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Wireless, wearable toxic-gas detector

MIT researchers have developed low-cost chemical sensors that enable smartphones to detect trace amounts of toxic gases. The sensors, made from chemically altered carbon nanotubes, can be worn by soldiers on the battlefield or people working with hazardous chemicals to rapidly detect the presence of chemical weapons.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateJun 30, 2016

A 'Fitbit' for plants?

A new tool called Phenocart captures essential plant health data, allowing for faster measurements and larger experiments. The portable device uses a repurposed bicycle wheel and handles to collect data on growth rate, color, and other vital signs.

SourceAmerican Society of Agronomy·JournalCrop Science·DateJun 22, 2016

Droplets finally all the same size -- in a nanodroplet library

A new device developed at the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences produces droplets of virtually identical volume, revolutionizing microfluidic systems. The device eliminates cumbersome infrastructure, enabling researchers to carry out complex chemical and biological experiments with increased accuracy.

Glass now has smart potential

Australian researchers have developed a method to embed light-emitting nanoparticles into glass without losing their properties. The new 'hybrid glass' combines nanoparticles' luminescence with glass' transparency and versatility, opening up possibilities for ultra-high-tech applications like biological sensing and 3D displays.

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalAdvanced Optical Materials·DateJun 7, 2016

Software turns webcams into eye-trackers

A new software, WebGazer.js, uses integrated webcams to infer where users look on a webpage. This allows for more accurate web analytics than traditional methods, which often require expensive eye-tracking devices. The software can be added to any website with a few lines of code and provides insights into user behavior.

Turning good vibrations into energy

Scientists at Ohio State University develop tree-like structures that can convert random forces into strong structural vibrations ideal for generating electricity. The technology may prove valuable in small-scale situations where other renewable energy sources are not an option, powering sensors that monitor infrastructure health.

SourceOhio State University·JournalJournal of Sound and Vibration·DateFeb 1, 2016

Copper deposition to fabricate tiny 3-D objects

Researchers use a new technique to electro-deposit dissolved metals, creating complex structures like watch components and microtools. The process uses a force-controlled nanopipette to print pixels layer by layer, with high spatial resolution.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateJan 20, 2016

Colorado State University's breakthrough imaging tool maps cells' composition in 3-D

Colorado State University's new mass-spectral imaging system allows for unprecedented detail in cellular analysis, mapping surface composition in three dimensions. Researchers can now examine how cells respond to new medications and investigate antibiotic resistance, with potential applications in combating tuberculosis and bioterrorism.

SourceColorado State University·JournalOptics and Photonics News·DateJan 19, 2016

Brain monitoring takes a leap out of the lab

A wearable, 64-channel brain monitoring system has been developed, providing a better fit for real-world applications. The system comprises a dry-electrode wearable EEG headset and sophisticated software for data interpretation, with a wide range of applications in research, neuro-feedback, and clinical diagnostics.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalIEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering·DateJan 12, 2016

Portable NIST kit can recover traces of chemical evidence

A portable version of NIST's 'headspace analysis' technique has been developed, enabling detectives to carry a convenient version of the method in a briefcase-sized kit. The kit can recover vapors from solid or liquid compounds, including environmental pollutants and forensic evidence, with collection times as fast as 3 seconds.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalJournal of Chromatography A·DateJan 7, 2016

Nanodevices at one-hundredth the cost

Researchers at MIT's Microsystems Technologies Laboratories show promise in building microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) using affordable and high-quality desktop fabrication devices. This allows for production of useful MEMS at significantly lower costs without compromising quality, enabling new markets and applications.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalJournal of Microelectromechanical Systems·DateDec 18, 2015

Ultrasensitive sensors made from boron-doped graphene

Researchers have developed ultrasensitive gas sensors using boron-doped graphene, detecting noxious gas molecules at extremely low concentrations. The sensors outperform current state-of-the-art sensors by six orders of magnitude, opening a path to high-performance detection of toxic gases and other molecules.

SourcePenn State·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 2, 2015