Category: Engineering

Study proposes ways to control unforeseen leaks in underground excavations A study involving the IIAMA Institute at the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) proposes a series of solutions to address a critical engineering problem: unforeseen water leaks during the construction of deep excavations. The work, carried out by Alejandro Ferrer (Ferrer Dewatering, S.L.), Eduardo Cassiraga…

Listening to the body’s quietest, yet most dynamic movements with a wearable sensor The human body continuously generates a rich spectrum of vibrations—often without us ever noticing. Everyday unconscious activities such as breathing, speaking, and swallowing all produce subtle yet distinct mechanical signals. Although these faint vibrations carry valuable information about physiological state, they have…

Non-destructive battery testing with ultralow-field nuclear magnetic resonance Rechargeable batteries are everywhere—from portable electronic devices and electric vehicles to renewable energy storage. Battery failures are often due to the loss or chemical degradation of the electrolyte. Go to techxplore

Ultrasonic sensor eliminates inspection blind spots in extreme environments The Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS) has developed an ultrasonic sensor technology that applies a waveguide to detect defects in all directions without directly attaching sensors to the inspection target. By enabling remote ultrasonic excitation and reception, the technology is expected to help…

Scientist patents invention that can reduce damage from earthquakes A newly granted patent unveiled an innovative energy-dissipation device designed to protect buildings, infrastructure, and sensitive equipment from earthquakes, strong winds, and man-made vibrations. Granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office in December 2025, the invention represents a significant milestone toward developing affordable, reliable,…

AI and 3D printing help researchers create heat‑ and pressure‑resistant materials for aerospace and defense applications From hypersonic aircraft to nuclear-powered submarines, many of today’s most advanced defense systems rely on a special class of materials known as refractory alloys. This class refers to metals that do not melt or weaken easily, even in extreme…

How hawks slip through tight gaps: A flight stability trick drones could copy Birds have an ability to fly through obstacles by shifting their shape in flight, which is difficult to reproduce in uncrewed aerial vehicles, commonly known as UAVs or drones. A new study from researchers at the University of Oxford and the University…

Sealing paper packaging without adhesives Since plastic packaging accounts for a large fraction of plastic waste, the demand for environmentally friendly packaging options is increasing. One material that is becoming more and more popular as a sustainable alternative to plastic is paper. However, the problem is that sealing paper packaging requires additives such as adhesives…

‘Milestone’ findings on imaging methods call for a closer look at battery microscopy Transmission electron microscopes (TEMs) allow researchers at the forefront of energy technology to study next-generation battery materials down to the atom. But new research has discovered that the very act of microscoping damages both lithium and sodium battery samples more severely than…

A clear view to better batteries: Engineers show moment lithium-ion batteries begin to fail Lithium-ion batteries are ubiquitous in consumer electronics such as cellphones and in electric vehicles, but the surrounding temperature and speed of charging affect those batteries’ performance, safety and lifespan. Fast charging adds convenience, but it further stresses battery life as it…

3D-printed ‘ghost guns’ are not as untraceable as criminals think—new study 3D-printed guns are a growing threat to public safety. The blueprints used to make these firearms can be found online, making them easily accessible. With a relatively cheap 3D printer and a quick web search, anyone could print their own unlicensed gun. Go to…

How an overlooked electrostatic force could drive the motor of the future When we hear about moving objects with electricity, most of us imagine a “pulling force.” Positive and negative charges attract each other, drawing objects together. It is natural to think that this attractive force—known as electrostatic force—is what makes things move. Go to…

A more durable direct air capture approach: Electrified mineral-based system resists oxygen and humidity Many governments and businesses worldwide have been trying to devise effective initiatives aimed at mitigating climate change and global warming. So far, their primary focus has been to reduce the emission of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and other greenhouse gases,…

New systems measures full magnetization hysteresis at MHz frequencies and high magnetic fields High-frequency magnetic characteristics are essential for improving the efficiency, miniaturization, and operating frequency of power conversion devices such as power supply circuits, inductors, and transformers. However, conventional measurement methods face two major challenges. First, generating sufficiently large magnetic fields at high frequencies…

HFC electrolyte delivers energy-dense lithium battery that keeps running at −50 °C A research team in China has developed an electrolyte using monofluorinated hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) solvents capable of achieving energy densities higher than 700 Wh kg−1 at room temperature and about 400 Wh kg−1 at −50 °C, a significant improvement over current technologies. Their work, recently published in Nature, has potential…

