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Opportunistic car recalls could damage brands

Research from Edith Cowan University found that opportunistic recalls, where dealerships try to upsell during the process, lead to negative brand personality and protest behavior. However, protests can paradoxically strengthen customer loyalty if companies effectively manage the recall issue and engage with customers.

SourceEdith Cowan University·JournalJournal of Retailing and Consumer Services·TypeSurvey·DateFeb 16, 2025

Researchers develop a five-minute quality test for sustainable cement industry materials

Researchers developed a five-minute quality test for sustainable cement industry materials, reducing testing time from seven days to just five minutes. The test uses colorimetry and camera technology for real-time quality control of calcined clays, which can partially replace ordinary Portland cement.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalCement and Concrete Research·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 14, 2025

Dynamics of laser surface texturing in boosting lightweight vehicle design: a study by Seoul National University of Science and Technology

A Seoul National University team developed a breakthrough technique to improve metal-polymer joints, enabling the use of plastics in car parts and reducing overall vehicle weight. This method uses laser surface texturing to create strong and durable bonds between steel and plastic materials.

SourceSeoul National University of Science & Technology·JournalOptics & Laser Technology·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 27, 2025

What to do with aging solar panels?

A three-year project aims to proactively ensure circularity of solar panels by providing solutions to barriers throughout the supply chain. The team will develop reverse logistics models and next-generation data-driven supply chains for recycling solar panels and reusing critical materials like silicon and silver.

Thin lenses have a bright future

Researchers at the University of Tokyo have successfully fabricated flat lenses called Fresnel zone plates using industry-standard equipment. These lenses have the potential to revolutionize optics in various fields by reducing space requirements while increasing efficiency, but they currently lack the efficiency of traditional lenses.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalLight Science & Applications·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 16, 2025

3D printing shines in overcoming headlight lens manufacturing challenges

Researchers used 3D printing to make headlight lenses, achieving exceptional precision and surface quality while reducing costs and production speeds. The study compared 3D printing with traditional methods like CNC machining and reverse engineering, finding that 3D printing outperformed them in efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

SourceOptica·JournalApplied Optics·DateJan 13, 2025

Miracle, or marginal gain?

A study by MIT economists suggests that industrial policy has a relatively limited impact on GDP growth, with average long-run gains of 1.08% in favorable circumstances. The research indicates that local consumer demand can curb the impact of industrial policy, putting a ceiling on directed growth.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalJournal of Political Economy·DateDec 18, 2024

Fraunhofer IAF expands technology capabilities for chiplet innovations within the APECS pilot line

The Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics is expanding its technology capabilities in chiplet innovations through the APECS pilot line, supported by €4.35 million in funding from Baden-Württemberg. This initiative aims to drive chiplet innovation and increase research and manufacturing capacity for semiconductors in Europe.

Pre-seed funding to recolor the world greener

Kobe University has developed a new way to produce colors using nanospheres, which could reduce the environmental impact of paints and cosmetics. The technology uses silicon spheres to scatter light, creating bright and brilliant colors that do not fade or change with viewing angle.

ETSU secures $900k defense grant

The US Department of Defense has awarded East Tennessee State University's Research Corporation over $900,000 to create a biomanufacturing facility that turns waste streams into valuable products. The project aims to bolster domestic bioindustrial manufacturing and advance sustainable manufacturing goals in Northeast Tennessee.

6,300 Austrian jobs are dependent on VW

Researchers from CSH and ASCII investigate Austrian companies linked to VW, finding 6,300 jobs dependent on the German carmaker. The study highlights the impact of VW's crisis on component suppliers and machine manufacturers, with long-term losses expected.

SourceComplexity Science Hub·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 29, 2024

Study finds health disparities in PFAS levels linked to drinking water, food access and industrial pollution

Researchers found that living in neighborhoods with low food access, contaminated drinking water, and proximity to Superfund sites increases PFAS levels in blood. The study provides evidence for addressing neighborhood-level factors in reducing racial and ethnic environmental health disparities.

SourceKeck School of Medicine of USC·JournalEnvironmental Research·TypeMeta-analysis·DateNov 21, 2024

Bioengineered yeast mass produces herbal medicine

A team of Kobe University bioengineers successfully produced artepillin C in bioengineered yeast, achieving ten times the previous yield. The production process involved carefully tuning key steps along the molecular production line, and further improvements are being explored to increase efficiency.

SourceKobe University·JournalACS Synthetic Biology·DateNov 12, 2024

Two hundred times better catalysts thanks to carbon

Scientists have discovered that adding carbon to metal nanoparticles makes them 200 times more active, which could lead to significant cost savings and improved efficiency in industrial processes. The discovery was made possible by precise measurements and simulations of the interaction between metal nanoparticles and a carbon substrate.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalACS Catalysis·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 11, 2024

New PFAS removal process aims to stamp out pollution ahead of semiconductor industry growth

Researchers at the University of Illinois have created an electrochemical strategy to capture, concentrate, and destroy PFAS from water using a single device. The new process combines redox electrodialysis with electrosorption to effectively remove ultra-short-chain PFAS molecules.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 7, 2024

UVA researchers pioneer AI-driven manufacturing efficiency breakthrough

Researchers at UVA have developed an AI-driven system that optimizes manufacturing processes, improving speed and quality while reducing waste. The system uses Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning to coordinate tasks in real-time, leading to faster production and reduced downtime across various industries.

SourceUniversity of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science·JournalJournal of Manufacturing Systems·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 16, 2024

Graphene spike mat and fridge magnet technology to fight against antibiotic resistance

Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have developed a graphene-based, ultra-thin antibacterial material that can kill 99.9% of bacteria on surfaces, including medical devices and implants. The new technology uses fridge magnet technology to control the orientation of graphene flakes, making it possible for practical applica...

SourceChalmers University of Technology·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 24, 2024

From neutralizing water contamination to creating full-taste, reduced alcohol wine and spirits: success in world first liquid-liquid extraction trial opens up a realm of possibilities

Researchers at the University of Birmingham used Porous Liquids to separate harmful alcohols from water mixtures, consuming up to 88% of the PL pore volume. This innovation can reduce alcohol content in drinks while retaining flavor profiles, aligning with growing consumer demand for low-alcohol beverages.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalAngewandte Chemie·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 18, 2024

New method improves understanding of light-wave propagation in anisotropic materials

Researchers have developed a new technique to study anisotropic materials, capturing full complexity of light behavior in these materials. The method revealed detailed insights into how light scatters differently along various directions within materials, allowing retrieval of scattering tensor coefficients.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics Nexus·DateSep 17, 2024

Microwaving waste cooking oil into useful chemicals

A team from Kyushu University has developed a zeolite catalyst that can be heated using microwaves to speed up the conversion of fatty acid esters to olefins. This process improves energy efficiency and reduces carbon dioxide production, offering a more sustainable chemical industry.

SourceKyushu University·JournalChemical Engineering Journal·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 9, 2024