten through high school.
Scientists have found that bacteria can produce uniform nanospheres of selenium with vastly different properties from conventional selenium. These findings could lead to the production of smaller, faster semiconductors and other electronic devices.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute researcher is developing a compound to neutralize anthrax toxin, which could be injected into healthy humans as a preventive measure or given to infected individuals as an antidote. The goal is to develop a safe and effective treatment for bioterrorist anthrax attacks.
The latest research at Jefferson Lab has confirmed the existence of pentaquarks, five-quark particles predicted by scientists for years. This breakthrough provides valuable information on the nature of this new state of matter and its production process.
Researchers found that carbon nanotubes exhibit lower thermal conductivity when integrated into other materials due to interfacial resistance. Despite this, they remain optimistic about using nanotubes to improve insulating materials.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute researchers are awarded a $2.6 million NIH grant to develop engineered bone tissue that can promote faster and stronger bone healing, potentially treating bone injuries, hip replacements, and arthritis.
Immediate weight-bearing pressure can lead to fibrous tissue formation instead of normal bone, hindering implant performance. Bioengineers aim to determine the ideal loading amount and timing to prevent this issue and increase the success rate of implants.
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are developing new interconnect technologies that enable three-dimensional circuit integration, promising improved performance and function. The technology uses damascene processing to bond wafers together face-to-face, reducing global travel distance and enabling faster signal transmission.
A new anthrax inhibitor being researched by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute may be able to prevent the toxin from binding to human cells, thereby hindering its damage. This breakthrough could enable successful treatment of anthrax at later stages and save more lives.
A new microdialysis probe can detect cytokine markers indicating early infection or rejection responses to implants. This detection method aims to bioengineer the site for optimal device performance, ultimately benefiting public health and economic development.
Vera Kettnaker's proposed system analyzes an elderly person's movement patterns to detect potential problems and summon help automatically. The system would be integrated with ceiling-mounted cameras and data-processing equipment to provide a safe and private living environment for seniors.
Designing molecules to block HIV receptors could lead to more effective and safer treatments. The approach has the potential to be orders of magnitude more effective than existing treatments, with fewer side effects.
Rensselaer's active campus/community coalition is addressing alcohol abuse through various programs, including First Year Experience orientation and on-demand educational programs. The university has also distributed billboards, flyers, and free license verifiers to reduce underage drinking.
Rensselaer researchers develop a new biocatalysis lab-on-a-slide technique to screen for NADPH oxidase inhibitors, potentially leading to effective therapies for cardiovascular disease. The method allows for faster and more cost-effective discovery of new drugs.
Dordick and Sroga use hybrid proteins to manipulate linear DNA strands into unusual shapes, including three-dimensional cubes. These bio-inspired nanostructures can spontaneously assemble, saving researchers time and effort.
Scientists at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute create computer models of proteins to integrate them into dry substances like plastic. This development could lead to new applications in the security and medical industries, such as ultra-hygienic surfaces and chemical sensors.
A team of researchers has discovered that using small-world networking can improve the efficiency of parallel computing in simulations. By linking computers to their nearest neighbors and a few other random computers, the simulation process can run faster without data traffic jams.
A previously unseen band of stars beyond the edge of the Milky Way galaxy has been discovered, approximately 120,000 light years in diameter. The discovery supports the theory that at least part of our galaxy was formed by many smaller or dwarf galaxies mixing together.
The conference emphasized the need for collaborations among government, industry, and academia to address nuclear education and R&D needs. Key action items include developing better secondary-school curriculum, expanding joint outreach at high schools and community colleges, and attracting young women and minorities to the field.
A recent study by Rensselaer researchers found that exposure to blue LED lighting can delay the decline of body temperatures in Alzheimer's patients, leading to better sleep. The study also showed increased activity during daylight hours for two patients who wore wrist activity monitors.
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have developed a new approach to decoding the protein language by creating a 3-D image of each known protein and reducing it to a simpler 2-D representation, called a contact map. The data from the contact map is used to predict unknown proteins and novel protein formation.
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute created large symmetrical crystals with five-fold crystallographic symmetry using boron carbide. These crystals are rare in nature due to the strain caused by their growth, but may have potential as a hard material for engineering applications.
A team of scientists led by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Professor Jun Abrajano refutes the Noah's Flood Hypothesis by presenting sediment evidence of sustained interaction between the Mediterranean and Black Seas. This contradicts the theory that a massive flood destroyed freshwater mollusks in the Black Sea.
Michael Shur, a renowned researcher at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, has been awarded the prestigious Humboldt Award for his outstanding contributions to novel semiconductor devices and integrated circuits. With over 700 technical publications and 25 patents, Shur is recognized internationally in his field.
Scientists at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have created a breakthrough method for producing long, hair-like strands of carbon nanotubes up to 20 centimeters in length. This simplified approach uses chemical vapor deposition (CVD) with a sulfur-containing compound and hydrogen, resulting in high yields of long strands.