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Act now on microplastic risks, businesses urged

A new white paper highlights the risks of microplastics in supply chains and environments, with primary and secondary microplastics found in various products. Businesses are urged to take proactive measures to manage their microplastic exposure, including monitoring, circular business models, and recycled-content products.

SourceUniversity of Technology Sydney·DateAug 4, 2026
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

The trillion-dollar question behind corporate net-zero pledges

A new Perspective in Nature Sustainability proposes industry-specific net-zero blueprints to ensure corporate climate action is grounded in science. The plan aims to provide a common scientific foundation for companies to set targets and track progress, reducing the reliance on carbon credit markets and planetary limits.

SourceInternational Institute for Applied Systems Analysis·JournalNature Sustainability·DateJul 30, 2026

UT and Eastman extend research partnership through 2032

The University of Tennessee at Knoxville has signed a new six-year master research agreement with Eastman, investing $3 million to support sponsored research and university-industry initiatives. The partnership aims to advance materials innovation, develop talent, and create solutions that benefit communities.

SourceUniversity of Tennessee at Knoxville·DateJul 28, 2026

Hassen named Fellow of the American Society for Nondestructive Testing

Ahmed Arabi Hassen, group leader at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, has been named ASNT Fellow for his significant contributions to nondestructive testing and evaluation. He advanced composite manufacturing through innovative methods, enabling faster qualification of new materials and structures.

SourceDOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory·DateJul 10, 2026
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

"Semiconductors enter the era of skyscrapers": Stacking chips like high-rise buildings to boost performance

Researchers developed a technology to stack ultrathin semiconductor chips with improved integration density, overcoming challenges of chip thickness and warpage. The process enables the reliable stacking of over ten chips, potentially leading to significant improvements in AI semiconductor performance.

SourcePohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)·JournalResults in Engineering·DateJul 7, 2026

Roschli named to ASME Mechanical Engineering Watch List

Roschli's research applies large-format additive manufacturing (LFAM) to nuclear energy construction, reducing production times from weeks to days. He was recognized by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) for his contributions to additive manufacturing innovations.

SourceDOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory·DateJun 25, 2026
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

Hsiao earns NSF CAREER Award for work in nanoscale manufacturing

Dr. Kaiwen Hsiao's research focuses on developing a precise kind of 3D printing that uses light to build tiny structures out of polymer materials, addressing limitations in microelectronics manufacturing. The award will fund continued development of her platform, which holds promise for biomedical and battery applications.

SourceTexas A&M University·DateJun 9, 2026

New hand sensors turn post-stroke rehab into an on-screen game

Researchers developed piezoelectric patch sensors that track finger movements to play rock-paper-scissors, promoting self-motivated healthcare and entertainment. The sensors provide quantifiable data and objective feedback, improving patient outcomes through accessibility, independence, and motivation.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalAdvanced Healthcare Materials·DateJun 2, 2026
Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

Sana Elyas elected SAMPE North America president

Sana Elyas, technical leader at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, was elected as president of SAMPE North America, continuing her steady progression through leadership roles. She will focus on building on the organization's strong foundation, strengthening technical excellence and growing partnerships.

SourceDOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory·DateMay 27, 2026

ORNL's Cait Clarkson earns SAMPE leadership award

Cait Clarkson has received the SAMPE Young Professional Emerging Leadership Award for her applied science research on advanced polymer and composite materials. Her work focuses on developing sustainable feedstocks for large-format additive manufacturing, automotive, and industrial applications.

SourceDOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory·DateMay 27, 2026
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

See-through packaging increases desire for ownersip, new research finds

New research reveals that see-through or cut-out product packaging on a shelf increases the psychological desire to own it. Customers rely on various cues when making purchasing decisions, with visibility of a product influencing choices.

SourceCity St George’s, University of London·JournalInternational Journal of Marketing·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 20, 2026

Hmeidat, Hubbard named outstanding manufacturing engineers

Researchers Nadim Hmeidat and Amber Hubbard have been honored with the 2026 Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award from the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) for their contributions to advanced manufacturing research and engineering innovation.

SourceDOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory·DateMay 13, 2026

Profit alone is a poor measure of success, study shows companies can look efficient while harming the planet

A new study from the University of Surrey shows that firms celebrated for strong financial performance may actually be inefficient when environmental impact is included. The research developed a new way to measure sustainable corporate efficiency, combining traditional financial metrics with environmental data.

