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MIT: 'Alarming' use of energy in modern manufacturing methods

A new MIT study finds that modern manufacturing processes are significantly less efficient in terms of energy and materials use compared to traditional industries. The research highlights the alarming levels of energy consumption by newer processes like microchip production, which uses up orders of magnitude more energy than making man...

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateMar 27, 2009

New material can find a needle in a nuclear waste haystack

A team of Northwestern University chemists has developed a new metal sulfide material, KMS-1, that can effectively remove strontium, a major component of nuclear waste, by exploiting its unique properties. The material works across the pH scale and outperforms existing methods in terms of selectivity and efficiency.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 3, 2008

How to rip and tear a fluid

A team of researchers from Penn State created a viscoelastic mixture that exhibits fluid-like behavior at slow speeds, solid-like behavior at intermediate speeds, and heals itself after tearing. The study provides new insights into how materials switch between these states.

SourcePenn State·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJun 1, 2007

Open microfluidic and nanofluidic systems

Researchers have developed a new theory explaining the wetting morphologies of liquids in open surface channels. The study reveals that channel geometry and substrate-liquid interaction are key factors determining liquid behavior, enabling the creation of microcompartments for confinement of small amounts of liquids and chemical reagents.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 15, 2005

Physicists discover temperature key to avalanche movement

Researchers have devised a thermometer that can measure granular temperature based on the degree of agitation of its component particles. The discovery could lead to better understanding of powders and particulate materials in industries such as pharmaceuticals, food processing, and construction.

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalNew Journal of Physics·DateJan 31, 2005

Some, Like Russian Dolls, Fit Inside Each Other: Self-Assembled Nanospheres May Be Helpful Against Disease Or Terrorism, Or As Fillers And Coatings

Researchers have created self-assembling nanospheres that can control the release of drugs and have superior characteristics to traditional fillers. These durable silica spheres range in size from 2-50 nanometers and can absorb organic and inorganic substances, making them useful for various applications.