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Amped consortium receives NSF IUCRC planning grant

The Advanced Magnetics for Power and Energy Development (AMPED) Consortium has received a $60,000 planning grant from the National Science Foundation to address the growing need for improved soft magnetic materials and enhanced device applications in emerging energy technologies. The consortium aims to create an interdisciplinary workf...

Beyond sci-fi: manipulating liquid metals without contact

Scientists have successfully manipulated liquid metals in a non-contact manner by applying electromagnetic induction, allowing for the creation of unique shapes and structures. The discovery opens up new possibilities for advanced manufacturing and dynamic electronic structures.

SourceARC Centre of Excellence in Future Low-Energy Electronics Technologies·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 7, 2022

Story tips: DNA in a drop, printing in the wind, drier air, revealing hidden biology and calculating better batteries

Researchers use environmental DNA to monitor aquatic species near hydropower facilities, while also developing a novel method for printing full-strength steel components using additive manufacturing. These advancements could lead to more efficient and cost-effective monitoring and renewable energy production.

SourceDOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory·JournalNature Machine Intelligence·TypeImaging analysis·DateFeb 1, 2022

Mass customization can make fashion more sustainable if customers are willing to wait for it

A new study suggests that mass customization can generate higher profits and reduce environmental waste considerably when overproduction is a problem. Customers willing to wait for bespoke clothing can make the fashion industry more environmentally sustainable.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalManufacturing & Service Operations Management·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 1, 2022

Decarbonisation tech instantly converts CO2 to solid carbon

Researchers at RMIT University have developed a smart and super-efficient way of capturing carbon dioxide and converting it to solid carbon, which can be integrated into existing industrial processes. The technology offers a pathway for instantly converting CO2 as it is produced, locking it permanently in a solid state.

SourceRMIT University·JournalEnergy & Environmental Science·DateJan 18, 2022

Bioengineered nanoparticles show promise for fibrinogen manufacture, says Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis study

Researchers developed a novel polymeric nanoparticle that selectively binds to fibrinogen in human plasma, offering a simpler and less expensive way to manufacture fibrinogen concentrate. This breakthrough could lead to the creation of more efficient fibrinogen-specific affinity reagents for drug development.

SourceCactus Communications·JournalJournal of Pharmaceutical Analysis·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 13, 2022

Pusan National University study “cracks” mystery of water-promoted fracture growth on glass

Researchers at Pusan National University discovered that tempered glass is more resistant to water-promoted fracture growth than annealed glass. The study found that water droplets penetrate microcracks in glass surfaces, dissolving silicon-oxygen bonds and degrading mechanical strength.

SourcePusan National University·JournalJournal of the European Ceramic Society·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 12, 2022

SMART researchers discover novel way to perform ‘general inverse design’ with high accuracy

Researchers from Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) have discovered a way to perform 'general inverse design' with high accuracy. This breakthrough enables the creation of materials with specific characteristics and properties, paving the way for revolutionizing materials science and industrial applications.

SourceSingapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART)·JournalMatter·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 6, 2022

Mass production of revolutionary computer memory moves closer with ULTRARAM™ on silicon wafers for the first time

Researchers have successfully demonstrated ULTRARAM¼trade mark computer memory on silicon wafers for the first time, combining non-volatility with speed and energy-efficiency. The technology outperforms previous incarnations, offering data storage times of at least 1000 years and fast switching speeds.

SourceLancaster University·JournalAdvanced Electronic Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 6, 2022

New journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis study shows novel strategy to improve quality checking of generic drugs

Researchers devised a novel approach to unify quality assessment of generic drugs developed through different processes. The 'population pharmaceutical quality assessment' method uses computational modeling to evaluate process information, providing a scientific tool for objective quality consistency evaluation.

SourceCactus Communications·JournalJournal of Pharmaceutical Analysis·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 3, 2022

Giving bug-like bots a boost

Researchers at MIT have developed a new fabrication technique that enables the creation of soft actuators with 75% lower voltage requirements and 80% more payload capacity than current versions. This breakthrough could lead to the development of flying microrobots with improved performance and payload capabilities.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateDec 16, 2021

Creating the human-robotic dream team

A team of UBC Okanagan researchers has developed a system to enhance interactions between humans and robots in industrial settings. The system uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to capture and analyze the environment, allowing robots to respond in a timely manner to ensure human safety.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia Okanagan campus·JournalRobotics and Computer-Integrated Manufacturing·TypeMeta-analysis·DateDec 14, 2021

Building better tools for biomanufacturing

A team of researchers has developed a Dynamic Sampling Platform to analyze cells in real-time, overcoming the time-consuming and expensive process of biomanufacturing. The platform provides insight into cell behavior and biochemical information needed for process control, potentially lowering the cost of cell therapies.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalLab on a Chip·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 2, 2021

Predictive analytics pays off with complementary investments

A study by the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management found that predictive analytics can increase revenue by $500,000 to $1 million for manufacturers who invest in IT capital, educate their workforce, and implement high-efficiency manufacturing processes. The research team surveyed over 30,000 manufacturers and found that...

