Articles tagged with Environmental Engineering
A psychologist has developed low-cost methods to reduce pharmacy errors, including the use of larger labels, focused task lighting, and self-monitoring journals. These inexpensive changes can significantly improve accuracy and are relevant for small community drug stores that may not have access to high technology.
Research has revealed that pharmaceuticals and personal care products can contaminate groundwater, rivers, and sewage, posing significant risks to human health and the environment. Studies have shown that these substances can enter the aquatic food chain, affecting marine life, and are also found in human tissues and breast milk.
This special issue of the American Sociological Review explores broad social trends over the past century, discussing topics such as modernization, globalization, industrialization, and secularization. The article also delves into the sociology of the Black working class and the impact of Western society on religion.
VRAM memory has the potential to replace mechanically driven storage media, reducing transistors needed for lower cost and retaining information without constant refreshing. The technology is well-suited for space, avionics, and shipboard applications due to its high-density, non-volatility, radiation-hardness, and low-power attributes.
Research finds that road dust kicked up by traffic can be a source of airborne allergens, including pollen, animal dander, and molds. Residential areas with roadside vegetation are more affected than industrial locations.
Millions of defective low-rise buildings in the US lead to high annual losses from windstorms, with recent hurricanes causing $70 billion in damages. A symposium aims to develop a national plan for wind-hazard mitigation and improve building codes.
The U.S. National Science Board will hold an open session on November 18, where it plans to discuss its interim report on the environment and other key policy topics. The board will also present its strategic plan for NSF and hear from experts on nanoscience and engineering.
William Chandler, a research scientist at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, has received the World Climate Technology Leadership Award for founding a global network of energy efficiency centers. His work promotes energy efficiency and reduces greenhouse gas emissions on a global basis, setting a standard for others to follow.
The University of Washington's HIT Lab has developed Shared Space, a technology that combines virtual reality with the physical world. Users can see digital images and interact with others and the environment simultaneously, enabling natural collaboration.
Researchers at USC have created a machine system that recognizes spoken words better than humans, with potential benefits for Navy sonar and improving interaction between man and computer. The system may eventually enable voice control of computers, help the deaf, and aid air traffic controllers in noisy environments.
Researchers have reported the highest and most stable electron emission densities observed to date, desirable for flat-panel displays and microwave amplifiers. The carbon nanotubes' sharp tip and chemical robustness contribute to their superior stability and uniform emission.
Researchers have developed a suite of software tools called GETWEBS to design and evaluate broadband wireless systems. The project addresses key components of the wireless industry, including evolving technology, environment interaction, and system integration.
The Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics has released the public beta of the Cactus Computational Toolkit 4.0, a collaborative environment for solving partial differential equations in physics and engineering. The toolkit allows individual scientists to plug their own computing applications into a modular framework, enabling ...
A new method enables cheap and simple manufacture of customized DNA chips, revolutionizing genetic analysis and research. This technology can help diagnose genetic diseases and accelerate drug discovery, while reducing production costs.
The MESA facility will join Sandia's expertise in weapon design and high-speed computing to create immersive environments for designing non-nuclear components of nuclear weapons. The project aims to reduce the likelihood of malfunction, making devices more difficult to destroy on impact.
Sandia National Laboratories is showcasing cutting-edge MicroElectricalMechanical Systems (MEMs) innovations at the Santa Clara show. The technology has vast applications in medical treatment, anti-terrorism, and engineering systems, with potential annual market value of $100 billion by 2030.
The National Science Foundation's high-tech national supercomputer grid will be used in education, outreach, and training. Hands-on demonstrations of cutting-edge research and educational learning environments will be showcased at the conference.
The conference in Italy will discuss global change's effects on protected areas, including coastal erosions, water resources, and ski resorts. The event will also examine the impact of climate change on biodiversity and explore options for human intervention.
Xie George Xu's 3D virtual man, VIP-Man, simulates radiation's effect on the skin, lens of the eye, optic nerve, and bone marrow with high accuracy. The model will enable accurate treatment planning for diseases requiring radiation therapy, revolutionizing radiation dosimetry in biomedical sciences and engineering.
The Alliance Chautauqua at Boston University brings together researchers, artists, and visitors to explore virtual labs and interact in real-time. The event showcases emerging technologies that facilitate remote collaborative work environments.
Solid-state transformers, developed by Purdue University, promise to replace conventional technology and reduce power-quality problems. They eliminate electrical pollution, decrease current requirements, and minimize environmental impact.
