HEADLINES ARCHIVE
Testing Method Could Raise Load Limits on Rural Bridges
A study suggests that weight limits on rural bridges in parts of the U.S. may be too low, limiting transportation options for farm equipment or grain loads.
Underwater Robots Able to “Think” for Themselves
A project developed by researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is giving underwater robots more “cognitive” capabilities.
Synthetic Diesel Created from Atmospheric CO2
A German company says it has created a synthetic diesel-like liquid distilled from atmospheric carbon dioxide: “Blue Crude.”
Aircraft De-Icing Based on Frog Skin Properties
An aircraft de-icing method in prototype delays icing by up to 10 times and uses 2-8 times less antifreeze than current de-icing procedures. The innovation is based on the mechanics of the Panamanian poison dart frog's gland secretions to its skin.
Bats in Flight May Help Engineers Design Better Aircraft
A study shows that an array of sensory receptors in the wing provides feedback to a bat during flight. The findings also suggest that neurons in the bat brain respond to incoming airflow and touch signals, triggering adjustments in wing position to optimize flight control.
Researchers Track Failing Lithium-ion Batteries in Lab Tests
A team from the University of College London (UCL) has tracked what happens when lithium-ion batteries overheat and explode.
Assessing Flood Risk Proves to Be a Complex Problem
A team from the University of Adelaide's school of civil, environmental and mining engineering has unveiled findings that shed light on the issue of flood risk in the latest issue of Nature Climate Change.
Producing Hydrogen Less Expensively Using Simplified Electrolysis
Researchers at École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) have discovered how to perform water electrolysis to create hydrogen without using the membrane placed between the electrodes in conventional systems.
External Stimulus Leads 3D-printed Objects to Morph into a New Dimension
The fourth dimension is time, shape shifting in fact, and the ARC Centre for Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES) at the University of Wollongong (UOW) is helping to set the pace in the next revolution in additive manufacturing.
Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Plastic Gears Could Replace Metal in Autos
Researchers from Japan's Gifu University and Central Fine Tool have developed a plastic gear reinforced with carbon fiber that they say is strong enough to be used as a replacement for metal parts in a vehicle.
Steel Mesh Could Help Separate Oil from Water in a Spill
Nanoparticles coated mesh can make cleaning up oil spills easier.
NIST Research Tightens Bounds on Quantum Information 'Speed Limit'
Research from the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has narrowed the theoretical limits for where the “speed limit" lies for solving problems on quantum computers.
Oil Spill Dispersant Found to Be Toxic to Coral, Researchers Say
A Temple University study finds that the dispersant used to remediate the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is toxic to cold-water corals.
Aluminum Batteries Could Challenge Lithium-Ion on Cost and Safety
Researchers from Stanford University in California have created a fast-charging, inexpensive and long-lasting aluminum battery that could challenge lithium-ion cells.
3D Designs for Neural Tissue Engineering
A researcher writing in the journal Neural Regeneration poses a potential solution to one of the greatest challenges in medicine: fighting neurological diseases.
Hybrid Films for Flexible Touch Screens on Electronic Devices
Scientists from Kyungpook National University in South Korea have developed a method—acid-free sol-gel fabrication technique—to create a type of hybrid film composed of organic and inorganic materials, which can be used in touch screen devices.
Light-powered Gyroscope Could Offer Precision at a Reduced Weight
A discovery involving a pair of light waves—one traveling clockwise, the other counterclockwise around a microscopic track—may lead to the world's smallest gyroscope, which would be a fraction of the width of a human hair.
Simulation Software Aids Battery Design
A team at the U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory has created a toolset that they say will aid designers of safe, high-performance batteries for electric vehicles.
Solar Cell Efficiency Could Improve with Moth-inspired Coating
Researchers in Singapore develop an anti-reflective coating inspired by the compound lenses in moth eyes to help boost solar cell efficiency and sharpen the view of image sensors.
Yeast Strain Could Enhance Biofuels and Biochemicals Production
Research suggests that biofuels may be able to compete economically against conventional fuels with the development and use of a mutant yeast strain.