Articles tagged with Materials Engineering
A UCL-led team used sophisticated imaging to track the degradation of disposable Lithium batteries in real-time, revealing internal structural damage that affects performance. The study provides valuable insights for manufacturers to predict battery performance and optimize material design.
Researchers have developed a road material that de-ices itself by releasing de-icing salt as it wears away, potentially eliminating the need for annual salt applications. The new composite, combining potassium formate with styrene-butadiene-styrene and bitumen, significantly delays ice formation in lab studies.
Amar Flood's team at IU has created a tricarb molecule that self-assembles into flower-shaped crystalline patterns, a breakthrough in materials science. The team plans to use computer-aided design software to virtually experiment with millions of molecular compounds, reducing the time and cost of creating new materials.
New research proposes using numerical modeling to evaluate fracking's seismic effects prior to drilling. This process aims to prevent unwanted ground shaking caused by movement of large faults, particularly in tight rock masses and near fault zones.
The USC Viterbi School of Engineering Center has been awarded an $8 million grant under the White House Materials Genome Initiative to develop new nanomaterials. The center will use open-source software, experimental data, and immersive visualizations to accelerate innovation in materials science.
The Brown University Superfund Research Program will advance research on toxicant exposures and safety, focusing on biomedical and engineering solutions for regulatory uncertainty. Researchers will investigate physiological effects of toxicants on the male reproductive system and explore graphene's potential to block toxicant releases.
Researchers have developed a new computational tool to predict nanometer-level molecular interactions, enabling the design of stable and functional nano-scale materials. The 'Gecko Hamaker' project provides transparent calculations and data, allowing users to verify reproducibility and improve the software's quality.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University developed two novel methods to characterize 3-dimensional macroporous hydrogels, a promising material for creating responsive catalysts and tissue engineering scaffolds. The team successfully visualized the reversible porous structure within these materials using noninvasive X-ray microscopy.
Scientists designed a new biochemical pathway in E. coli that can efficiently produce isobutyl acetate from both glucose and acetate, increasing its yield to 75 percent. This breakthrough could have significant applications in biotechnology, particularly in the production of flavoring agents, solvents, and fuels.
A new system developed by Joanna Aizenberg's lab uses phase separation to create dynamic designer polymers with self-relubrication and regulated anti-fouling behavior. The system can adapt to its surroundings and respond to fluid consumption, enabling responsive and long-lasting material applications.
Triceratops teeth have five layers of tissue, each with a unique function, allowing them to slice through dense material and vary their diet. The discovery reveals complex dental structures among dinosaurs, inspiring new engineering techniques.
A team of researchers has developed a semiconductor chip made almost entirely of wood, using cellulose nanofibril as a biodegradable material. The new device demonstrates the feasibility of replacing traditional chip substrates with a more environmentally friendly alternative, reducing waste and toxicity.
Researchers at Penn University developed liquid-crystal-based compound lenses that work like insect eyes, enabling 3D image reconstruction and light polarization sensitivity. The lenses produce images with different focal lengths, allowing for reconstruction of spatial relationships.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed a new material that stays liquid at temperatures below its expected freezing point but crystallizes upon writing or rubbing. This unique property makes it highly sensitive to pressure and could lead to breakthroughs in biosensors, optical memory, and electronic devices.
The team has calculated the complete elastic properties for 1,181 inorganic compounds, increasing data availability by almost ten-fold. This new dataset is expected to aid materials scientists in developing new materials with specific mechanical properties.
Professor Tyagi's team has developed an integrated approach to resource management that can produce biodiesel from various raw materials. They have also perfected a process for converting wastewater effluent into biodiesel, reducing greenhouse gas emissions due to incineration and disposal of wastewater sludge.
Researchers have found a minimal mechanism for stabilizing overlapping microtubules, allowing cells to divide correctly. The study reveals that weakly binding proteins create an 'ever growing counter-pressure' between microtubules as they slide apart.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a novel method to control the electronic band gap in complex oxide materials without altering their composition. This can lead to better performance in electro-optical devices and new energy-generation materials.
Pablo Tarazaga, a Virginia Tech engineer, has developed a novel approach to manipulate wave propagation in solid materials, enabling the creation of smart structures with diverse capabilities. His work holds promise for improving aircraft aerodynamics performance and creating controlled fluid-structure interactions.
