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New biochar-based technology boosts antibiotic removal from water using low-energy ultrasound

Researchers developed a novel composite material that combines biochar, carbon nanotubes, and iron carbide, significantly accelerating the breakdown of antibiotics in water. The system achieved up to 15 times higher removal rates compared to conventional materials, while requiring substantially less energy.

SourceBiochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University·JournalBiochar·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 20, 2026

Breakthrough in fuel cell recycling turns ‘forever chemicals’ into renewable resources

Researchers at the University of Leicester have developed a technique using soundwaves to separate valuable catalyst materials and fluorinated polymer membranes from catalyst-coated membranes. This breakthrough addresses critical environmental challenges posed by PFAS, which contaminate drinking water and have serious health implications.

SourceUniversity of Leicester·JournalRSC Sustainability·DateMay 6, 2025

Automatic detection of breast lesions in automated 3D breast ultrasound with cross-organ transfer learning

Researchers developed a deep learning framework using cross-organ transfer learning to improve breast cancer detection, leveraging experience from pulmonary nodules. The study applied supervised contrastive learning to distinguish normal tissue features from breast nodules, boosting model performance.

SourceBeijing Zhongke Journal Publising Co. Ltd.·JournalVirtual Reality & Intelligent Hardware·DateAug 16, 2024

Research to enable cheaper and safer battery storage

Researchers developed a unique electrochemical ultrasonic force microscopy (EC-UFM) technique to observe sodium-ion battery interfaces during operation. The new method guides passivating layer formation, preserving charge carrier transport and enhancing battery performance.

SourceLancaster University·JournalApplied Physics Reviews·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 20, 2024

Neurobiology: How bats distinguish different sounds

Scientists have discovered that the bat brainstem processes echolocation and communication calls differently, with a stronger response to less frequent calls due to better neural synchronization. The findings may also be relevant to medical applications in humans, such as understanding diseases like ADHD or schizophrenia.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalJNeurosci·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 23, 2024

New framework for super-resolution ultrasound

Researchers at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology have developed a new framework for super-resolution ultrasound using deep learning, reducing processing speeds from minutes to seconds. The new technology enables real-time blood flow visualization, overcoming challenges faced by conventional methods.

SourceBeckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology·JournalIEEE Transactions on Medical Imaging·TypeImaging analysis·DateMay 25, 2023

Insight into brain’s waste clearing system may shed light on brain diseases

Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have found a way to enhance glymphatic transport using focused ultrasound with microbubbles, opening new opportunities for studying brain diseases and function. The non-invasive method shows promise for potentially mitigating neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 16, 2023

These sounds are out of this world! #ASA184

A software program designed by Timothy G. Leighton predicts the environmental sounds of other planets and how human voices might change in distant worlds. The program uses acoustics and planetary science communities to learn about properties such as chemical composition, atmospheric temperature changes, and roughness of the ground.

New research tunes theory of sound levitation

Researchers at the University of Technology Sydney have extended the theory of acoustic levitation to account for asymmetrical particles, which is more applicable to real-world experience. This new understanding enables precise control and sorting of tiny objects using ultrasonic waves.

SourceUniversity of Technology Sydney·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 18, 2022

How the brain filters out sounds

Researchers at Goethe University Frankfurt recorded brain waves of bats to understand how they filter out essential signals from echolocation calls and communication signals. The study shows that rare sounds elicit stronger neuronal responses than frequent ones.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalEuropean Journal of Neuroscience·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 15, 2022

Lung cancer: Less invasive surgery for faster recovery

A new surgical technique using ultrasonic energy to seal pulmonary artery branches has been shown to reduce post-operative bleeding, complications, and pain in patients with lung cancer. The study's results have the potential to make this less invasive procedure more widely available, leading to faster recovery times for thousands of C...

SourceUniversity of Montreal Hospital Research Centre (CRCHUM)·JournalJournal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery·DateMay 4, 2019

Intelligent drone swarm

Researchers at Tomsk Polytechnic University have developed a multi-agent robotic system for flying a swarm of intelligent drones. The drones can synchronize their movements, reconfigure their flightpath, and land with high accuracy, avoiding obstacles up to 5 meters away.

Researchers design sounds that can be recorded by microphones but inaudible to humans

Researchers at the University of Illinois have designed a sound that is completely inaudible to humans yet is audible to any microphone. This technique, called 'BackDoor,' has numerous applications, including securing private conversations and protecting confidential meetings from electronic eavesdropping. The signal can also be used t...

Male mice model human speech defect

Researchers at Duke University found that male mice carrying a genetic mutation known to affect human speech struggle with sequencing phonemes into words. The study used new statistical tools to analyze the structure of ultrasonic mouse songs, revealing a similar impact on sequence complexity as seen in humans.

SourceDuke University·JournalFrontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience·DateOct 20, 2016

Small droplets feel the vibe

The team created highly uniform arrays of low surface tension functional water-based droplets for biochemical experiments, overcoming current patterning limitations. This non-contact method has potential applications in drug discovery and clinical diagnostics.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 6, 2016

Tiger moths: Mother Nature's fortune tellers

Researchers at Wake Forest University found that tiger moths can detect an increase in a bat's cry rate and sound intensity, triggering the moth's defense mechanism. The study shows that the tiger moth's tymbal can jam the bat's sonar up to 93% of the time, allowing it to evade attack.

SourceWake Forest University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJun 3, 2013