News on research driving industry and manufacturing. Covers petrochemical emissions, food innovation, controlled-explosion labs, and industry-academic partnerships.
Research found that chlorine can make foodborne pathogens undetectable by standard laboratory culture techniques. Chlorine-induced states enable some bacteria to survive and potentially cause disease. The study's findings have significant implications for food safety, biocidal products, and post-BREXIT trade agreements.
KTU has won EUR 2.4 million Horizon 2020 funding to attract top academics, boosting innovation economy and strengthening its competitiveness in the European Research Area. The project focuses on Industry 4.0's impact on management practices and economics.
Researchers from NICT and Fujikura successfully demonstrated a transmission experiment over 1045 km with a data-rate of 159 Tb/s using a 3-mode optical fiber. This achievement sets the world record for a standard outer diameter few-mode optical fiber, surpassing previous records by about twice.
The inaugural issue of Hokkaido University's 'Tackling Global Issues' magazine highlights soft matter research with potential applications in medicine and industry. The publication features research on hydrogels, soft crystals and molecular machines.
Researchers propose social manufacturing as an innovative solution for the personalized customization era, allowing consumers to participate in the design and production process. This approach can reduce material waste and energy consumption while satisfying both material and spiritual needs.
The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) has announced its annual award lecturers, who will present at the Annual Meeting in San Diego from April 21-25. The awards recognize outstanding contributions to biochemistry and molecular biology.
A new hybrid mega-pest has been confirmed in Brazil, combining the cotton bollworm and corn earworm to create a super-pest with unlimited geographical boundaries. The hybrid's emergence poses significant concerns for global food security due to its high resistance to pesticides and widespread damage to crops.
The Biochemical Society has announced the winners of its annual awards, recognizing established and early-career researchers in cell biology, endocrinology, and plant sciences. The award recipients include Dr Melina Schuh, Professor Dame Caroline Dean, and Professor R. John Ellis.
A new research project led by Clemson University's Sara Riggs aims to create technology on workstations that can adapt to individual workers depending on the person, context, and environment. The goal is to make jobs easier, enable more people with disabilities to work, and retain them once employed.
A new exploratory study examines how use of sleep tracker data can improve physician-patient dialogue regarding sleep. The study will utilize Fitbit devices and track real-time sleep information to measure results, providing insight into the utility of consumer sleep monitoring devices in primary care.
Researchers at RIT are creating a smart warehouse system where forklifts and robots can communicate to optimize workload allocation and navigation. The goal is to increase productivity and safety by automating warehouse processes.
African swine fever virus may survive in feed ingredients, posing a significant risk to the U.S. swine industry. Researchers are working to understand this risk and develop mitigation tools to prevent the virus from being introduced through feed.
Researchers at Saarland University developed a new self-optimizing conveyor technology that adapts to the size, weight, and desired speed of materials. The technology uses silicone polymer-based artificial muscles to transport dry bulk materials with sensor capabilities.
Scientists have built a computational microscope that can simulate atomic and subatomic forces driving molecular interactions. The tool streamlines efforts to understand chemistry, model large systems, and develop new pharmaceutical agents.
Researchers at Saarland University develop a new generation of electroactive polymers, which can act as sensors and actuators, requiring minimal energy and resources. The technology has potential applications in various industries, including self-metering valves, motorless pumps, and tactile aids for touchscreens.
Researchers from Saarland University have developed self-monitoring conveyor rollers that precisely control each roller to respond to changing operating conditions. This technology can speed up parcel sorting operations while delivering greater flexibility, reducing costs and improving efficiency.
Scientists at Griffith University have unveiled a highly accurate technique for measuring electrical forces using a single atom as a sensor, with sensitivity down to 100 zeptoNewtons. This achievement allows for the investigation of surface phenomena and has potential applications in quantum computing and medical research.
A new study found that many care home admissions are based on coercive practices, disregarding fundamental human rights. The research highlights the need for stronger regulation and safeguards to protect older people from abuse.
Researchers are monitoring kelp forests in the Gulf of Maine to establish a baseline for future change. They believe a lack of sea urchin predators has contributed to their return, particularly in Midcoast and Down East regions.
Researchers at UTSA used GIS technology to map the city's live music venues, studios, and production companies, finding Districts 1, 8, and 9 are hubs for growth. The study also showed a correlation between the music scene and alcohol sales.
Researchers at John Innes Centre develop innovative LOCO-EFA technique to capture complex cell shapes, allowing for fair and biologically relevant comparisons. This breakthrough enables better phenotyping and understanding of cell shape dynamics, with applications in biology, paleontology, and more.