Researchers at Northwestern University discovered that silver nanowires can partially recover from permanent deformation under cyclic loading, indicating potential for long-term durability in flexible electronics. This breakthrough has significant implications for the development of cost-effective alternatives to indium tin oxide.
The Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science at UT Dallas sponsors Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) projects on software safety and surface engineering, providing students with $500/week stipends and state-of-the-art research experience. Participants often pursue advanced degrees and careers in STEM fields.
Researchers at MIT found that raindrops can release aerosols when hitting porous surfaces, trapping tiny air bubbles and bursting them out into the air. This mechanism may explain petrichor, the smell released after a light rain, and potentially spread soil-based diseases.
Zhang will study synthetic regulatory systems to improve productivity in metabolic pathways with a $605,000 NSF grant. His research aims to create artificial biosystems for efficient production of biofuels and other chemicals from sustainable resources.
Researchers at Northwestern University found that Blu-ray discs' quasi-random patterns enhance solar cells' light absorption and performance by up to 21.8%. The discovery could lead to new manufacturing methods for efficient solar cells.
Scientists at Yale University have successfully changed the color of butterfly wings using evolutionary principles, producing the first structural color change in an animal. The research has implications for the design of new materials and devices, and may help physicists and engineers develop more efficient designs.
Berkeley Lab researchers have developed the world's first fully two-dimensional field-effect transistor (FET) using layered materials with van der Waals interfaces. This breakthrough promises to improve the performance and scalability of electronic devices, enabling the creation of faster and more efficient electronics.
A new method of making super tough fibers could be achieved by adding a slip knot to absorb additional energy, increasing its toughness from 44 to 1070 Joules per gram. The new approach allows ordinary polymers to reach unprecedented levels of resistance.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory developed a new battery design that incorporates an electrolyte with dual functions. This cooperative chemistry increases capacity and extends lifespan, enabling longer-lived disposable batteries for medical devices and other applications.
Researchers at SLAC and Stanford University discovered a potential way to make graphene superconducting, which could transform the engineering of materials for nanoscale electronic devices. They found that electrons scatter between graphene and calcium layers, interacting with natural vibrations to conduct electricity without resistance.
A University of Cincinnati-led team studied four distinct magnetized nanoparticle systems to determine which one works best in delivering heat directly to cancer cells. The research found that uncoated iron-oxide nanoparticles and those coated with polyacrylic acid heated quickly to temperatures sufficient to kill breast cancer cells.
Researchers developed a new technique that accounts for sample drift and eliminates distortion in scanning transmission electron microscope images. This allows for accurate representation of material structures and enables the discovery of crystalline structures in unknown samples.
Researchers at Queen Mary University of London uncovered a critical mechanism in tendon function, revealing why older individuals are more prone to tendon injuries. The study found that fascicle helices are essential for tendon elasticity and that ageing alters this structure, increasing the risk of injury.
Researchers at Harvard University have created a new method to quantify the mechanical forces produced by living cells, which shape tissues and organs. By injecting tiny oil droplets into 3D tissues and embryos, scientists can measure the forces exerted by individual cells, shedding light on the role of mechanics in development and dis...
NJIT's Technical Assistance to Brownfield Communities Program will continue to provide scientific, planning, and engineering expertise to communities in the New England and Mid-Atlantic region. The program aims to transform underutilized properties into productive use, improving environmental conditions and strengthening communities.
Scientists have made significant strides in harnessing the properties of resilin, a natural protein that enables insects to flap their wings and jump. Resilin has been modified for use in diagnostics, engineered to act like human cartilage, and developed into hybrid materials for cardiovascular applications.
Researchers at University of California, Riverside, have received a $360,000 NSF grant to study graphene's thermal properties and develop new approaches for removing heat from electronic devices. The team will investigate the effect of rotation angle on twisted bilayer graphene's thermal conductivity.
Researchers created a new technique for creating biomolecular gradients using semiconductor materials, allowing scientists to monitor molecular behavior and interactions. The technique creates surface characteristics that enable monitoring of other aspects of molecular interaction.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new approach to improve solar cells by creating the thinnest and most lightweight panels possible. These panels, made from stacked sheets of one-molecule-thick materials such as graphene or molybdenum disulfide, could produce up to 1,000 times more power per pound than conventional photovoltaics.
Japan's high-tech companies excel in producing components for lithium-ion batteries and LCD films, with financial performance outpacing the rest of the chemical industry.
