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Innovation promises expanded roles for microsensors

The new approach allows for reliable sensing with compact devices, opening up potential applications in national security, food processing, breath analyzers, industrial monitoring, and more. Researchers have improved the performance of microsensors using tiny vibrating microcantilevers to detect chemical and biological agents.

SourcePurdue University·JournalJournal of Microelectromechanical Systems·DateFeb 7, 2012

Flaky graphene makes reliable chemical sensors

Researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Dioxide Materials have developed a chemical sensor using randomly stacked graphene flakes. The thin films of flaky graphene outperformed previous sensors made from carbon nanotubes or graphene crystals, detecting trace amounts of test chemicals with high reliability.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateJan 17, 2012

Accelerating robotic innovation

Researchers from Rice University and two other universities are developing a new generation of design software to accurately predict robot physical behavior. This tool will enable designers to find key flaws on a computer before building a prototype, reducing expenses and increasing innovation.

New device measures viscosity of ketchup and cosmetics

A new device developed at the University of Sheffield enables real-time monitoring of liquid flow and rheology, making it easier to control product properties. The technology ensures that companies producing liquids can incorporate the device into their development process, reducing costs and improving efficiency.

SourceUniversity of Sheffield·JournalMeasurement Science and Technology·DateOct 24, 2011

Robot biologist solves complex problem from scratch

A team of scientists has successfully demonstrated a computer's ability to analyze raw experimental data from a biological system and derive the basic mathematical equations that describe its operation. This achievement marks one of the most complex scientific modeling problems solved completely from scratch by a computer.

SourceVanderbilt University·JournalPhysical Biology·DateOct 13, 2011

'Smelling' heart failure

A German team has developed a new non-invasive method to identify heart failure using an electronic nose, which can detect the condition with 89% sensitivity and 88% specificity. The study screened over 250 patients and found that the method was effective in distinguishing between different stages of heart failure.

New software to support interest in extreme science

The University of Chicago's Flash Center has released a new version of supercomputer code, FLASH 4-alpha, with enhanced capabilities for simulating high-energy density physics experiments. This will enable researchers at universities and national facilities to investigate fundamental properties of matter under extreme conditions.

MIT: Advances in DNA 'origami'

A team at MIT led by Mark Bathe has developed software to predict the three-dimensional shape of complex DNA structures, making it easier to create nanoassembly technology. This advancement enables biologists, chemists, and materials scientists to design and build intricate shapes using DNA without extensive expertise in DNA origami.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Methods·DateApr 27, 2011

Delving into manganite conductivity

Researchers have made a significant breakthrough in understanding manganite conductivity by linking it to the Jahn-Teller effect. At ambient pressure, manganites exhibit insulating properties, but applying intense pressure causes them to transition to a metallic state, which conducts electric charges.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateFeb 9, 2011

Intelligent microscopy

The Micropilot software brings machine learning to microscopy, analyzing low-resolution images and automatically performing complex experiments when cells with interesting features are detected. It has been used to uncover the roles of proteins in cell division and will be a key tool for European systems biology projects.

SourceEuropean Molecular Biology Laboratory·JournalNature Methods·DateJan 24, 2011

Road to a safer future

The E! 4160 VICATS project has developed an innovative surveillance system that uses computer algorithms to assess real-time traffic conditions. The system can operate autonomously, gathering information 24/7 without human intervention, and has shown promising results in various scenarios, including tunnels, bridges, and crossroads.

SourceEUREKA·DateDec 16, 2010