Engineering News - SciTechDaily

Revolutionizing Battery Tech: Helical Polymers Unlock Next-Gen Solid-State Electrolytes

University of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 06:21:05 +0000

Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have developed helical structured peptide polymer electrolytes that exhibit superior conductivity and stability compared to traditional “random coil” structures. These helical polymers enhance the performance of solid-state batteries and are environmentally friendly as they can be decomposed and recycled after their useful life. Researchers have explored solid-state electrolytes [...]

Students Revolutionize Army Vehicle Camouflage With Ingenious Invention

University of Florida — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 00:33:30 +0000

University of Florida and Georgia Tech engineering students developed a vehicle camouflage system for the U.S. Army, enhancing camouflage speed and safety, and demonstrating the potential of academic-military collaboration to solve practical defense challenges. What began as a class project for senior engineering students at the University of Florida evolved into a practical solution for [...]

Researchers Propose Groundbreaking Framework for Future Network Systems

Engineering — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 14:07:35 +0000

New research introduces a polymorphic network environment (PNE) to overcome traditional network limitations, proposing a flexible and scalable architecture that could redefine network system design. A recent paper published in Engineering by scientists Wu Jiangxing and his research team introduces a theoretical framework that promises to transform network systems and architectures. The study tackles a [...]

Princeton Scientists Develop Passive Mechanism To Cool Buildings in the Summer and Warm Them in the Winter

Princeton University, Engineering School — Sun, 07 Jul 2024 08:26:54 +0000

Researchers have devised a passive thermal regulation mechanism using common materials that selectively manage radiant heat, providing a sustainable way to significantly improve building energy efficiency and comfort. Engineers at Princeton and UCLA have developed a passive mechanism to cool buildings in the summer and warm them in the winter. In an article recently published [...]

Simple New Process Stores CO2 in Concrete While Maintaining Strength

Northwestern University — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 14:33:39 +0000

Carbonated concrete could help reduce emissions associated with cement production. By using a carbonated — rather than a still — water-based solution during the concrete manufacturing process, a Northwestern University-led team of engineers has discovered a new way to store carbon dioxide (CO2) in the ubiquitous construction material. Not only could the new process help [...]

600% Boost: Scientists Develop Game-Changing AI Chip With Impressive Energy Efficiency

Oregon State University — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 22:02:44 +0000

A new AI chip could potentially increase energy efficiency by six times, aligning computation and data storage in a manner akin to biological neural networks and significantly reducing AI’s electrical footprint. A researcher from the College of Engineering at Oregon State University has contributed to the development of a new artificial intelligence chip that boasts [...]

3x Improvement: Revolutionary Catalyst Coating Technology Skyrockets Fuel Cell Performance in Just 4 Minutes

National Research Council of Science & Technology — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 17:10:43 +0000

A new oxide catalyst coating technique significantly enhances the performance of solid oxide fuel cells, tripling their efficiency. This breakthrough technology is versatile and can be applied to various applications, including solid oxide fuel cells and high-temperature electrolysis. Researchers have developed a groundbreaking catalyst coating technology for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) that drastically enhances [...]

Bending the Rules of Solar: Novel Flexible Perovskite/Silicon Tandem Solar Cell Achieves Record Efficiency

Science China Press — Sun, 23 Jun 2024 11:52:00 +0000

A new study highlights the successful development of the first flexible perovskite/silicon tandem solar cell with a record efficiency of 22.8%, representing a major advance in flexible solar cell technology. Although rigid perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells have seen impressive advancements, achieving efficiencies as high as 33.9%, the development of flexible versions of these cells has [...]

Challenging Previous Understanding – Physicists Propose a Wave-Based Theory of Heat Transport

Fri, 07 Jun 2024 17:50:20 +0000

Physicists have linked the Doppler effect to heat transport, suggesting wave-like properties in biological tissues, with implications for medical and cosmetic technologies. When a train approaches or an ambulance with its siren blaring nears us, we hear the sound with an increased frequency, which gradually decreases. As it passes, the frequency changes abruptly to a [...]

New Research Could Lead to More Efficient Televisions, Computer Screens and Lighting

University of St. Andrews — Fri, 10 May 2024 21:33:07 +0000

New interdisciplinary research from the University of St Andrews has the potential to enhance the efficiency of televisions, computer screens, and lighting systems. Researchers at the Organic Semiconductor Centre in the School of Physics and Astronomy, and the School of Chemistry have proposed a new approach to designing efficient light-emitting materials in a paper recently [...]

Revolution in Methane Detection: Scientists Achieve Groundbreaking 500-Fold Sensitivity Increase

Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences — Sun, 05 May 2024 20:24:12 +0000

A research group headed by Professor Chen Chilai from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has significantly enhanced the detection sensitivity of dissolved methane in water. Achieving an improvement of more than 500 times, this advancement allows for baseline methane detection in oceans and lakes. The research was published [...]

Folding the Future: How Origami Modules Are Redefining Construction

University of Michigan — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 00:10:03 +0000

Foldable origami with thick panels opens a world of possibilities. For the first time, engineers at the University of Michigan have shown that load-bearing structures, such as bridges and shelters, can be constructed using origami modules. These versatile components are capable of folding compactly and morphing into various shapes. It’s an advance that could enable [...]