A team of researchers has observed a rare quantum physics effect that produces a repeating butterfly-shaped energy spectrum in a magnetic field, confirming the prediction of the quantum fractal energy structure called Hofstadter's butterfly. The discovery paves the way for engineering new types of nanoscale materials.
The BRAIN initiative aims to develop new tools to listen to conversations among millions of neurons in the brain. The project could establish a basis for new treatments for clinical depression, autism, schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, and other brain conditions.
Researchers developed a technique to measure the structure of gold nanocrystals under extremely high pressures, resolving distortion issues with X-ray beams. This breakthrough could lead to improvements in nanomaterials and a better understanding of planetary interiors.
A team of researchers at Stanford University has designed a new structure that reflects most sunlight and efficiently radiates heat into space, cooling buildings even in the daytime. The device can achieve net cooling powers in excess of 100 watts per square meter, offsetting up to 35% of air conditioning needs.
The Wyss Institute has received a $9.25 million contract from DARPA to advance its sepsis therapeutic device, which uses magnetic nanobeads to cleanse the blood of pathogens without removing human cells or fluids. The technology has shown promise in treating deadly bloodstream infections that kill critically ill patients and soldiers.
Researchers found that adding pimples to equipment doesn't necessarily improve grip, but rather the density of pimples and texture of mitts matter. Synthetic leather mitts performed best across all conditions, suggesting a need for tailored ball designs for different climates.
Researchers propose duckweed as a sustainable alternative for producing gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel due to its fast growth rate and ability to thrive in wastewater. The study suggests that small-scale duckweed refineries can produce cost-competitive fuel when oil prices reach $100 per barrel.
Researchers aim to improve laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) technique for detecting trace amounts of substances of interest to Homeland Security. The project seeks to develop a more sensitive emission process, enabling analysis at a distance with greater accuracy.
Researchers are developing a new computing approach to discover new materials by harnessing the key characteristics of data: volume, velocity, variety and veracity. The approach helps identify promising solutions by applying statistical learning techniques to large datasets.
Researchers create a new explosive with a blast wave traveling 225 miles per hour faster than the current standard, HMX. The new explosive combines CL-20 and HMX, producing a more powerful but stable material with potential to replace HMX as military-grade explosives
Researchers at UCF have discovered a non-chemical method to create identical nanoparticles of any size in large quantities. The technique relies on heat to break molten fibers into spherical droplets, resulting in particles that can hold multiple types of materials locked in place.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have successfully synthesized a material with a similar structure, mechanical behavior, and optical appearance to natural nacre, also known as mother of pearl. The new coating has potential applications in coating applications due to its cheap ingredients and ability to be easily automated.
A NJIT researcher developed a management program to reduce MRSA infections by identifying and leveraging 'positive deviants' - employees who excel at their jobs without being recognized. The study found that top-down support, collaboration, and recognition were key to successful change.
A team of international mathematicians has devised an amplifier that can boost light, sound, or other waves while hiding them inside an invisible container. The researchers propose using this technology to manipulate matter waves, which could enable the creation of a quantum microscope to monitor electronic processes on computer chips.
A $50 million gift from Oracle chairman Jeff Henley will fund collaboration and scientific research at UCSB's IEE and College of Engineering. The donation supports innovations in energy-efficient technologies, including LED lighting and solar cells.
Researchers propose incorporating a lens made from new artificial materials to boost inductive coupling, increasing wireless power transfer efficiency. This could improve the efficiency of systems like cordless electric toothbrushes and mobile phones.
A University of Washington group has launched a unique Design Help Desk to match science students with design consultants, aiming to improve figure creation and convey complex information clearly. The drop-in clinic offers free service Mondays and Wednesdays, primarily for graduate students in science and engineering.
Expert Rongfang Liu will address concerns about China's high-speed rail development at the Transportation Research Board conference. Her research suggests that investments in high-speed rails can receive adequate returns when linked to investment recovery periods and fare structures corresponding to traveler demographics.
Engineers created graphene's pseudo-piezoelectric behavior by punching triangle-shaped holes into it, producing strong piezoelectricity comparable to well-known substances like quartz. The results have the potential to open new avenues for graphene and applications relying on piezoelectricity.
Researchers have discovered a new method for heating materials and creating new states of matter using proton beams. The high-intensity laser focus enabled the creation of well-focused proton beams with unexpected curved trajectories.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a computational method to quickly identify metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with high potential for natural gas storage. The new algorithm rapidly generates and tests hypothetical MOFs, leading to the discovery of over 300 promising structures.