Recent satellite deployments have reached record-breaking brightness levels, posing a threat to ground-based astronomy. The addition of 400,000 satellites in the near future could completely alter the night sky.
Researchers developed a new base modification, Z-mRNA, that demonstrates low immunogenicity and reduced cytotoxicity compared to unmodified mRNAs. The modified mRNA can induce a substantial immune response and has potential therapeutic applications beyond COVID-19 vaccines.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have successfully tuned graphene surface friction using external electric fields, allowing for dynamic control of friction. This breakthrough could lead to reduced energy consumption in nano- and micro-electromechanical systems and mitigate wear and corrosion of sliding surfaces.
Researchers designed a nanofluidic device to harness energy from seawater-freshwater boundaries, where ions naturally flow due to salinity differences. The device converts ionic flow into usable electric power through Coulomb drag, with surprising behaviors and amplification effects discovered in simulations.
Phil Ansell reviewed over 300 research projects to assess sustainable aviation fuels, finding that multiple energy carriers have potential. Bio jet fuel pathways, power-to-liquid pathways for synthetic kerosene, liquid hydrogen, and battery electric systems were among the options examined.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have identified a novel pathway to stabilize nanoscale precipitates in alloys through nonequilibrium processes. By stopping precipitate coarsening, they can create stable nanostructures with improved mechanical properties.
Researchers have developed a method to control the electronic character of graphene nanoribbons by making metal contacts using direct-write scanning tunneling microscopy. This precise technique allows for device functionality needed for transistor function, overcoming previous uncertainty with giant electrodes.
Researchers developed a fluorinated diamond-like carbon coating that improves heat transfer in steam condensers, allowing for a 2% overall process boost. This innovation could save 460 million tons of CO2 and 2 trillion gallons of water annually if coal and natural gas power generation were just 2% more efficient.
Aerodynamic researchers at University of Illinois create wind tunnel experiment to study internal boundary layers and their impact on flow behavior. They identify a new internal boundary layer that changes the flow's behavior, providing insights into aerodynamics physics and improving turbulence models for complex designs.
Researchers have identified a novel pathway to stabilize nanoscale precipitates in alloys by utilizing nonequilibrium processes, stopping coarsening and resulting in stable nanostructures. This approach has potential applications in materials used for nuclear applications, batteries, and other industries.
Researchers have finally found Pines' demon, a massless and neutral composite particle predicted to exist in certain metals. They used a nonstandard experimental technique that directly excites a material's electronic modes, allowing them to see the demon's signature in strontium ruthenate.
Researchers developed novel power, energy, and configuration systems for a zero-emissions aviation future using cryogenic liquid hydrogen as an energy carrier. They achieved efficiency of over 98% and demonstrated the feasibility of superconducting technology at ultra-low temperatures.
The University of Illinois will establish a new research center dedicated to autonomous construction technologies, focusing on control systems, expert systems, artificial intelligence, and manufacturing technologies. The center aims to translate emerging technologies into real-world solutions for the US Army and State of Illinois.
Researchers identified structural chokepoints in US agri-food supply chains to enhance resilience and security, critical for global food systems. The study's findings may inform policies aimed at bolstering the nation's ability to respond to threats.
A new theoretical study provides a framework for understanding nonlocality in quantum networks, which are essential for performing operations inaccessible to standard technology. The researchers determined the conditions necessary for creating systems with strong, quantum correlations.
A new AI technology has been developed to generate artificial scientific data, allowing for faster and more efficient detection of material features. The AI uses generative adversarial networks to incorporate background noise and experimental imperfections into the generated data, making it virtually indistinguishable from real data.
Researchers developed a novel method for underwater geolocalization using deep neural networks trained on 10 million polarization-sensitive images. The technology enables tethered-free navigation and has the potential to improve location accuracy, enabling in situ autonomous sampling robots to monitor water properties.
Researchers used coherence maps to study quantum mechanisms in photosynthesis, revealing energy transfer pathways and a clear explanation for the process. The technique gave important insights into one of biology's great mysteries.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a new procedure, SCRIBE, that enables precise printing of microdevices into existing materials. The technique uses multiphoton lithography to selectively modify regions of the material's interior and manufacture custom small-scale optical devices.
A team led by Taylor Hughes and Gaurav Bahl has experimentally realized a theoretical extension of chirality in two dimensions. They constructed a topological circuit network to explore new behaviors predicted by this extended chirality, which manifests as locking between a particle's flow direction and an arrow carried along with it.
Researchers used a machine learning model to simulate the behavior of hydrogen atoms at high pressures, discovering a new phase that was missed by previous theories and experiments. The discovery has sparked further investigation into the properties of solid hydrogen under extreme conditions.
Researchers developed a dual-modality imaging technique combining photoacoustic and super-resolution ultrasound imaging to detect physiological and biochemical abnormalities. The new method provides comprehensive diagnostic information at a lower cost than traditional techniques.
Researchers at UIUC have conducted the first variance-based sensitivity analysis of Lambda-type quantum memory devices, considering effects of random device noise and slow experimental drift. The study informs experimental design and enables others to perform similar analyses.
Researchers at UIUC use 4D-STEM to resolve magnetic behavior on angstrom scale, breaking record for atomic resolution. They achieve this by combining electron microscopy with simulations using software package Magnstem.
A team of researchers at the University of Illinois has developed a bio-inspired model that simulates variable stiffness flaps on an airfoil to improve lift. The study used reinforcement learning to optimize the stiffness levels, resulting in significant improvements compared to traditional single-stiffness models.
