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The invisible driver

A team of engineers at the Technical University of Munich has successfully demonstrated remote control driving on public roads using Visio.M e-mobility project technology. The system uses video cameras, computer encoding, and LTE connectivity to transmit images, sound, and control data between the driver and the vehicle.

Graphene on its way to conquer Silicon Valley

Scientists from the University of Vienna have successfully integrated graphene into metal silicide technology, preserving its unique properties. The new structure shows promising results for applications in semiconductor devices, spintronics, photovoltaics, and thermoelectrics.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalScientific Reports·DateJul 9, 2013

Eavesdropping on lithium ions

Scientists have created a device that allows researchers to observe individual lithium ions in lithium-ion batteries, providing new insights into the complex processes involved. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient battery designs with increased power density and longer lifetimes.

Getting to the root of the matter

Scientists identified a network of genes that promote root growth in low-nitrogen conditions, making them suitable for sustainable biofuel production. The discovery provides new insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying plant development and could lead to the creation of nitrogen-efficient crop varieties.

SourceMichigan Technological University·JournalNew Phytologist·DateJul 8, 2013

Hands-free talking and texting are unsafe

A new study by the University of Utah found that hands-free devices can overload drivers' attention and impair their ability to drive safely. The study used advanced metrics to assess driver mental workload and reaction time, revealing a five-fold increase in infotainment systems in new vehicles by 2018

The dance of the atoms

Scientists at the Vienna University of Technology have observed and explained the dance of atoms on iron-oxide surfaces. They found that carbon monoxide is the partner responsible for rapid motion, which leads to clustering and reduces the effectiveness of catalysts. A hydroxyl coating of the surface can suppress this effect.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalNature Materials·DateJun 10, 2013

Spintronics approach enables new quantum technologies

Researchers at University of Chicago develop a spintronics approach to manipulate the spin of atomic-scale defects in diamond for new quantum technologies. This approach enables new nanoscale sensors, including single-spin thermometers, with potential applications in temperature measurement and information processing.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 4, 2013

Molecular switch for cheaper biofuel

Researchers have identified a genetic mutation that allows fungi to continuously produce enzymes for breaking down cellulose and xylan into sugar molecules. This discovery enables the production of cheap biofuel from lignocellulose, reducing competition with food production and making it more economically viable.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalBiotechnology for Biofuels·DateJun 3, 2013

Wayne State receives second year funding from the NEI to build technology commercialization efforts

Wayne State University has received a second year of funding from the New Economy Initiative to expand its Technology Commercialization Office's efforts. The university will use the grant to enhance marketing tools and licensing staff, increasing the availability of WSU intellectual property assets to industry and venture capital.

More hurricanes for Hawaii?

A new study projects a significant increase in tropical cyclones affecting Hawaii, with conditions becoming more favorable for hurricane formation due to global warming. The study suggests that despite potential decreases in tropical cyclones globally, Hawaii may experience a rise in near-shore storms.

SourceUniversity of Hawaii ‑ SOEST·JournalNature Climate Change·DateMay 5, 2013

$1 million for smart energy solutions

Concordia University's NSERC Smart Net-zero Energy Buildings Strategic Network has received $1 million in new funding from Natural Resources Canada. This grant will support research and testing of progressive technologies to create net-zero energy homes and commercial buildings.

Robotic insects make first controlled flight

Researchers at Harvard University have successfully demonstrated the first controlled flight of a robotic insect, weighing less than a tenth of a gram, which achieves vertical takeoff, hovering, and steering. The achievement marks the culmination of over a decade's work in micromanufacturing and control systems.

SourceHarvard University·JournalScience·DateMay 2, 2013

Bug's view inspires new digital camera's unique imaging capabilities

Researchers have created a digital camera with a design inspired by the arthropod eye, offering exceptionally wide-angle fields of view and low aberrations. The camera uses large arrays of tiny focusing lenses and miniaturized detectors in hemispherical layouts, providing unmatched field of view and other powerful capabilities in imaging.

Shape-shifting mobile devices

Researchers at University of Bristol unveil prototype mobile devices that can change shape on-demand, introducing the concept of 'shape resolution' and its ten features. The devices, called Morphees, can transform into different shapes to support various services and applications.

New technology that improves your brain

Brain training programs, such as MyBrainSolutions, improve measured scores in anxiety, stress, and depression. The BRAINnet Foundation uses standardized protocols to pool data across mental disorders, sites, and studies, aiming to understand mental illness as a brain disease.

SourceUniversity of South Florida·JournalJournal of Technology and Innovation·DateApr 23, 2013

Technology transforms health care

This special issue of Technology and Innovation explores transformative health care technologies, reducing costs and improving outcomes. Researchers have developed automated educational interventions to analyze prescription data, creating health outcomes indices to measure patient outcomes over time.

SourceUniversity of South Florida·JournalJournal of Technology and Innovation·DateApr 22, 2013