The New York Center for Astrobiology will expand its research with a new NASA grant, searching for the building blocks of life beyond Earth. Researchers study the chemical and physical conditions on Earth that gave birth to life and apply this information to search for similar conditions elsewhere in our solar system.
A team of researchers led by Rensselaer Professor Suvranu De has won a $2.3 million federal grant to develop a touch-sensitive virtual reality simulator for training and certifying laparoscopic surgeons. The new system will employ haptic technology to realistically replicate the sensation a surgeon would feel during an actual procedure.
The US Department of Energy has awarded nearly $1.3 million in funding to two research projects at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, focusing on improving the nuclear fuel cycle and developing next-generation nuclear reactors.
A new, all-optical system using terahertz wave technology can identify unique 'fingerprints' of hidden materials, enabling detection of explosives, chemical and biological agents, and illegal drugs from a distance. The technique uses laser-induced fluorescence to convey information about target materials.
A study by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute professor Peter M. Tessier has found that an organic compound in red wine, resveratrol, can neutralize the toxic effects of proteins linked to Alzheimer's disease. The research provides insights into the structural differences between toxic and benign peptide arrangements.
A new technique enables large-scale production of high-quality graphene at room temperature using a molecular wedge, resulting in undamaged graphene dispersed in water. The researchers used the graphene to build chemical sensors and ultracapacitors with high-performance applications in environmental sensing and energy storage.
Tessier is investigating fundamental aspects of misfolding and clumping of three classes of proteins, which can lead to disorders like Alzheimer's disease and glaucoma. His long-term objective is to develop new therapies to treat diseases related to toxic protein aggregation.
Researchers developed a new, ultra-simple method to create nanoscale gold coatings using liquid toluene and gold nanoparticles. The process produces monolayers of gold on various surfaces in just 10 minutes without post-synthesis cleaning.
Newberg's team will use LAMOST data to plot the position, speed, and composition of over 7 million stars, shedding light on dark matter distribution and galaxy formation
Underhill will investigate how interactions between bacteria lead to collective responses, developing a theoretical framework and computer simulation methods. The award includes educational tools for exploring the role of fluid mechanics in bacterial systems.
Professor Richard Radke is leading a new study to develop novel computer automation techniques to reduce prep time of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) from several hours to minutes. IMRT delivers non-uniform doses of radiation to tumors, but requires manual adjustments and optimizations.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has been awarded a four-year $2.45 million grant from the New York Stem Cell Science Program to create an upstate center of excellence for basic stem cell research. The grant will be used to build sophisticated laboratories with high-throughput culture and imaging equipment, enhancing stem cell research...
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have developed a nanotechnology-based 'microlens' that enhances infrared imaging signal without increasing noise. The gold-covered lens-less structure doubles the detectivity of a quantum dot-based infrared detector and has the potential to boost it by up to 20 times.
David Corr's $449,999 NSF CAREER award will support his research on harnessing cells' natural abilities to improve functional tissue engineering. He aims to develop fundamental understanding of environmental stimuli on cellular growth and fiber formation.
A team of Rensselaer researchers is sending an army of microorganisms into space to investigate the effects of microgravity on biofilm formation and development. The goal is to better understand how gravity affects human-bacteria relationships, aiming to develop new ways to prevent biofilms from posing a health threat to astronauts.
The new center will explore five aspects of social cognitive networks, including dynamic processes, organizational networks, trust, human cognition, and adversarial networks. Researchers will develop mathematical models and analyze the effects of interactions on task performance and decision-making.
A Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute professor and his team are monitoring aftershocks in Chile following a massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake on Feb. 27. The 10-member team installed over 50 broadband seismometers to record seismic activity along a 500-kilometer zone, providing valuable data for understanding the earthquake's impact.
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have developed a new method to predict the fate of stem cells using advanced computer vision technology. With up to 99 percent accuracy, this method can forecast how cells will divide and what characteristics their daughter cells will exhibit.
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute developed a new computer model using mathematics to predict how environmental, medical, and physical changes affect sleep. The model provides clues to the basic dynamics of the sleep-wake cycle, offering a non-invasive way to study the brain and sleep.
A field study by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Lighting Research Center found that teenagers who missed morning light exposure experienced a 30-minute delay in sleep onset. The researchers believe that schools can be designed to provide adequate daylight to stimulate the body's natural sleep/wake cycle.
The MilkyWay@Home project uses volunteer computers from around the world to study dwarf galaxy movements and provide new details on dark matter. The project, which began in 2006, has surpassed one petaflop of computing speed and is the fastest computing project on the BOINC platform.
Researchers from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the University of Florida have launched novel nanomaterials into space to test their wear resistance and conductivity. The materials, developed using advanced manufacturing techniques, are designed to perform better in extreme conditions, such as high temperatures and radiation.
The Center for Social and Cognitive Networks will investigate social interactions, trust levels, and technology's impact on relationships. Rensselaer researchers will collaborate with top academic and corporate partners to build a firm scientific basis in network science.
The eScience revolution aims to hasten scientific discovery by providing a toolkit for scientists and educators to access and interpret vast amounts of data. Semantic Web technology enables computers to provide meaning to words, linking users to related information and facilitating collaboration between experts and non-experts.
