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Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.

The building of innovation

The Lehigh University team is building a new High Pressure Spatial chemical vapor deposition (HPS-CVD) reactor to create new materials with extreme conditions. The device will enable the growth of III-nitride and oxynitride semiconductors, paving the way for sustainable energy solutions and innovative technologies.

SourceLehigh University·DateFeb 22, 2018

Mass production of new class of semiconductors closer to reality

Scientists at the University of Waterloo have created a new class of semiconductors by controlling the orientation and size of single-walled carbon nanotubes. This breakthrough could lead to more powerful devices with improved battery life, as they consume less power.

SourceUniversity of Waterloo·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateFeb 9, 2018
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.

Few-layer Tellurium was predicted to be a promising successor of black phosphorus

Researchers predict few-layer Tellurium (FL-α-Te) as a superior semiconductor to black phosphorus due to its high carrier mobility, tunable bandgap, and strong light absorption. FL-α-Te exhibits anisotropic inter-chain vibrational behaviors and nearly isotropic strong light absorption, making it an ideal material for thermoelectrics.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience Bulletin·DateFeb 9, 2018

New metal-semiconductor interface for brain-inspired computing

Researchers at the University of Groningen have developed a new metal-semiconductor interface that combines storage, memory and processing in one unit, paving the way for brain-inspired computing architectures. The device uses a spin-memristor with tunability, enabling non-volatile storage and operation at room temperature.

SourceUniversity of Groningen·JournalScientific Reports·DateJan 22, 2018

Hidden properties of solids

Researchers at UCSB have successfully measured Berry curvature in solid matter for the first time using a unique laser experiment. This breakthrough has significant implications for designing new materials with optimized Berry curvature for applications in electronic and optical devices.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalPhysical Review X·DateNov 21, 2017

The next generation of power electronics? Gallium nitride doped with beryllium

Researchers at Aalto University have successfully doped gallium nitride with beryllium, showing promise for reducing energy losses in power electronics. The findings suggest that the material can be controlled to achieve significant improvements in energy efficiency, potentially cutting global power consumption by up to ten percent.

SourceAalto University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateNov 9, 2017

Think laterally to sidestep production problems

KAUST researchers have created a new method for producing solar cells using lateral p-n heterojunctions, which achieve greater power conversion efficiency than traditional methods. This breakthrough simplifies the production process and enables cheaper solar tracking systems to become redundant.

SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateOct 16, 2017
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

Application of air-sensitive semiconductors in nanoelectronics

Gallium selenide, a 2D semiconductor, loses electrical conductivity in air due to oxidation, hindering its application in nanoelectronic devices. Encapsulating GaSe in vacuum-manufactured devices with protective layers can maintain its optoelectronic properties.

SourceTomsk Polytechnic University·JournalSemiconductor Science and Technology·DateSep 21, 2017

Artificial 'skin' gives robotic hand a sense of touch

Researchers at the University of Houston have developed a new form of stretchable electronics that can serve as an artificial skin, allowing a robotic hand to sense temperature differences. The breakthrough enables the creation of biomedical devices such as health monitors and medical implants with improved functionality.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalScience Advances·DateSep 13, 2017

New device could turn heat energy into a viable fuel source

A new device developed by Washington State University physicist Yi Gu converts heat energy into electricity up to three times more efficiently than silicon. The multilayered composite material, called a van der Waals Schottky diode, has the potential to provide an extra source of power for electronics, cars, and other devices.

SourceWashington State University·JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters·DateAug 30, 2017
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.

Nanocrystalline LEDs: Red, green, yellow, blue ...

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München researchers have developed a method for producing semi-conducting nanocrystals with controlled size, enabling the creation of color-tuned LEDs. The new method uses perovskite-based nanocrystals and allows for high color fidelity and industrial-scale production.

SourceLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München·JournalScience Advances·DateAug 7, 2017

Nanoparticles could spur better LEDs, invisibility cloaks

A University of Michigan team has created a method to add metallic nanoparticles into semiconductors with virtually no added manufacturing cost. The process enhances LED lighting efficiency and allows for precise control over the distribution of particles, potentially enabling future applications such as invisibility cloaks.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalJournal of Applied Physics·DateJul 19, 2017

Reduced oxygen nanocrystalline materials show improved performance

The study found that reducing oxygen in certain alloys can improve grain size stability, leading to stronger and more durable materials. Researchers developed nearly oxygen-free alloy powders with significant improvements in thermal stability.

SourceUniversity of Connecticut·JournalJournal of Alloys and Compounds·DateJul 17, 2017
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

Researchers revolutionize brain-computer interfaces using silicon electronics

A new DARPA project aims to create an implanted brain-interface device with one million channels to support brain function. The device, developed by Columbia University researchers, uses silicon electronics and wireless powering for non-invasive stimulation and recording from the sensory cortex.

SourceColumbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science·DateJul 10, 2017

Powerful new photodetector can enable optoelectronics advances

A team of engineers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University at Buffalo has developed a powerful new photodetector that combines unique fabrication methods and light-trapping structures. The device increases light absorption in thin materials, enabling smaller optoelectronic devices with improved performance.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalScience Advances·DateJul 7, 2017
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Keeping the heat out

Metal-nitride nanowires show high sensitivity to light when arranged in nano-sized wires, but thermal effects significantly impact their performance at room temperature. Researchers have developed a detailed study to quantify the effect of photoinduced entropy on device performance.

SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateJul 2, 2017

New class of 'soft' semiconductors could transform HD displays

Researchers at Berkeley Lab have discovered a new type of semiconductor that can emit multiple bright colors from a single nanowire, challenging traditional quantum dot displays. The 'soft' semiconductors use ionic bonds instead of covalent bonds, making them easier to reconfigure and produce.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 26, 2017

'Magic' alloy could spur next generation of solar cells

Researchers at University of Michigan develop cost-effective material to capture near-infrared light in solar cells, making concentrator photovoltaics more efficient and practical for large-scale electricity generation. The new alloy is significantly less expensive than previous formulations and enables easier manufacturing.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateJun 15, 2017
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.

NREL-led research effort creates new alloys, phase diagram

Researchers created new alloys by mixing materials with different atomic arrangements, revealing a predictive route for properties of other alloys. The breakthrough allows for the use of commercial thin film deposition methods to fabricate heterostructural alloys for real-world semiconductor applications.

SourceDOE/National Renewable Energy Laboratory·JournalScience Advances·DateJun 13, 2017

New computing system takes its cues from human brain

Researchers created a new computing system that employs electronic oscillators to solve graph coloring tasks, a type of problem that challenges modern computers. The system works by harnessing the natural ability of oscillators to synchronize and operate at different phases, mimicking the solution to a graph coloring problem.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalScientific Reports·DateJun 12, 2017

Seeing the invisible with a graphene-CMOS integrated device

Researchers from Graphene Flagship have successfully integrated graphene into a CMOS circuit, enabling the creation of high-resolution image sensors that can detect UV, visible, and infrared light. This technology has vast applications in fields such as safety, security, and medical imaging.

SourceGraphene Flagship·JournalNature Photonics·DateJun 5, 2017

Graphene and quantum dots put in motion a CMOS-integrated camera that can see the invisible

Researchers at ICFO have developed a graphene-QD CMOS image sensor that can capture visible and infrared light simultaneously. This breakthrough technology enables applications such as night vision, food inspection, fire control, and environmental monitoring, while also reducing production costs and enabling mass-market production.

SourceICFO-The Institute of Photonic Sciences·JournalNature Photonics·DateMay 29, 2017

NUS-led research teams uncover extraordinary properties of strontium niobate

Researchers from the National University of Singapore have discovered novel properties of strontium niobate, a material that displays both metallic type conduction and photocatalytic activity. The material exhibits an intrinsic plasmonic absorption, allowing it to absorb visible photons, which is exceptional among metals.

SourceNational University of Singapore·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 15, 2017
DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

Chemically tailored graphene

Scientists have developed a method to precisely control graphene's electronic transport properties using in-situ Raman spectroscopy. This technique allows for the creation of tailored graphene-based materials with controlled function, enabling their utilization in the semiconductor industry.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 8, 2017

'Persistent photoconductivity' offers new tool for bioelectronics

Researchers at North Carolina State University developed a new method for manipulating cells using light, creating an effective tool for bioelectronics. Persistent photoconductivity allows the material to become more conductive when exposed to light, increasing surface charge and directing cells to adhere.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalSmall·DateMay 3, 2017
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.

'Indistinguishable photons' key to advancing quantum technologies

A team from Japan successfully generated indistinguishable photons using a novel single-photon source, nitrogen impurity centers in III-V compound semiconductors. The photons' high degree of indistinguishability is essential for quantum information technology such as quantum teleportation and linear optical quantum computation.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateApr 11, 2017

To e-, or not to e-, the question for the exotic 'Si-III' phase of silicon

Researchers at Carnegie Institution have synthesized pure samples of Si-III, a semiconductor with an extremely narrow band gap, narrower than diamond-like silicon crystals. This discovery may lead to unpredictable technological breakthroughs in fields like solar energy and electronics.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateApr 4, 2017

Platelets instead of quantum dots

Researchers at ETH Zurich have solved the mystery of producing nanoplatelets, which are flat, uniform crystals with striking colors. The team developed a theoretical model and experimentally confirmed its predictions, paving the way for alternative materials to quantum dots in displays and solar cells.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Materials·DateApr 4, 2017

Spin-resolved oscilloscope for charge and spin signals

The Tokyo Institute of Technology and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation have developed a spin-resolved oscilloscope to measure charge and spin signals. The device enables the observation of spin-charge-separation processes, paving the way for future plasmonics and spintronics applications.