New Alloy Shocks Scientists With Its Nearly Impossible Strength and Toughness

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 08:16:55 +0000

Researchers have discovered an extraordinary metal alloy that won’t crack at extreme temperatures due to kinking, or bending, of crystals in the alloy at the atomic level. A metal alloy composed of niobium, tantalum, titanium, and hafnium has shocked materials scientists with its impressive strength and toughness at both extremely hot and cold temperatures, a [...]

Redefining Space Construction: How Lunar Regolith Is Transforming Habitat Design

Engineering — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 07:05:31 +0000

Scientists conducted a quantitative evaluation of techniques for solidifying and forming lunar regolith. As lunar missions transition from exploration to building and using structures, constructing on the moon using local materials becomes essential. The focus is on solidifying and shaping lunar soil to make the most of local resources and reduce the costs of transportation [...]

Breakthrough Device Brings Scientists a Step Closer to Successfully Growing Plants in Space

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau — Sun, 21 Apr 2024 22:56:07 +0000

Researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have developed new, highly flexible sensors capable of monitoring and transmitting data on plant growth autonomously, according to a paper published in the journal Device. The polymer sensors are resilient to humidity and temperature, can stretch over 400% while remaining attached to a plant as it grows, and [...]

Unlocking the Future of 6G: A New Breakthrough in Terahertz Communication

Tohoku University — Sun, 14 Apr 2024 01:03:00 +0000

Terahertz frequency electromagnetic waves hold significant promise for advancements in communication, as well as scanning and imaging technologies. However, harnessing their potential is fraught with obstacles. A team from Tohoku University has made a breakthrough by creating a new kind of adjustable filter specifically for the terahertz wave spectrum. Their findings were published in the [...]

A Real Life Eye of Sauron? New Technology To Detect Airborne Threats Instantly

University of Colorado at Boulder — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 09:35:14 +0000

Picture this disaster scenario in the making: At an industrial plant, a pipe cracks, spraying a cloud of tiny droplets into the air. Workers, however, are in luck. Within minutes, a laser-based device the size of a small suitcase spots the cloud and tells safety crews what’s in it so they know how to respond. [...]

This Could Be Forever: New Design Greatly Prolongs the Lifespan of Plasma Torches

Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 05:01:03 +0000

Thanks to a new design contributed by a research team led by Prof. Zhao Peng from Hefei Institutes of Physical Science (HFIPS) of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the operation time for plasma torch was extended from several days to several years. “We made the world’s longest-lasting plasma torch,” said Prof. Zhao. Plasma torches, devices [...]

Energizing the Future: The Rise of Bendable Storage Materials

Pohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH) — Sat, 30 Mar 2024 01:38:34 +0000

Imaging being able to wear your smartphone on your wrist, not as a watch, but literally as a flexible band that surrounds around your arm. How about clothes that charge your gadgets just by wearing them? Recently, a collaborative team led by Professor Jin Kon Kim and Dr. Keon-Woo Kim of Pohang University of Science [...]

Time Travel for Tomorrow: Using Future Perspectives To Shape Today’s Tech

Osaka University — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 23:39:13 +0000

Researchers at Osaka University have discovered that considering sustainability issues through the lens of “imaginary future generations” provides valuable perspectives on technological advancements and trends in society. The world stands on the brink of a crucial environmental threshold; the choices we make today about energy, resources, and the environment will have profound consequences for the [...]

Zero Emissions of Carbon Dioxide! New Method Produces Ammonia-Based Clean Hydrogen

National Research Council of Science & Technology — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 23:59:08 +0000

The KIER has achieved a historic milestone in Korea by successfully producing hydrogen of exceptional purity from ammonia, completely eliminating carbon dioxide emissions in the process. Dr. Jung Unho’s research team at the Hydrogen Research Department of the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) has developed Korea’s first clean hydrogen production technology. This innovative approach [...]

Cutting Energy Use by 97% – Stanford Engineers Invent Game-Changing Actuator

Stanford University — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 17:32:59 +0000

Researchers at Stanford have developed a spring-assisted actuator, a device that can accomplish dynamic tasks using a fraction of the energy previously required. Whether it’s a powered prosthesis to assist a person who has lost a limb or an independent robot navigating the outside world, we are asking machines to perform increasingly complex, dynamic tasks. [...]

Harvard-Developed Hydrogel Bonding Method Paves the Way for New Biomaterials Solutions

Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 19:38:36 +0000

A novel technique for the quick and efficient bonding of hydrogels offers the potential to significantly propel forward the development of new biomaterials, addressing a wide range of unsatisfied clinical demands. Hydrogels are becoming increasingly prevalent in various biomedical fields due to their adaptability. These biomaterials, which are made up of networks of molecules swollen [...]

Columbia Engineers Develop Light-Controlled Molecular Devices

Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science — Sat, 16 Mar 2024 14:44:07 +0000

In a recent study published in Nature Communications, researchers from Columbia Engineering have announced the creation of highly conductive, tunable single-molecule devices in which the molecule is attached to leads by using direct metal-metal contacts. Their novel approach uses light to control the electronic properties of the devices and opens the door to broader use [...]