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Oxygen Could Be Key to Containing Coal Ash Contamination
In the wake of a 2014 coal ash spill, the question of what to do with other aging coal ash retention ponds has been hotly debated.
New Method for Converting Methane Directly to Methanol Developed
Currently, it is not sufficiently profitable to convert methane into methanol in liquid form, which is easier to transport and more reactive.
Drones to Begin Ferrying Blood Supplies in Rwanda
Zipline's battery-powered unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) weigh 10 kg, use fixed wings with a 1.5 m span and can carry two pints of blood.
DARPA: "Volleys" of UASs Could Be Launched, Retrieved Mid-Air
Gremlins” would be deployed with a mixture of payloads capable of carrying out a variety of activities in a coordinated manner.
"Smart" Clothes One Step Closer to Reality
The “e-textiles” were created in part on a tabletop sewing machine. Thread was substituted with fine metal wires that feel the same as traditional thread.
Submersible ROV Could Remove Sludge from Cooling Ponds
Drawing on technologies used in the oil and gas sector, the 2m-long tracked "Stobot" can excavate sludge using both a backhoe and a front-mounted scoop.
Big Data and the Defeat of Nazi U-Boats
Before his Nobel Prize, Patrick Blackett used data analysis, error bounding and probability theory to devise strategies against deadly German submarines in World War II.
HMIs Adapt to Reality on the Plant Floor
The human-machine interface is transforming into a central system enabling data-driven decision-making in an increasingly mobile environment.
Many Consumers Willing to Share IoT Data for Money: Survey
Survey respondents were universally worried about potential security threats from smart homes, with 92% expressing some concern that their personal data could be hacked by cybercriminals.
Dairies Could Clean-in-Place with Water Recycled from Whey
Water recycled from whey was used to clean stainless steel surfaces that had a biofilm, with promising results.
Pill Attaches to Gastrointestinal Tract for Slow Release
Extended-release pills could be used to reduce the dosage frequency of some drugs.
New Mercedes-Benz Sports Fiber Sunroof Frame
FiberFrame comprises 70% renewable raw material content and provides up to 50% in weight savings compared to a conventional metal frame.
Compact CO2 Turbine Could Be Used to Generate Clean Power
Although the turbine can fit on an office shelf, it can generate as much as 100 megawatts (MW) of “fast electricity” per installed unit.
Camera Could Wrap Around Objects for New Point of View
A flexible lens array that adapts its optical properties when the sheet camera is bent enables the camera to produce high-quality images over a wide range of sheet deformations.
Mushrooms as a Building Insulation Alternative?
Mushroom-based building insulation is grown rather than manufactured.
Solar Cell Production Bumps Efficiency, Cuts Cost
Kerfless wafer technology produces silicon solar cells at relatively low cost.
Improper LED Retrofits Are on the Rise, UL Says
Certified kits and installation instructions help curb the safety risks of poor fitting retrofits.
Printing Electronics with a Pen
Scientists in Germany have combined organic and inorganic electronic materials to develop a hybrid ink that allows them to write electronics on paper.
Scientists Create Thin Film for E-Skin Display
Researchers in Japan have created an ultrathin, ultraflexible film layer that will enhance e-skin display.
Researchers Develop Means to Create Protein-Mimicking Polymers
The synthetic versions could be more stable and long lasting, which was the impetus to develop the sequence-defined polymers.