Protecting perovskite solar cells against environmental influences with light-switchable molecules A team from the University of Stuttgart, together with international researchers, has succeeded in enhancing both the efficiency and environmental resilience of perovskite solar cells. This is another important step toward the application of a technology that holds great promise for photovoltaics. The research is…

Forest-based resins challenge fossil materials in wind turbines, boats and high-performance adhesives Researchers at the University of Oulu, Finland, have developed new high-performance bio-based resins that can replace conventional oil-based materials in composite products—without compromising strength, cost, or industrial scalability. As composite materials continue to play a critical role in renewable energy, transportation, marine industries…

Shipping damage, measured in real time: How wireless origami cushioning could improve logistics Origami, the traditional Japanese art of paper folding, has received considerable attention in engineering. By applying paper-folding principles, researchers have created compact structures that are flexible, lightweight, and reconfigurable across aerospace, medicine, and robotics. Go to techxplore

Resilient nylon-11 film generates electricity from pressure and survives repeated runovers RMIT University researchers have developed a flexible nylon-film device that generates electricity from compression and keeps working even after being run over by a car multiple times, opening the door to self-powered sensors on our roads and other electronic devices. The paper is published…

New electrolyzer turns plastic-waste syngas into ethylene with less energy For every ton of ethylene created, one ton of carbon dioxide is produced. With more than 300 million tons of ethylene produced each year, the production system has a huge carbon footprint that scientists and engineers are eager to reduce and eventually eliminate. A new…

Review finds 1–2 nm closed pores can boost hard carbon sodium storage As the global transition toward clean energy accelerates, the demand for sustainable, low-cost, and scalable energy storage technologies continues to grow. While lithium-ion batteries have dominated the market for decades, concerns over lithium resource availability and cost volatility are driving intense research into…

Rule-breaking discovery reveals new way to strengthen metal in extreme conditions There’s a reason why blacksmiths fire metals before hammering them. Heat always softens metal, making it more malleable and easier to reshape. Or does it? In a surprising new study, Northwestern University engineers discovered that, in extreme conditions, heat doesn’t soften pure metals—it strengthens…

A key barrier in protonic ceramics may be fading, and hydrogen tech could benefit A newly developed ceramic material shows record-high proton conductivity at intermediate temperatures while remaining chemically stable, report researchers from Japan. Efficient hydrogen-to-electricity conversion is critical for hydrogen-based clean energy technologies, but few materials combine chemical stability with efficient proton conductivity. Thanks…

Fast 3D imaging system developed for gas leak detection Recently, a research team from the Anhui Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, developed a fast, multi-platform compatible detection network that can “see” gas leaks in three dimensions. Go to techxplore

A microfluidic chip monitors gases using integrated, motionless pumps A new microscale gas chromatography system integrates all fluidic components into a single chip for the first time. The design leverages three Knudsen pumps that move gas molecules using heat differentials to eliminate the need for valves, according to a new University of Michigan Engineering study…

Why I’m building an office out of straw When we moved into our house, there was a shed in the garden. Its timbers were rotten, the floor had long since disappeared into the ground, there was no door, the window had fallen out and various creatures had moved in. Go to techxplore

New 3D-printing and manufacturing techniques grant more control over energetic material behavior Much like baking the perfect cake involves following a list of ingredients and instructions, manufacturing energetic materials—explosives, pyrotechnics and propellants—requires precise formulations, conditions and procedures to ensure they are safe and perform as intended. Go to techxplore

Fishers working alone may soon get a ‘safety alarm’ Fishing alone is a dangerous occupation. A new safety alarm could save lives by automatically stopping the boat and alerting the Coastal Radio Service and nearby vessels. Go to techxplore

Harnessing degradation: Researchers pave way for more precise, responsive shape morphing implants An international research team has demonstrated a new approach to 4D-printed shape-morphing implants that opens the door to increasingly personalized health care. The findings, outlined in the journal Additive Manufacturing, highlight how material degradation can be used to trigger controlled shape change of…

Understanding the physics at the anode of sodium-ion batteries Sodium-ion batteries (NIBs) are gaining traction as a next-generation technology to complement the widely used lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). NIBs offer clear advantages versus LIBs in terms of sustainability and cost, as they rely on sodium—an element that, unlike lithium, is abundant almost everywhere on Earth. However,…

