News on research driving industry and manufacturing. Covers petrochemical emissions, food innovation, controlled-explosion labs, and industry-academic partnerships.
Finalists made significant impacts in broadcasting, healthcare, communication, and energy industries, leading to substantial cost savings and efficiency gains. The award recognizes achievements in operations research and management science.
Researchers have identified a common phospholipid pathway in plants and parasites, including malaria-causing Plasmodium. This discovery may lead to the development of new therapies for parasitic infections. The study also revealed that plant enzymes with similar structures can play different roles in the plant.
The Bocas dolphin population in Panama's archipelago is genetically isolated and faces high risk from increasing local boat traffic. The study suggests designating the population as 'endangered' due to low numbers and high mortality rates.
A large, enigmatic protein called AKAP350 plays a crucial role in assembling microtubules, which are essential for cell division and cargo transport. Researchers have gained new insights into its function, which may lead to improved anti-cancer therapies.
Brazilian researcher develops innovative method of laser welding at high temperatures to enhance properties of AHS steel, improving formability and collision resilience. The technique produces bainitic structure, resulting in tough and reliable weld joints.
Researchers have made significant strides in understanding equine laminitis, a painful condition affecting horses' hooves. The study's findings indicate that insulin regulation is the primary cause of the disease, leading to new diagnostic and treatment approaches.
The RegioMOVE project aims to create a user-friendly, environmentally compatible and system-overlapping portfolio of mobility offers for the region of Karlsruhe. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) will contribute its know-how to the project.
Cristobal Uauy, a world-leading wheat scientist, has been awarded the prestigious Research Medal by The Royal Agricultural Society of England. His work in developing genomic techniques and sharing them with the international community has led to significant benefits for wheat breeders and researchers.
Researchers have developed a gecko-inspired adhesive technology that can be used to handle delicate materials like silicon wafers in manufacturing computer processors. The technology uses a specific angle of attachment and release to grip the surface, offering a cleaner and more efficient alternative to current methods.
A team of researchers is working with the oil industry to predict when an offshore drilling rig is at risk for a potentially catastrophic accident. They aim to develop new methodologies to monitor hydrocarbon flow and prevent accidents like the Deepwater Horizon explosion in 2010.
The evolving nature of biotechnology introduces new cyberbiosecurity risks, including accidental breaches and intentional threats. The authors recommend employee training, systematic analyses, and new policies to prevent and detect security incidents.
Paolo Falcaro and his team will analyze mechanisms and parameters related to the formation, control, and properties of MOFs. Their goal is to develop microfilms and microstructures with precisely aligned pores for smart components like microchips and sensors.
The QXDx BCR-ABL %IS Kit uses Droplet Digital PCR technology to detect deep molecular response values with high reproducibility and precision. This allows for more confident disease management decisions in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia.
The partnership aims to apply advanced chemical engineering research to industrial-scale chemical manufacturing, reducing waste generation, utility, and energy costs. The University of Pittsburgh's Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Department is developing new educational programs and internships to prepare students for the industry.
Solid-state batteries have the potential to replace flammable liquid electrolytes with solids, improving safety and energy density. Industry leaders like Toyota, Apple, and Bosch are investing in this technology, but high costs remain a major obstacle to widespread commercialization.
The LigniOx project aims to commercialize a lignin-based concrete plasticizer technology that can compete with synthetic admixtures. The technology has shown promising results in enhancing workability and strength of fresh and matured concrete.
Rothamsted Research emphasizes the importance of accelerating UK agriculture to meet post-Brexit challenges through a focus on sustainable growth. The institute advocates for a dynamic, innovative model that prioritizes co-development, sharing, and engagement to drive impact.
Researchers find that oil industry revenue is helping accelerate carbon capture and storage (CCS) development, but may not be sufficient to meet the Paris Climate Agreement's emission reduction targets. CCS has the potential to slow global warming, but its deployment is currently limited.
Researchers found that a sugar industry trade group halted animal research linking sucrose to disease in the 1960s due to adverse findings on cardiovascular health and bladder cancer. The Sugar Research Foundation secretly funded a review article downplaying these links.
CVDVale's technology enables the use of ultrasonic drills without anesthesia in 70% of cases, allowing for faster and less painful dental procedures. The company's innovative approach to synthetic diamond production has also expanded its applications to orthopedic surgeries.
A new special issue of Yale's Journal of Industrial Ecology investigates the environmental, energy, and health impacts of additive manufacturing. The research reveals that while 3D printing offers local production and zero-waste potential, its environmental performance depends on machine usage patterns and material configurations.