SourceUniversity of Toronto, Rotman School of Management·JournalBusiness Economics·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 2, 2021

Getting quantum dots to stop blinking

A team of chemists at MIT has developed a method to control the blinking phenomenon in quantum dots using mid-infrared laser light, eliminating intermittency for precise applications. This technique may also be applicable to other materials, enabling new uses in biological research and quantum information science.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateNov 22, 2021

Chemistry breakthrough leads way to more sustainable pharmaceuticals

Scientists at the University of Bath have developed a new method for synthesizing primary amines, used in over half of all pharmaceuticals, significantly reducing energy usage and chemical waste. This breakthrough aims to speed up drug discovery by making it easier to synthesize new chemical structures for testing.

SourceUniversity of Bath·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 17, 2021

COVID-19: Governments must stop vaccine cost secrecy

A recent study estimates that the net manufacturing costs for 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine ready for shipping range from $0.54 to $0.98. Companies charge significantly higher prices, despite discounts and tiered pricing for low-income countries, which are likely to prolong the global pandemic.

SourceSAGE·JournalJournal of the Royal Society of Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 3, 2021

Research shows mass production can make customised PPE for healthcare workers

A team of researchers has successfully designed and manufactured customised respiratory protection for healthcare workers using digital facial capture. The technology, developed by the University of Birmingham and King's College London, provides a comfortable close-fitting seal suitable for nearly 90% of face shapes and sizes.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalScientific Reports·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 2, 2021

Four reasons why businesses won't adopt reusable packaging – and one way to address them all

A new study by Lancaster University identifies four major concerns that hinder the adoption of reusable packaging: affordability, digitalization challenges, regulatory hurdles, and data collection limitations. To address these concerns, researchers propose implementing a track and trace system using unique barcodes to enable businesses...

SourceLancaster University·JournalSustainable Production and Consumption·TypeObservational study·DateNov 1, 2021

SMART researchers discover new way to generate light through use of pre-existing defects in semiconductor materials

SMART researchers have discovered a practical method to overcome current challenges in the manufacture of indium gallium nitride (InGaN) LEDs with considerably higher indium concentration. The new approach uses intrinsic defects in semiconducting materials to form quantum dots that emit long-wavelength light.

SourceSingapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART)·JournalACS Photonics·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 26, 2021

Nanotwinned titanium forges path to sustainable manufacturing

Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have discovered a new path forward for processing titanium. Cryo-forging at ultra-low temperatures produces extra-strong nanotwinned titanium with improved strength and ductility. The material maintains its structure and properties at extreme temperatures, demonstrating its versatility.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 20, 2021

Lack of power grids sealed fate for early electric cars

A recent study from Lund University reveals that inadequate infrastructure hindered the adoption of electric cars in the early 20th century. Electric cars were cheaper to drive and emitted less CO2 than gasoline cars, but access to local electrical infrastructure was a major factor in their popularity.

SourceLund University·JournalNature Energy·DateOct 13, 2021

University of South Carolina researcher to advance smart manufacturing with help from National Science Foundation

A new $3.8 million NSF EPSCoR RII Track-2 grant will enable the expansion of Future Factories Lab at the UofSC McNair Aerospace Center, investigating interactions between humans and automation in manufacturing facilities. The project aims to create a manufacturing resilience ecosystem with significant workforce development opportunities.

Model advances understanding of incorporating 3D printing into supply chains

Researchers developed a computational model to optimize the use of additive manufacturing in spare parts supply chains, finding that centralized systems are more efficient for less frequent demand with high variability. The study's findings provide a step forward in understanding how to incorporate AM technologies into supply chains.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalJournal of Defense Analytics and Logistics·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 22, 2021

Scientists explore method to produce composites with ‘shape memory’

Researchers investigated glass fiber-reinforced epoxy-based flat laminates with pultrusion, a fast and versatile composite manufacturing process. The study found significant promise for structural applications of these 'shape memory' composites in various industries.

SourceSkolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech)·JournalComposites Part A Applied Science and Manufacturing·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 14, 2021