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalNature Physics·DateMar 13, 2017
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.

Ultrashort light pulses for fast 'lightwave' computers

The team successfully controlled the peaks of laser pulses and twisted light, moving electrons faster and more efficiently than electrical currents. This achievement brings us closer to developing fast 'lightwave' computers that can process information up to 100,000 times faster than current electronics.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalNature Photonics·DateMar 13, 2017

Coffee-ring effect leads to crystallization control in semiconductors

Researchers control crystallization patterns in semiconductors by varying film thickness, enabling fine control over crystal orientation and position. This breakthrough facilitates high-quality, tailored polycrystal semiconductors for optoelectronics, photovoltaics and printed electronic components.

SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalScience Advances·DateMar 3, 2017
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.

UNIST to engineer dream diodes with a graphene interlayer

Researchers at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology create a new technique for enhancing Schottky Diode performance. By inserting a graphene layer, they overcome the contact resistance problem that has remained unsolved for 50 years.

SourceUlsan National Institute of Science and Technology(UNIST)·JournalNano Letters·DateFeb 8, 2017

Artificially introduced atomic-level sensors enable measurements of the electric field within a working semiconductor device

Researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology have developed a technique to measure the electric field within a working semiconductor device, enabling studies of next-generation electronics. The approach exploits single electron spins and nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond, promising spatial resolution of 10 nm for complex devices.

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalACS Nano·DateFeb 2, 2017

Nanotechnology: Lighting up ultrathin films

Novel ultrathin semiconductors exhibit strong interaction with light, making them suitable for opto-electronics applications. The researchers' new polarimetric method enables efficient detection of valley polarization in these materials.

SourceLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateJan 17, 2017
AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

For first time ever, X-ray imaging at Argonne captures material defect process

Researchers at Argonne have discovered a new approach to detail the formation of material changes at the atomic scale, capturing images of structural defects in palladium when exposed to hydrogen. This imaging capability will help validate models predicting material behavior and enable defect engineering for better materials.

SourceDOE/Argonne National Laboratory·JournalNature Materials·DateJan 16, 2017
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.

Adding hydrogen to graphene

Researchers at IBS discovered that hydrogenation of single-layer graphene proceeds rapidly over the entire surface, while few-layer graphene reacts slowly from the edges. Hydrogenation changes graphene's optical and electric properties. The study also found that defects or edges are necessary for the reaction to occur.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateNov 3, 2016

Trace metal recombination centers kill LED efficiency

Researchers at UCSB found that trace metals like iron can act as nonradiative recombination centers in gallium nitride semiconductors, reducing LED efficiency. The study highlights the importance of controlling growth and processing to prevent metal impurities from affecting device performance.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateNov 3, 2016

Hot on the heels of quasiparticles

Researchers have found Fermi polarons, a new type of quasiparticle, in a certain type of semiconductors. This discovery challenges the previous assumption that excitons or trions are formed instead. The study provides valuable insights into the material's properties and has implications for basic research and potential applications.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Physics·DateNov 2, 2016
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.

Tuning materials and devices to adapt to their environment

UCSB researchers create high-performance tunable dielectrics using molecular beam epitaxy, overcoming material quality issues. The advancement enables adaptive electronic systems with potential applications in cellular communications and phased-array antennas.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateSep 13, 2016

New method for making green LEDs enhances their efficiency and brightness

A new method for making green LEDs has been developed by researchers at the University of Illinois, enhancing their efficiency and brightness. By creating gallium nitride (GaN) cubic crystals grown on a silicon substrate, the team has achieved powerful green light emission for advanced solid-state lighting.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateJul 29, 2016
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.

New discovery could better predict how semiconductors weather abuse

Researchers at Berkeley Lab have developed a new method to predict material stability in semiconductors, crucial for creating efficient solar fuel generators. By analyzing bismuth vanadate, they found complex chemical instabilities that must be addressed to achieve stable performance.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 5, 2016

Let there be light

University of Utah researchers have developed a theory that adding light during the manufacturing process can reduce defects in semiconductors, leading to more efficient solar cells and brighter LED bulbs. This breakthrough could unlock the potential of materials previously deemed unusable, such as cadmium telluride and gallium nitride.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalScientific Reports·DateJun 16, 2016