Frontal polymerization, a faster and more energy-efficient process, generates heat that drives natural convection. This interaction leads to patterns in the resulting solid polymeric material, affecting its properties.
Researchers at the University of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering have successfully integrated arrays of electrochemical random-access memory (ECRAM) onto silicon transistors, creating a practical AI accelerator. This innovation eliminates energy costs associated with data transfer and enables efficient deep learning operations.
A new study reveals that contaminated bubble bursting produces aerosols with smaller sizes, greater number of drops, and higher ejection speeds. This finding has significant implications for public health and environmental impact.
Researchers from the University of Illinois have developed a new theory that explains how convection occurs inside reactive porous media, shedding light on mass and heat transfer principles. The theory introduces a spectral Sherwood number and extends Newton's law of cooling for convection heat transfer to transient conditions.
Scientists have successfully detected a massive phason in a charge density wave material, confirming a long-standing theoretical prediction. The detection was made using nonlinear optical techniques and has significant implications for the development of new materials with unique properties.
The DART mission observed a 33-minute change in the orbit of Dimorphos, indicating that ejecta escaped the system and contributed to the orbital changes. The team will use this data to understand how the entire system's orbit changes over time.
The DART mission successfully deflected the orbit of asteroid Dimorphos by 33 minutes. The team's calculations showed that the momentum transferred to Dimorphos was significantly enhanced by the recoil created from streams of particles produced by the impact, exceeding initial expectations.
A multidisciplinary team developed a physiologically accurate model of octopus arm muscles, providing insight into biological and design challenges. The model enables energy-shaping control, simplifying arm control design and enabling life-like motion in soft robots.
The CEE team is leading a new project to develop better systems for evaluating the structural health of rail lines and modernizing pavement design and evaluation procedures. Researchers will focus on developing a rail structural capacity rating and Joint Evaluation and Design Integrated (JEDI) Solution software tools.
New research computes first step toward predicting lifespan of electric space propulsion systems by developing a model that bridges scales between molecular dynamics simulations and experiments. The model resolves limitations and uncertainties in experimental data, gaining insight into critical phenomenon and surface morphology over time.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a novel design for powerful microbatteries that can power tiny devices with high voltage and energy density. The batteries, which are hermetically sealed and compact, use innovative packaging technology and dense electrodes to achieve unprecedented performance.
The Center for Aggressive Scaling by Advanced Processes for Electronics and Photonics (ASAP) aims to develop new fundamental technology solutions to reduce energy consumption in microprocessors. The center will focus on materials discovery, heterogeneous 3D integration, and highly energy-efficient circuits and architectures.
Illinois researchers create a metamaterial that changes its functionality based on power input, mimicking semiconductor behavior. The material's non-linear properties enable the creation of qubits dynamically, promising new quantum information systems.
University of Illinois researchers derived the depth profile of electric double layers using statistical analysis and electrostatic calculations. They developed a new method, CP-3D-AFM, to experimentally quantify the charge distribution at electrode-electrolyte interfaces.
Researchers compared two semiconductor simulation tools and found that the Fermi kinetics transport solver outperforms a commercial hydrodynamics software package in modeling electronic heat flow and electron temperature, particularly in high-speed applications. The custom-developed code converges faster and provides more consistent re...
Researchers propose an alternative redistricting procedure that takes input from two major political parties and results in quantifiably fairer district maps. The bisection protocol, inspired by the
Researchers at the University of Illinois have solved a long-standing puzzle about cubic silicon carbide's thermal conductivity, which is higher than previously thought. The team measured an isotropic high thermal conductivity of over 500 W m–1 K–1, ranking it second only to diamond.
Research shows that the Southwestern North American megadrought caused a significant reduction (~30%) in wave activity after its onset, which may be related to reduced storm generation and altered precipitation patterns. The findings demonstrate that regional changes in the lower atmosphere can impact the upper atmosphere.
Researchers at the University of Illinois created an experimental data set to validate models of supersonic flows around a cantilever plate. The data set reveals complex fluid-structure interactions, including three-dimensional flow in the re-circulation region under the plate.
A team of researchers used molecular dynamics simulations and electrochemical 3D atomic force microscopy to study the electric double layer structure of an ionic liquid on crystalline electrodes. They found that intermolecular interactions among cations and anions are stronger than electrode-specific interactions, proposing a key descr...
Researchers have validated a new theory for molecular diffusion in polymer matrices, explaining how molecules move through complex media. The study found that temperature and molecule size significantly impact transport rates, enabling the design of more selective polymer membranes.
A University of Illinois team discovered liquid crystalline epoxy resins with high thermal conductivity, outperforming common polymers by up to 5 times. The breakthrough was achieved by precisely controlling the lengths of ethylene repeat units in the polymer structure.
A team of researchers used clear mud to study turbulence in water flows, discovering that low clay concentrations alter the structure of turbulent dynamics. This finding has implications for understanding sediment transport and predicting flow behavior in natural environments.
Researchers develop breakthrough process to transform polyethylene into polypropylene, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by scalable and rapidly implementable method. The process could potentially save 3 million cars' worth of GHG emissions if 20% of global PE waste is recovered.
Researchers use nanowire with samarium hexaboride (SmB6) to image magnetic features in iron telluride, revealing spin-polarized currents without added magnets. The study provides evidence of SmB6 as a Kondo topological insulator and simplifies magnetic imaging.