A special focus issue of Therapeutic Delivery explores emerging concepts and advances in nanotechnology for drug delivery, covering topics such as lipoprotein nanoparticles and micro- and nanomotors. The issue aims to emphasize the importance and challenges facing this field.
A team of researchers has developed a new class of glass based on metals and organic compounds, with improved glass-forming ability and pliability compared to traditional silica glass. The new metal-organic compound glass, ZIF-62, exhibits superior mechanical properties and optical transmission.
IMDEA Networks Institute and TELCARIA launch project to achieve high performance and dynamic traffic processing in 5G networks. The research aims to separate processing from factors like location, time, scaling, and hardware, enabling scalable and flexible network design.
Researchers developed an advanced analytical model to optimize multiple uses in a given area, minimizing negative impacts on the environment and other uses. The model increased sector values by millions of dollars and reduced environmental harm by less than 1 percent compared to conventional approaches.
Researchers discovered that grapes experience internal oxygen shortage during ripening, leading to cell death and potentially affecting wine quality. The study's findings suggest that manipulating oxygen supply can reduce cell death, and may lead to new ways of selecting grape varieties for warmer climates.
Prof Alba-Tercedor collaborated with BUF to create high-resolution microtomography images of tropical longhorn beetle species and darkling beetle Zophobas morio, used in the film's photorealistic models. The results demonstrate microtomography's value for reconstructing tiny animals' microscopic structural details.
Researchers from UC3M and IMDEA Networks present several European research projects related to 5G technology, including 5G-Coral, 5G-Crosshaul, and 5G-Transformer. These projects aim to develop advanced 5G networks with improved efficiency and scalability.
The SUN project has developed an online platform to support industries and regulatory institutions in evaluating potential risks of nanomaterials. The platform provides key discoveries on the interactions between nanomaterials and biological or ecological systems, enabling safer and more sustainable nanotechnologies.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute professor Farhan Gandhi has received the AIAA Faculty Advisor Award for reviving the RPI Student Branch, facilitating seminars, astronaut visits, and providing students with a sense of community. Gandhi's research focuses on rotary-wing aircraft, adaptive cellular structures, and morphing technologies.
The new optical receiver achieves an aggregate bandwidth of 160 Gb/s and features rapid power-on/off functionality, reducing energy consumption by up to 85%. This innovation is crucial for building faster and higher-performance computer systems while minimizing carbon dioxide emissions.
The Rosalind Franklin Institute is investing £1.55m in a unique electron microscope that will allow researchers to visualize structures at near atomic scale in time and space. This technology will enable the development of new treatments for diseases such as cancer, malaria, and Alzheimer's.
A study by HSE researchers found that foreign investments can have a positive effect only for companies with specific resource endowments. The presence of foreign property does not affect the performance of companies in general. Instead, dynamic capabilities play a key role in transforming foreign investment into added economic value.
Researchers at the University of Strathclyde developed a laser-driven ion acceleration scheme, achieving proton energies of 100 mega-electron-volts. This innovation could lead to smaller, cheaper, and more efficient ion accelerators with transformative potential for various applications.
A new robotic system developed by MIT engineers can grasp and pack items with high accuracy, making it suitable for various applications such as warehouse sorting and kitchen tasks. The system uses an object-agnostic grasping algorithm to assess a bin of random objects and determine the best way to grip or suction onto an item.
A new study reveals that animal traffickers are smuggling pangolins out of Central Africa, primarily for their meat and scales, due to high international demand. The price of giant pangolin scales has risen over 45 times the rate of inflation between 2002 and 2014, driving up local costs.
A study published in Computers in Human Behavior found no significant changes in testosterone levels among UNLV's esports players during gameplay. The research suggests that familiar environments and competition may not elicit the same hormonal responses as unfamiliar situations and large audiences.
Scientists estimate tens to hundreds of well sites could be needed in the UK to extract shale gas, with hundreds to thousands of wells drilled over several years. The researchers used data from the UK's milk and fuel transportation industries as a comparator for any future UK shale gas industry.
A team from Lehigh University's Industrial and Systems Engineering department participated in a workshop on big data optimization algorithms, theory, applications and systems. Researchers presented their work on Interior Point Methods, machine learning methodologies, and other topics relevant to big data analytics.
Nancy Kinner, a leading oil spill expert, is available to discuss new research on dispersant technology. The research indicates that smaller droplets are created by applying chemical dispersants to oil slicks, posing new challenges for protecting human health and marine habitats.