Engineers at Smart Fibres Ltd developed a smart mast that uses 'Bragg grating' strain sensor technology to monitor stresses and strains in composite materials. The technology has the potential for use in various industries, including aerospace and civil engineering.
New approaches to addressing fresh produce safety will be discussed at the IFT Annual Meeting, focusing on microbiological performance criteria and non-thermal technologies. These methods aim to control microorganisms and maintain food freshness, with benefits including better nutrient retention and flavor preservation.
Researchers have created an artificial capsule, dubbed a polymersome, that imitates many qualities of natural cells. The capsules can be made to encapsulate payloads such as genes or pharmaceuticals and are biocompatible, evading detection by the human immune system.
Researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory developed a prototype engineering tool to aid in verifying an aircraft's stealth characteristics. The Holographic 3-Dimensional Radar Camera can be deployed worldwide and provides images of radar reflections to assess the condition of radar-absorbing material.
Researchers are developing a system to track and analyze bees equipped with radio frequency tags to detect explosives, which could aid in locating landmines. The technology aims to train bees to identify minute amounts of explosives, revolutionizing landmine detection.
Researchers use a massive centrifuge to simulate earthen dam failures and study the effects of sinkholes on full-sized dams. The 400g-ton machine, built in 1988, can spin loads of up to 2 tons at 200 times gravity.
A new high-resolution transmission electron microscope at Johns Hopkins University is being used to study metal alloys and predict their behavior in jet engines. By analyzing the arrangement of atoms, researchers can determine the mechanical properties of these materials.
Professor Robert Bower, a pioneer in semiconductor technology, has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering for his groundbreaking work on the self-aligned gate MOSFET and ion implantation. His invention revolutionized integrated circuit design, enabling faster and more efficient electronic devices.
Researchers and scientists can now access the germanium (Ge) Gamma-Ray Spectrum Catalogue and a version of Heath's sodium iodide NaI(TI) Gamma-Ray Spectrum Catalogue online. The catalogues have been updated with new features, including replotted spectra, color coding, and zooming capabilities.
A scale model wind machine is being tested at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory to simulate natural storms. The experimental data collected will aid in designing hurricane-resistant homes, with a focus on affordable solutions for shelter protection.
A group of engineers and scientists reconstruct hurricanes using a custom-built tower with data-gathering equipment. The goal is to fabricate house-sized hurricane-force winds at the HomeSaver national test facility.
Sandia National Laboratories and Compaq have developed a system that sorts a terabyte of data in under 50 minutes, three times faster than the previous record. This achievement demonstrates the potential for fast and cost-effective data sorting, which can be used to identify patterns in large datasets.
Kansas State University has expanded its Experimental Engineering Model with an $800,000 NSF grant, providing college-level engineering students with real-world experience and skills in a manufacturing environment. The program aims to equip graduates with industry-relevant traits, such as communication and teamwork.
Researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory are developing TEDANN to predict failures and abnormal operations in M1 Abrams main battle tanks' turbine engines. The technology uses diagnostic engineering, artificial neural networks, and model-based decision algorithms to enhance tank readiness while reducing costly engine failures.
Researchers at Ohio State University have developed new radio antennas that can be embedded in car windshields, potentially reducing the need for air conditioning and making cars more energy-efficient. The designs use materials already present in car windows to create invisible antennas that receive AM and FM signals.
Researchers develop a novel microwave imaging technology to detect breast tumors without X-ray radiation, potentially reducing mortality rates. The technology uses microwaves to detect differences in water content between malignant and benign tumors.
The Recodable Locking Device is a minuscule mechanical device that uses microelectromechanical system technology to create an extremely difficult-to-break code entry system. This device is designed to prevent unauthorized access to computer systems, making it virtually impossible for hackers to breach even the most secure networks.
The report reveals a significant decline in first-year graduate enrollments of African Americans and Hispanics in science and engineering between 1996 and 1997. The AAAS attributes this decrease to an 'unwelcoming environment' for underrepresented minority students, citing policy changes and unclear institutional guidelines.
Dahl's award-winning ion optics simulation program, SIMION, has been instrumental in designing instruments for the Cassini mission to Saturn. On Earth, SIMION is used to analyze environmental contaminants, decode DNA, and uncover illegal drugs in urinalysis samples.