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are developing next-generation radar systems that can overcome limitations in conventional radars. The new test bed will simulate systems comprised of hundreds of miniature sensors, enabling radars to be used in crowded cities and urban environments.
A new study by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute researchers shows striking similarities between the evolution of brains and cities. The study found that both require advanced infrastructure to maintain sufficient interconnectedness, with scaling laws governing the growth of connectors, highways, and synapses.
Professor Christian Wetzel is working to develop efficient green LEDs to bridge the gap in color technology. His goal is to produce true white LEDs and enable widespread adoption of energy-efficient lighting solutions.
The Constrained Vapor Bubble (CVB) experiment aims to understand heat and mass transfer operations in microgravity. It will provide valuable data for developing new cooling systems for spacecraft and electronics devices, as well as improving terrestrial heat transfer devices.
A team of researchers will conduct the largest earthquake simulation on a wooden structure, exposing a seven-story building to forces of an ancient earthquake. The goal is to develop new design approaches for stronger and safer wooden buildings.
The Vision Revolution reveals how human vision has evolved to perform extraordinary feats, from color perception to X-ray vision and beyond. Changizi's groundbreaking research overturns basic assumptions about human vision, exploring its unique capabilities and their impact on our daily lives.
A new method uses celestial geometry and data on the sun, Earth, and moon's optical properties to create picture-perfect images of lunar eclipses. The tool can be used to study historical atmospheric phenomena and add a special effect to artistic representations.
A team at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute developed a wearable device that delivers blue light directly to the eyes to improve sleep quality in older adults. The study found that exposure to blue light levels of 50 lux and 10 lux for 90 minutes suppressed nocturnal melatonin levels, indicating stimulation of the circadian system.
Scientists at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have discovered a new method to treat the flu by targeting two critical parts of the virus, hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N). This approach has shown strong binding potential to both H and N, offering hope for future flu drugs.
A team of Rensselaer students, led by Assistant Professor Lupita D. Montoya, is designing and building solar-powered pasteurization systems for communities in rural Peru. The project aims to help families meet governmental regulations and earn additional income by producing dairy products.
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute discovered that heat transfer between materials is directly proportional to their bonding strength. By simulating various surface chemistries, they created a new thermometer to measure interfacial bonding properties.
James Crivello, a prominent polymer researcher at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, has been awarded the Herman F. Mark Senior Scholar Award by the ACS. His groundbreaking research on novel polymers and innovative applications in energy conservation, coating, and composites has earned him this prestigious recognition.
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have discovered that incorporating treated carbon nanotubes into epoxy composites can significantly improve toughness and crack resistance. The study found a five-fold reduction in crack growth rate when subjected to repetitive stress.
Researchers at Rensselaer will investigate the role of specific genes and biological molecules in human stem cell function. They aim to understand how to control stem cell development using a range of new technologies.
A new study at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute identifies the fundamental reasons behind nanorod diameter, demonstrating a diameter of approximately 100 nanometers. The researchers found that cooperation and competition among various atomic transport mechanisms hold the key to this size.
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute developed slimmer copper nanorods that fuse together at 300 degrees Celsius, ideal for heat-sensitive nanoelectronics. This technique enables wafer bonding in 3-D computer chips with lower temperatures, resulting in less expensive and reliable devices.
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have developed a targeted strategy to substantially increase the thermodynamic stability of nearly any protein while preserving its unique function. The design technique creates proteins that remain stable at temperatures 10 degrees Celsius higher than normal.
Scientists at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have identified a protein domain linked to tumor progression and tissue invasion. The discovery could lead to the development of targeted cancer therapies with fewer side effects.
A Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute student project has created an open-source app called Vault that tracks and manages personal spending on the iPhone, while protecting users' identities. The app offers features like automatic expense categorization and GPS-located bank branches.
Researchers have discovered a new method to control graphene's properties by growing it on different surfaces. The results show that the chemistry of the surface plays a key role in shaping the material's conductive properties, allowing for the creation of either metallic or semiconductor graphene.
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have developed a new type of LED with improved lighting performance and energy efficiency. The new polarization-matched LED exhibits an 18% increase in light output and a 22% increase in wall-plug efficiency.
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have discovered that genetic predisposition and initial seizures can set the stage for later onset of epilepsy. The study used animal models to analyze seizure behavior and identified a genetic component that protects against long-lasting brain changes after initial seizures.
Researchers envision a 'revolution' in lighting with LEDs, promising cost savings of $1.83 trillion and reduced carbon emissions by 10.68 gigatons. Smart lighting applications could enhance healthcare, transportation, digital displays, and computer networking.
A recent study by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute suggests that non-conscious exposure to advertisements can increase consumer preference for promoted products. The research, led by cognitive scientist Mark Changizi, reveals how advertising tactics like apparel branding and product placement in movies and TV shows tap into our brain's...
Scientists at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute developed a method to detect magnetic behaviors of nanomaterials using single carbon nanotubes. This breakthrough could lead to advancements in spintronics, digital storage devices, and selective drug delivery components.
Dolphins produce more force than previously thought to overcome drag, contradicting Sir James Gray's hypothesis. Researchers use cutting-edge technology to measure dolphin tail forces, finding an average of 200 pounds of force.