A team of researchers has created a process to transform residual toner powder from discarded printer cartridges into iron, offering an environmentally friendly way to reuse electronic waste. The method involves heating the toner powder to 1550 °C, resulting in a product with 98% pure iron.
Researchers found that scab-resistant apple cultivars, such as GoldRush and CrimsonCrisp, retain their quality and nutritional value after storage, rivaling traditional varieties like Golden Delicious. The new apples also show promise for long-term storage using 1-MCP gas.
A Berkeley Lab-led study discovers new types of cellulases from a microbiome, which can break down plant biomass into glucose at high temperatures. The enzymes were cultivated from a cluster of uncultivated bacteria in municipal compost, offering a scalable source for biofuel production.
The paper reviews recent progress in distributed cooperative anti-disturbance control (DCADC) methods for multi-agent systems, including variable structure control and sliding mode control. Key findings include the universality of disturbance existence and the importance of high-precision control in modern engineering systems.
Researchers have isolated novel microorganisms from extreme environments with unique methane consumption capabilities. The study aims to develop these microbes for industrial applications such as biodegradable plastics and electricity production.
A team of researchers has uncovered rare, living stromatolites in a remote Tasmanian valley, revealing a unique ecosystem that thrived due to mineral-rich groundwater. The discovery is significant as stromatolites are rare globally and not previously known from Tasmania except as ancient fossils.
A North Carolina State University-led study found that six imperatives facilitate collaboration in novel partnerships between government, academia, and industry. These include mutual benefit, trust, common understanding, access and agility, incentives, and mission criticality.
Researchers at Bielefeld University's CeBiTec are developing novel methods to produce sustainable compounds using microorganisms, aiming to replace fossil fuel resources in the long term. The center has received €4.8 million in funding for three international cooperative research projects.
The ILIAD project aims to develop self-optimising autonomous forklift trucks that can operate safely and efficiently alongside human co-workers, adapting to changing work demands. The robots will be equipped with advanced computer vision and AI to detect and track humans, making fleets fully scalable.
A research team has discovered a technique called Accelerated Evolution that rapidly generates valuable natural products by mimicking bacterial evolution processes. This breakthrough could lead to hundreds of new compounds and revolutionize natural product drug discovery.
A study by Indiana University researchers suggests that reviving the coal industry will have little impact on fragile Appalachian communities. Instead, they found that promising jobs may fill communities with false hope, threatening progress in launching job training programs and other transition steps.
Research from the University of Notre Dame suggests that having a wide range of experience as an entrepreneur can be both beneficial and detrimental to securing investments. While some investors view broad experience positively, others see it as a liability, particularly in crowded or competitive markets.
Researchers applied high-resolution mass spectrometry to investigate synthetic chemical contamination in two lakes in Central Europe, capturing the past 100 years of sediment layers. The analysis revealed concentrations of industrial chemicals starting in the 1950s, marking the beginning of large-scale human impact on the environment.
Current Organocatalysis and Synthetic Methods is an international peer-reviewed journal covering organo homogeneous/heterogeneous catalysis, mechanistic studies, and kinetics. The journal publishes new methods, reagents, and mechanisms for chemical synthesis, with a focus on green chemistry and chemoenzymatic reactions.
Research predicts increased inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) rates in developing countries as they adopt Western lifestyles and become more industrialized. IBD incidence is expected to rise dramatically, posing a global health challenge.
Scientists have completed the sequencing of the stevia plant genome, revealing key enzyme groups and potentially new markers for breeding. The research provides a better understanding of the stevia plant's biosynthesis pathways and will enable the creation of improved stevia varieties with optimized levels of sweet-tasting compounds.
Scientists used animation techniques from 'Star Wars' to develop a new molecular modeling tool, yielding insights into sperm tail movement and protein motors. The project also tackled a fundamental challenge in science: modeling hierarchical cellular and molecular motions across various scales.
New University of Washington research reveals that individuals can purchase online ads to track the location of others and learn what apps they are using. This can be done for around $1,000, posing significant privacy risks. Advertisers may need to develop machine learning tools to detect suspicious behavior.
Researchers investigated optimal fertilizer rates and soilless growing substrates to grow cannabis plants with higher medicinal components and greater yield. The study, published in HortScience, is the first of a series investigating ideal horticultural practices for indoor cannabis production.