A study by sociologist Andrew Szasz finds that Silicon Valley's electronics manufacturing toxins are concentrated in poorer, more Latino neighborhoods. The research uses EPA records to track toxic materials and reveals a disproportionate impact on marginalized communities.
A study by Dr. Barry Bayus found that PC product lifespans have not accelerated over time, contradicting conventional wisdom. Despite rapid innovation, manufacturers have maintained consistent product lifecycles within their lines, suggesting a balanced approach to strategy and R&D investment.
A nationwide study by the University of Florida suggests that women scientists and engineers struggle to balance their careers with family responsibilities. The survey found that 62% considered work-life balance their biggest challenge, while conflicts between tenure and biological clocks were a major concern for many.
Two Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory-developed technologies have been recognized internationally for their potential to improve the power industry. The Electro-Optic High Voltage Sensor provides safer and more cost-effective ways to measure high voltages. Rapid Solidification Process Tooling Technology reduces pr...
A new device, patented by Sandia National Laboratories, uses a color-changing material to detect when frozen food has thawed and been refrozen, potentially posing food safety risks. The device, which can be made for pennies per unit, relies on an inexpensive 'smart' wire that changes shape at specific temperatures.
The symposium will describe new packaging systems that interact with package contents or the package's internal atmosphere, controlling gases to delay spoilage. Active packaging may incorporate antimicrobial agents, antioxidants, and moisture scavengers for consumer convenience.
Experts discuss Earth's habitability amid global threats and climate change, with some arguing regions will experience radical changes due to limited adaptive capacities. Others propose innovative solutions like industrial ecology to reduce human dependence on the environment.
Researchers at the University of Florida are adapting space-age technology to improve citrus farming efficiency in the state. The team, led by Professors Jodie Whitney and John Schueller, is using precision agriculture techniques to help farmers optimize their fields and reduce costs.
Researchers aim to address wave front errors caused by vibrations and thermal stresses in large space telescopes, affecting their clarity and focus. They've developed software-based solutions to detect and correct these aberrations, enabling better performance for space exploration.
Sandia National Laboratories has released a CD-ROM containing over 60 megabytes of data gathered from downhole diagnostic tools used in 80% of domestic oil wells. The new tool provides valuable information about well bore dynamics and mechanical stresses on sucker rod strings, leading to equipment fatigue and rod failure.
The Sandia-developed explosives-detection portal uses chemical preconcentrator technology to identify passengers with recent exposure to explosive chemicals. The portal has been tested on over 2,000 passengers to gauge acceptance and performance.
A Johns Hopkins University professor has built a virtual laboratory to give engineering students hands-on experience with real-world challenges, including oil-drilling simulations and digital logic circuits. The online lab offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional labs, allowing more students to participate and reducing costs.
The Pantex storage building will utilize automated gas generator disassembly system (AGGDIS) and weighing and leak check system (WALS) to improve the efficiency and safety of nuclear dismantlement operations. These robotic systems will enable faster handling of sensitive components, reducing radiation exposure for humans.
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have developed three robotic systems to streamline the dismantlement of nuclear weapons, including AGGDIS and WALS. These systems can handle delicate operations faster and more accurately than humans, reducing radiation exposure and increasing efficiency.
A University of Washington researcher found that the US Forest Service and Wilderness Society's conflicting old-growth forest estimates in the Pacific Northwest stem from differing mapping methods, technologies, and definitions. The study highlights how cultural and financial pressures influenced the final numbers.
The University of Illinois is using satellites and sensors to monitor crop yields, soil moisture, and pest infestations. This technology aims to improve agricultural efficiency while reducing chemical runoff and soil erosion, benefiting the environment.
Researchers at ORNL have developed ceramic valves that offer longer life and better durability for heavy-equipment engines. The valves were tested in a mine haul truck engine and accumulated over 2,000 hours without failing.
Stanford University's Technology Ventures Co-op program accelerates the transfer of technology and science into the economy by teaching engineers entrepreneurship skills. The nine-month program places students in summer jobs with top Silicon Valley startups, providing on-the-job experience and exposure to high-tech products.
Researchers are developing innovative control concepts, such as electrically-actuated piezoelectric structures and tiny jet turbine engines, to build MicroFlyer aircraft. The vehicles must be autonomous, inexpensive, and able to withstand harsh environments.
The partnership aims to support state and local law enforcement in their efforts to fight crime in communities. Sandia will analyze available explosive detection technology and equipment in collaboration with the Rocky Mountain Regional Center.