News on research driving industry and manufacturing. Covers petrochemical emissions, food innovation, controlled-explosion labs, and industry-academic partnerships.
The Sandia National Laboratories' computerized landscape displays the movement of nuclear and other military technologies across industries, countries, and regions. Researchers can use this system to identify emerging trends and areas of increasing interest, aiding in informed funding decisions.
Research studies have found that popular voting mechanisms can be confusing and inaccessible to certain groups of people. Punch card ballots were particularly problematic, causing difficulties for voters who struggled to read small numbers and punch holes in the correct locations. In contrast, electronic voting machines with flashing l...
The pulsed fast-thermal neutron analysis system can detect explosives, drugs, and other elements in coal and cement. It uses gamma-ray fingerprints to identify elemental concentrations, enabling on-line analysis during industrial operations.
The National Science Foundation has awarded over $5.6 million in grants to support the Collaborative Research in Learning Technologies (CRLT) program, which aims to integrate technology with learning across all education levels.
Researchers will explore innovations in mine detection using microelectronic chemical-sniffing 'nose', ultrasound, and unique mathematical aids. The projects aim to detect buried military booby traps that kill or maim innocent noncombatants.
Kanza is a cold-tolerant pecan variety that can be harvested as early as Sept. 10 in southern Texas and late September in Kansas. It has natural resistance to diseases such as scab and leaf phylloxera, reducing the need for chemical treatments.
A new system called PET traps heavy metals in stormwater runoff, using a bed of oxide-coated sand and porous pavement concrete block. The system can virtually eliminate nickel, cadmium, lead and zinc from stormwater runoff for up to ten years.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have developed a new form of welding using highly reactive metallic films, which can bond objects at their surfaces without damaging the rest. This process is self-propagating and exothermic, requiring no oxygen to operate, making it suitable for use under water or in airless outer space.
Researchers at Penn State's Milton S. Hershey Medical Center are developing an electromechanical artificial heart to save thousands of lives. The device is expected to be widely available by 2005 and could implant over 50,000 patients per year.
The FDA is expected to grant approval for COPAXONE, a protein-like molecule that reduces multiple sclerosis attacks and produces minimal side effects. The drug was developed by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. and shows promise in treating relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
The American Association for the Advancement of Science reports that Alaska's R&D funding may be reduced by 19-23% due to federal budget cuts, impacting research at universities and colleges. The University of Alaska Fairbanks receives 90% of the state's federal funding for academic R&D.
Researchers using Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites have developed a new technique to collect unprecedented accurate weather data, every hour of the day, for anywhere on Earth. This breakthrough could lead to greatly improved weather forecasts within months.
A Cincinnati bridge has become a national test site for researchers seeking better ways to monitor the nation's highways. The bridge's design is similar to tens of thousands of other bridges still in use, making it an ideal test site. It was found that daily temperature changes can be just as devastating as heavy traffic loads.
Researchers discover a new parasitic wasp that attacks caterpillars harming citrus trees, offering an alternative to chemical pesticides. The discovery has economic potential for the US orange juice industry.
Boston University has introduced the Origin2000, a cutting-edge supercomputer designed to boost research capacity and enable scientists to tackle complex problems. The new system will be made available through the Center's MARINER Project, providing resources for other schools, universities, and businesses.
Researchers analyze slow earthquake signals at San Andreas Fault, revealing complex picture. The slow process was comparable to that of a regular earthquake, with total displacement across rupture surface of only a few centimeters.
Researchers have created the world's smallest wires, only 6 angstroms in diameter, which can be used to make cables inside a polymer matrix. The tiny wires can act as electrical conductors and may have applications in microelectronics, anti-static materials, and optical uses.
Dr. Neal Lane raises questions about dumping of Japanese vector supercomputers in the US market, affecting domestic industries, and calls for swift investigation by federal agencies like Commerce and International Trade Commission.
The National Science Foundation has successfully completed two key projects supporting the transition to the commercial Internet, demonstrating multiple network providers can work together in a competitive marketplace. The next generation of Internet will focus on high-performance connections and routing for advanced research.