Researchers at University of Cambridge have discovered the neural circuit controlling cuttlefish's dynamic skin papillae, enabling 3D camouflage. The discovery opens up new avenues for biologically-inspired material design and may shed light on cephalopod perception.
WPI researchers Raghvendra Cowlagi and Alexander Wyglinski combine their expertise in autonomy and wireless communications to create a network that enables self-driving cars to share information about traffic flow, road conditions, and accidents. This allows for safer operation on highways and congested city streets.
A new study reveals that increasing temperature enhances 'pod shatter' in oilseed rape, a major issue for farmers worldwide. The research establishes a genetic link between temperature and the problem, bringing closer the prospect of creating crops better adapted to warmer temperatures.
A University of Texas at Austin professor and his team have discovered a new, efficient way to extract lithium and other metals from water using metal-organic-framework membranes. This process has the potential to revolutionize industries such as water desalination and power electric cars.
Researchers at University of Cincinnati are developing cutting-edge methods to overcome the barrier of human skin for biometric sensors. The devices can measure things optically, chemically, electrically, and mechanically without compromising the skin's ability to prevent infection and dehydration.
Portland State University is part of a research center developing brain-inspired computing to enable computers to perform uniquely human tasks. The Center for Brain-inspired Computing Enabling Autonomous Intelligence aims to improve pattern and image recognition for intelligent autonomous systems.
Global experts argue that solar-driven water splitting can become the technology of choice for producing hydrogen, reducing reliance on fossil fuels. However, significant research efforts are needed to industrialize this process and make it suitable for the 21st century and beyond.
The EU-funded Arctic Research Icebreaker Consortium (ARICE) aims to improve access to research icebreakers and develop strategies for coordinated use of polar research vessels. The consortium will give scientists fully funded access to six research icebreakers, enabling them to conduct research in the Arctic Ocean.
The UK government has invested £184 million in doctoral training for science and engineering research over a four-year period. This funding will support students entering training from October 2018 and October 2019, with 41 universities sharing the allocation.
Barry Sims, associate director of UT AgResearch, received the Distinguished Service Award for his contributions to land grant research and administration. He oversees the system's 10 centers and coordinates faculty research at the centers.
The Biogerontology Research Foundation and its partners emphasized the importance of AI in precision medicine at the Precision Medicine World Conference. Two startups, Abreos and Immusoft, emerged as semifinalists for their innovative approaches to precision medicine, including point-of-care assays and immune system programming.
The partnership between Rothamsted Research and Timac Agro UK aims to develop practical solutions for farmers through research, development, and real-life improvements. By investing in research and people, the collaboration seeks to create a flexible industry that provides innovative solutions for agriculture.
The John Innes Centre announces the Janaki Ammal Scholarship Scheme to support postgraduate research applicants from eligible countries. The scholarships cover tuition fees for students studying plant and microbial sciences, aiming to reduce financial impact on international students.
University of Tennessee assistant professor Tyson Raper received the 2018 Dr. J. Tom Cothren Outstanding Young Cotton Physiologist Award for his research contributions to cotton physiology. He leads education and research efforts on cotton, wheat, and small grain crops.
Dr. Mohammad Najafi is leading a $53,000 research project to examine the safety risks of steam sealing in repaired pipes, focusing on emissions and worker protection.
A new study published in PNAS shows that ocean currents can concentrate marine debris, known as flotsam, into small areas. This phenomenon has implications for ocean cleanup projects and could help predict where concentrations will occur.
A team of researchers has developed potentially safer polymers that could replace BPA in thermally printed receipts and labels, reducing environmental and health concerns. The new polymers, called BPAF-N-type, have similar properties to BPA and are suitable for various applications.
Researchers at Oregon State University developed a new 'Buck' naked barley variety with high yields and nutrition, making it suitable for human consumption, animal feed and brewing. The barley's unique characteristics enable it to thrive with less fertilizer and water.
The City College of New York is leading a five-year research project on complex fluids funded by the National Science Foundation, which includes 11 partner institutions in France, Germany, and Norway. Possible outcomes include improvements in energy and process efficiency in industrial systems globally.
A recent study by IMDEA Networks explores the potential of Software-Defined Networking (SDN) to make the Internet more scalable, manageable, and adaptable. The HyperAdapt project proposes mechanisms and techniques to deal with network dynamism, improve ISP performance, and support novel technologies like D2D and mmWaves.