SourceUniversity of Surrey·JournalEuropean Journal of Operational Research·TypeObservational study·DateMay 5, 2026
Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.

Policies intended to protect trade secrets may limit late-career wages

A study by Penn State researchers found that trade secret policies restrict labor mobility, leading to early-career workers receiving higher starting wages but stunted wage growth later. Firms instead shifted toward greater use of capital, replacing human labor with automation equipment.

SourcePenn State·JournalLabour Economics·DateMay 1, 2026

How AI can help us count the ‘good’ viruses used in biopharmaceuticals

Researchers developed an AI-powered methodology to identify and count target viruses more efficiently than previous techniques. The new approach uses electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and machine learning to separate signals from noise, enabling quick and accurate readings across a wide range of titers.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalIEEE Sensors Journal·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 23, 2026

Nuclear construction breakthrough earns ORNL 2026 SME Award

A team from Oak Ridge National Laboratory used large-format additive manufacturing to create high-precision molds for advanced nuclear reactors, lowering costs and speeding deployment of new plants. The project demonstrates the potential of digital manufacturing to cut weeks off the schedule while meeting strict nuclear standards.

SourceDOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory·DateApr 23, 2026
Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

Achieving wafer-scale growth of 2D magnetic materials

Researchers at Indian Institute of Science have devised a method to grow high-quality 2D magnetic materials over centimetre-scale wafers, paving the way for their integration into next-generation electronics. The technique uses Physical Vapour Transport Deposition and enables scalable fabrication with minimal surface roughness.

SourceIndian Institute of Science (IISc)·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateApr 16, 2026

Don't build the engine, grow it: biohybrid miniature robots using living organisms

Researchers create living biohybrid miniature robots that solve traditional engineering trade-offs between structural rigidity and environmental adaptability. These biological engines utilize embodied intelligence to navigate complex terrains and achieve performance metrics rivaling state-of-the-art synthetics.

SourceInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·JournalInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·DateApr 15, 2026
GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

How to teach the same skill to different robots

Researchers develop Kinematic Intelligence framework to transfer skills between robots with different mechanical structures, enabling safe and predictable behavior. The approach reduces time and expertise needed to deploy robots in real-world settings.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalScience Robotics·DateApr 15, 2026

Machine learning designs cheaper and rust-proof steel for 3D printing

A new class of ultra-high strength and ductility steel has been created using machine learning, achieving a rare balance of extreme strength and ductility. The resulting metal resists corrosion and degrades slowly in salt-water tests.

SourceInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·JournalInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·DateApr 2, 2026
Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

Programmable ‘smart stamp’ transfers microscopic chips to build 3D circuits

Researchers develop programmable system to selectively pick up and place delicate electronic components, enabling mass production of defect-free displays and 3D microchips. The 'smart stamp' technology uses localized heating to control a polymer's stickiness, allowing precise transfer of semiconductor chips and other materials.

SourceInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·JournalInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·DateMar 24, 2026
GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

Vibrating atomic tip sculpts 3D memory channels into fragile semiconductors

Prof. Yanquan Geng's team has devised a way to carve variable-depth, three-dimensional trenches into gallium antimonide using a microscopic tip vibrating thousands of times per second. This process improves the crystal's structural integrity and enables the creation of pristine 3D nanogrooves with controlled depths and widths.

SourceInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·JournalInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·DateMar 15, 2026

Printing living tissue at human-level cell density

Researchers create living tissue at near-physiological cell density using a new bioprinting strategy called embedded 3D printing in a cell-dense suspension (EPICS). The method enables the precise fabrication of perfusable channels and dense cellular environments, mimicking real organs.

SourceInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·JournalInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·DateMar 10, 2026
Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

New ultra-low-cost technique could slash the price of soft robotics

Researchers at Oxford University developed an ultra-low-cost technique for manufacturing soft robots, using common lab equipment. The new method enables rapid and affordable production of soft robotic actuators, with a material cost of less than $0.10 per unit, and demonstrated strong mechanical performance and durability.

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalAdvanced Science·DateMar 8, 2026

Eye-inspired artificial skin lets robots feel before they touch

The new dynamic shielding layer allows the sensor to focus on specific areas when needed, achieving a 104.56% increase in detection depth. The sensor can also detect approaching objects from over 90mm away, providing a vital split-second for robots to avoid collisions.

SourceInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·JournalInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·DateMar 5, 2026

Shrinking the carbon footprint of chemical manufacturing with lasers, solar radiation

Researchers at University of Illinois have developed a new method using solar energy to power a key chemical reaction in the textile, plastic, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries. This method can significantly reduce the industry's carbon footprint by eliminating harsh oxidizing byproducts and minimizing carbon emissions.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 3, 2026

Vote3D-AD: a novel framework for unsupervised point cloud anomaly localization

A novel framework Vote3D-AD achieves remarkable performance in unsupervised point cloud anomaly localization, combining varied defect synthesis and differentiable vote clustering. It demonstrates stronger localization than prior works and exhibits practical speed for real inspection pipelines.

SourceShibaura Institute of Technology·JournalAlexandria Engineering Journal·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 25, 2026

MambaAlign fusion framework for detecting defects missed by inspection systems

Researchers developed an efficient system to detect subtle defects missed by existing inspection systems. The MambaAlign framework captures long-range and orientation-aware context using state-space refinement, achieving improved localization and detection accuracy without excessive computational overhead.

SourceShibaura Institute of Technology·JournalJournal of Computational Design and Engineering·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 24, 2026
Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

Kumar named to ACMA Emerging Leaders Program for 2026

Vipin Kumar, a composites manufacturing researcher at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, has been selected for the ACMA Emerging Leaders Program. The program develops future leaders in the composites industry through professional development and advocacy training.

SourceDOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory·DateFeb 20, 2026

Novel wireless origami-inspired smart cushioning device for safer logistics

A novel wireless origami-inspired smart cushioning device has been developed to monitor deformation and detect damage to transported goods. The self-folded origami honeycomb device, integrated with passive wireless sensors, can provide real-time information on load conditions and impact.

SourceShibaura Institute of Technology·Journalnpj Flexible Electronics·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 20, 2026

3D-printing platform from MIT researchers rapidly produces complex electric machines

MIT researchers create a 3D-printing platform that can produce complex electric machines in minutes, overcoming challenges of multiple functional materials. The platform enables the fabrication of customized electronic components with less waste, revolutionizing manufacturing and opening doors to new applications.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalVirtual and Physical Prototyping·DateFeb 17, 2026

Distinguished researcher elected to National Academy of Engineering

Dr. Bruce Gnade, professor emeritus at the University of Texas at Dallas, has been elected as a member of the National Academy of Engineering for his contributions to advancing electronic materials and semiconductor device technologies. He is also recognized for his leadership in education and workforce development.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Dallas·DateFeb 13, 2026
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.

Smith elected to National Academy of Engineering

Smith's election recognizes his technical leadership in manufacturing, machining, and innovation, with contributions to improving machine tool system performance and manufacturing of thin monolithic structures. His work has generated significant cost savings and productivity improvements for US manufacturers across various industries.

SourceDOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory·DateFeb 11, 2026

When the softest carbon meets the hardest

Graphene and diamond hybrids show promising performance in electronic devices, sensors, and machining tests. However, major challenges remain, including producing large-area hybrids with consistent quality and understanding fundamental properties.

SourceInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·JournalInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·DateFeb 8, 2026

How ultra-thin metal films learned to follow the curve

Researchers at Harbin Institute of Technology in China report a method to fabricate transparent conductive films on curved surfaces. The technique, using multi-angle co-velocity fitting deposition model, produces smooth and continuous films with high transparency and low electrical resistance.

SourceInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·JournalInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·DateFeb 8, 2026
Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.

MANA scientists enable near-frictionless motion of pico- to nanoliter droplets with liquid-repellent particle coating

Researchers at Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA) propose a novel strategy for controlling tiny droplets on surfaces, reducing friction and enabling precise control. The study demonstrates that particle-coated droplets can move with reduced force, opening new avenues in micro-scale systems and applications.

SourceResearch Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA), National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS)·JournalACS Nano·DateJan 30, 2026

Should companies replace human workers with robots? New study takes a closer look

A recent study from Binghamton University School of Management reveals that focusing on human-robot collaboration can generate additional economic value and improve a company's ability to capture a greater share of the competitive market. By leveraging robots in collaborative settings, organizations can foster a positive sense of commi...

SourceBinghamton University·JournalJournal of Organizational Behavior·TypeLiterature review·DateJan 27, 2026

Hydrogel cilia set new standard in microrobotics

Scientists created biologically realistic artificial cilia using hydrogel, enabling precise control over their motion. The tiny structures can be powered by low-voltage electrical signals and have shown remarkable durability and versatility.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 14, 2026
Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.