Professors Fraser Stoddart and David Williams successfully link complex synthetic molecules, enabling the creation of molecular chains with various applications in information storage systems and molecular computing. The achievement represents a significant step towards storing data within molecules smaller than a grain of salt.
Researchers are finding ways to repurpose old tires by using them in the construction of roads and retaining walls. Tire chips have been used successfully in three major new bridges in southern Maine and sections of three Maine roads, showing significantly less frost heave than conventionally built sections.
Microgravity researchers Michael Paulaitis and Kathleen Stebe are developing stable suspensions to create polymers in Earth-based labs. Their findings could shape space station materials, fuel pumping systems, and pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati have developed an experimental system to match inlet and engine components, addressing a critical issue in aircraft design. The system combines a small jet engine with a special inlet to improve stability and predictability, enabling safer and more efficient flight.
Researchers at Kansas State University recommend using a small probe thermometer to check the internal temperature of the patty, which should reach 160 degrees Fahrenheit for optimal doneness. Color alone can be misleading, as premature browning can occur due to factors such as packaging and handling.
Marsden proposes using pilot plants to validate new technologies and reduce the approval process for pathogen-controlling technologies. The controlled environment allows for efficient testing of technologies in a realistic setting.
The US Department of Agriculture has introduced Mediterranean mites to control field bindweed, a perennial weed that infests millions of acres of wheat, corn and other crops in the Pacific Northwest. The mites feed on bindweed leaves, causing galls to form, which weaken the weed and make it more susceptible to herbicides.
Scientists from Oregon State University and others announced a breakthrough in colossal magnetoresistance, a phenomenon that holds promise for improved computer memory and data storage. The discovery of thallium manganese oxide may lead to new avenues of research and materials development.
The NCAR research program is testing a new cloud-seeding technique using pyrotechnic flares to enhance rainfall in drought-stricken Coahuila, Mexico. The technique has shown promising results in South Africa and Arizona, but its effectiveness remains uncertain.
The Proactive Error Reduction System (PERS) program is a computer program that allows airline maintenance workers to determine why an error occurred and see how other airlines have solved similar problems. It goes beyond current error-analysis by being proactive, examining all the things that led up to the error.
A new process using ultraviolet light has been developed to treat opaque industrial fluids, eliminating the need for chemical biocides and reducing waste volumes. The technology also shows promise in decontaminating drinking water, wastewater, and ballast water from commercial ships.
A University of Florida economist is optimistic that the US International Trade Commission will grant relief to US growers hit hard by surging imports of tomatoes and peppers from Mexico. The commission's six-member committee will vote on July 2, with potential remedies including increased tariffs and quotas.
Researchers successfully demonstrated a novel cleanup technology that efficiently destroys various organic contaminants, including benzene and perchloroethylene, using nonthermal plasma. The technology achieved destruction fractions of up to 99.9 percent, with potential commercial applications for treating legacy waste problems.
Stanford researchers have developed a new approach to reducing environmental impacts in chip manufacturing. By harnessing computer-aided design tools, they aim to minimize the use of water, energy, and toxic chemicals while improving industry competitiveness.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a new method to examine and quickly map how nucleic acid ligands bind to and alter DNA at the molecular level. This allows for direct visualization of individual DNA molecules, providing crucial information on drug binding and mode of action.
A new report by AAAS warns that federal R&D program reductions may harm Alaskan research institutions. The nation's research efforts could become a casualty of the budget wars, with the University of Alaska Fairbanks particularly vulnerable.
A new AAAS report cautions that Georgia's economy is threatened by proposed cuts in R&D programs, which could impact industries and research universities. The report highlights the need for informed discussions among government, industry, and academia to address future trends in federal R&D spending.
A team of researchers from Virginia Tech completed the design and prototyping of a new Usability Methods Research Laboratory using participatory design methods. They found that various tools, including virtual reality and low-tech methods, proved helpful in different phases of design.