HEADLINES ARCHIVE
Smart Sensors Hit the Road
Engineering360 looks at how electronics sensors are playing a role in monitoring U.S. infrastructure.
3D Printing Method Grows Objects in Liquid at a Rapid Pace
Researchers from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and start-up firm Carbon3D have created a 3D printing technology that they say can grow objects in liquid.
Creating a Solar Electric Forest with 3D Printed Trees
Scientists at VTT Technical Research Center of Finland (VTT) create 3D-printed trees that harvest solar energy from their surroundings.
Wave-power Buoy Pulls Through Winter Storms Off U.S. Pacific Coast
For six years, a team of Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) engineers has been developing an experimental buoy that creates electrical energy from ocean waves.
Many Plastics Labeled "Biodegradable" Don't Break Down as Expected
A study published in the American Chemical Society journal Environmental Science and Technology finds that plastics designed to degrade did not break down any faster than their conventional counterparts.
Researchers Develop Cool-temperature Process to Make Better Graphene
A technique invented at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) to produce graphene--a material made up of an atom-thick layer of carbon--at room temperature could help pave the way for commercially feasible graphene-based solar cells and light-emitting diodes.
Researchers Improve Carbon Dioxide Removal Using Metal Organic Frameworks
A team of researchers with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)'s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have found a means to remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from coal-fired power plant emissions more efficiently and at lower costs.
A Low-Cost and Efficient Water-Splitting Electrode
Scientists from University of New South Wales (UNSW) Australia have developed a highly efficient oxygen-producing electrode for splitting water.
A New Take on Perovskite Solar Cells
Brown University researchers have found a new way to make light-absorbing perovskite films for use in solar cells, by way of a room-temperature solvent bath rather than a blast of heat.
Researchers Identify Process for Improving Durability of Glass
Researchers at the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science and the Université Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC) in Paris, France, have identified a method for manufacturing longer-lasting and stronger forms of glass.
Carbon Spheres May Cut Engine Friction and Improve Performance
Researchers have found that when small, smooth carbon spheres are added to motor oil, they can reduce friction and wear typically found in engines by as much as 25%.
Boosting Electrical Energy Storage Using Graphitic Material
Future technology requires electrical energy storage systems to have much larger storage capability, rapid charge/discharge cycling and improved endurance.
Quantum Radar Could Detect Objects Invisible to Conventional Systems
An international research team has developed a prototype quantum radar that it says has the potential to detect objects invisible to conventional systems. The radar is a hybrid system that uses quantum correlation between microwave and optical beams to detect objects of low reflectivity, such as cancer cells or aircraft with a stealth capability.
Abrasion-resistant Surfaces Inspired by Desert Scorpions
Researchers at Jilin University in China are looking to the natural world to solve the problem of material erosion by solid particles. Dr. Han Zhiwu and his team are turning to the deadly Androctonus australis, the yellow fat-backed scorpion, for inspiration, as reported in Design News.
Ground Penetrating Radar Used for Bridge Inspections
The risk of bridge failures has led U.S. engineers to seek better methods of surveillance and inspections. Tarek Zayed, a professor in the department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering at Concordia University, has developed a visualization method that could improve the quality and and reliability of bridge inspections.
Catalyst Aids in Creating Chemicals from Biomass
Researchers from the University of Tokyo have developed a selective catalyst that allows the creation of several basic chemicals from biomass rather than petroleum.
Producing More, Cleaner Bioethanol with Nitrogen Gas
Indiana University (IU) biologists believe they have found a faster, less expensive and cleaner way to increase bioethanol production by using nitrogen gas in place of more costly industrial fertilizers.
Solar Cell Performance Improved with Blu-ray Disc
A solar cell scatters light more effectively when it is textured rather than smooth, increasing its efficiency. Scientists have searched for the most effective texture with a reasonable manufacturing cost.
Industrial Pump Derived from Bird Wing Motion
Birds manipulate airflow each time they flap their wings, pushing air in one direction and moving themselves in another. Two New York University researchers, Benjamin Thiria and Jun Zhang, have created a pump that moves fluid using vibration similar to a bird's motion.
Paper-thin Nanofiber Has Potential for Electronics and EVs
Researchers have developed a paper-like material for lithium-ion batteries that has the potential to boost by several time the amount of energy that can be delivered per unit weight of the battery.