The partnership aims to reduce environmental impact while developing innovative solutions for manufacturing petrochemical products. Researchers from ExxonMobil will collaborate with UH faculty and students on various projects, including studying catalysis and producing specialty chemicals.
Estimates of early industrial emissions of black carbon are inexact due to limited sampling before the mid-1950s. Researchers found regional black carbon concentrations peaked during the first decade of the 20th century and were linked to coal consumption, with concentrations becoming decoupled after 1960.
Researchers aim to create a cyber network of 'things' that adapt as the mission evolves, with a focus on cognitive abilities and data fusion. The alliance will explore new predictive battlefield analytics and services, leveraging advancements in unmanned systems and machine intelligence.
The University of Pittsburgh has established a new NSF-funded research center, SHREC, to focus on mission-critical computing in space, high-performance computing, and resilient computing. The center aims to bring in $1 million in annual external funding and collaborate with industry partners.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has received a $1.5 million training grant from the National Institutes of Health to support a new Alzheimer's Disease Clinical and Translational Research Training Program. The program aims to develop diagnostic tools, treatments, and potentially a cure for Alzheimer's disease.
UTA engineer Andrew Makeev will lead a project to develop more accurate methods for predicting the remaining useful life of composite airframe structures. The goal is to improve sustainability and maintenance in the aviation industry by identifying when components might fail.
HSE researchers Margarita Kuleva and Daria Maglevanaya studied the evolution of status groups in the fashion industry, analyzing 13,961 magazine covers from 1975 to 2017. They found a decline in collaboration between magazines and a diversification of beauty standards, with older, plus-size models gaining recognition.
New research models guard cells using 3D simulation, discovering three essential ingredients for effective gas exchange. The findings suggest that guard cells' elasticity, turgor pressure, and geometry are crucial for optimal performance.
The University of Akron has launched a program called 'Zip to Industry' to explore the impact of job shadowing on STEM student retention. The project aims to provide paid job shadowing experiences for at-risk first-year STEM students to help them gain exposure to real-world work and develop skills needed to succeed.
Researchers have found that a protein called FBXL5 plays a crucial role in regulating iron levels by adding molecular tags to IRP-1, which can then be degraded. This discovery sheds light on the complex network of checks and balances underlying cellular iron regulation.
A comprehensive meta-analysis of dozens of studies found cranberry products significantly reduced the incidence of recurrent UTIs, especially in patients with gynecological surgery. The review attributes this to proanthocyanidins, which prevent infection-causing bacteria from sticking to urinary tract walls.
Researchers achieve submilliamp threshold of 0.6 mA at near-infrared 1.3μm for micro-laser with radius of 5 μm, representing a major step towards miniaturization and low power consumption on silicon platform.
The Georgia Institute of Technology-led NSF Engineering Research Center will develop scalable technologies and tools for consistent, low-cost production of high-quality living therapeutic cells. These cells could revolutionize treatment of various diseases by enabling broad use of potentially curative therapies.
Dr. Philip Perconti, ARL Director, emphasizes the importance of innovation in basic research, highlighting recent successes in micro-autonomous systems and technology. He also discusses the Laboratory's Open Campus initiative, a collaborative framework that fosters mutual reliance and interdependent research.
A new study by the University of Bath reveals that companies can unwittingly hire modern slavery victims due to lack of oversight in outsourced recruitment. The research highlights the need for companies to focus on their labour supply chains to detect and prevent forced labour, similar to how they trace product supply chains.
Research by Surrey's Centre for Environment and Sustainability found that Western European garment industry workers in BRIC countries are paid only around half the living wage. The study estimated that workers need to be paid an additional 35% to offset financial demands, such as income tax and social security contributions.
A $4.4 million study is exploring ways to improve the US melon industry through consumer evaluations, sensory panels, and collaboration with growers and grocery store chains. The goal is to enhance sustainability and profitability by emphasizing consumer preferences and industry-driven needs.
A new study published in Nature Communications reveals that DNA molecules move faster as they enter a nanopore and slower when exiting, due to buckling under compressive forces. This finding could inform the design of biosensors and have real-world applications in polymer properties measurement.
A global study of over 5,000 people from 40 countries reveals diverse communities form strong attachments to the Great Barrier Reef, regardless of geographic location. The research suggests resource managers should engage with global communities to build broad public support for protecting the reef.
The TOMOCON project develops imaging-based industrial process control using tomographic sensors, improving separation quality in chemical and petro-chemical industries. The network also demonstrates advanced technologies for industrial crystallization and steel casting.