Humidity-resistant hydrogen sensor can improve safety in large-scale clean energy Wherever hydrogen is present, safety sensors are required to detect leaks and prevent the formation of flammable oxyhydrogen gas when hydrogen is mixed with air. It is therefore a challenge that today’s sensors do not work optimally in humid environments—because where there is hydrogen, there…

Stabilized iron catalyst could replace platinum in hydrogen fuel cells Japan and California have embraced hydrogen fuel-cell technologies, a form of renewable energy that can be used in vehicles and for supplying clean energy to manufacturing sectors. But the technology remains expensive due to its reliance on precious metals such as platinum. Engineers at Washington…

Interface engineering lifts perovskite solar cell performance to 26.19% efficiency Researchers from the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology (QIBEBT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with international partners, have engineered a thin two-dimensional perovskite phase at the buried interface of three-dimensional (3D) perovskite solar cells (PSCs) to boost device performance and…

AI-powered solar aquaculture reveals a scalable pathway for food, energy and climate action Researchers in Taiwan demonstrate that installing solar panels above clam ponds can simultaneously support aquaculture and renewable energy under increasing climate stress. Using real-world farm data, the study shows that moderate shading lowers pond temperatures, reduces water demand, and generates clean electricity.…

New design tool 3D-prints woven metamaterials that stretch and fail predictably Metamaterials—materials whose properties are primarily dictated by their internal microstructure, and not their chemical makeup—have been redefining the engineering materials space for the last decade. To date, however, most metamaterials have been lightweight options designed for stiffness and strength. Go to techxplore

Metamaterial insights point to better implants, robot hands and bumpers Metamaterials are composites with a very precisely controlled structure. It is this structure that determines the properties of the metamaterial, not the substances it is made of. Typically, a metamaterial consists of repeating identical blocks called unit cells. New research by Ph.D. student Shyam Veluvali,…

New steel processing technique extends EV range without increasing battery capacity A research team affiliated with UNIST unveiled a new steel manufacturing process that can improve the driving distance of electric vehicles (EVs) without the need for larger batteries. This technology offers a promising way to enhance the efficiency of EV motors, supporting longer trips…

Multi-layer flax fiber fabric developed for alternative seating furniture with flexible geometries Seating furniture is frequently not designed for long-term use or simple assembly and disassembly and has a tendency to break after just one move. This does not apply to the benches, chairs, and stools that were created as part of the LinumTube cooperation…

Taking the heat out of industrial chemical separations The modern world runs on chemicals and fuels that require a huge amount of energy to produce: Industrial chemical separation accounts for 10% to 15% of the world’s total energy consumption. That’s because most separations today rely on heat to boil off unwanted materials and isolate compounds.…

Supercomputer simulations reveal how to keep hydrogen flames stable Solar panels and wind turbines increasingly dot the landscape, but the future of clean energy may well depend on how smoothly we burn hydrogen. Yet as anyone who’s lit a gas grill or fireplace knows, igniting a flame can be a bit tricky. Imagine how complex…

Mesh bioreactor achieves 20‑fold efficiency increase and 50% cost reduction for wastewater treatment A Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) research team has developed a wastewater treatment technology that integrates a mesh bioreactor with an ultrasound-induced transient cavitation cleaning mechanism. The system can complete mesh cleaning within 3.8 seconds under anaerobic conditions and…

Drone technology set to reshape disaster response, health care, environmental management, farming, cybersecurity Intelligent drones and unmanned aerial systems (UAS) are rapidly evolving from experimental prototypes into essential infrastructure across disaster response, health care delivery, agriculture, logistics, archaeology, environmental monitoring, and numerous other fields vital to human development, scientists say in new research. Go to…

New study unveils ultra-high sensitivity broadband flexible photodetectors A research team, affiliated with UNIST, has unveiled a flexible photodetector, capable of converting light across a broad spectrum—from visible to near-infrared—into electrical signals. This innovation promises significant advancements in technologies that require simultaneous detection of object colors and internal structures or materials. Go to techxplore

‘Thermal diode’ design promises to improve heat regulation, prolonging battery life New technology from University of Houston researchers could improve the way devices manage heat, thanks to a technique that allows heat to flow in only one direction. The innovation is known as thermal rectification, and was developed by Bo Zhao, an award-winning and internationally…

Ultrahigh solid loading enables high precision ceramic parts National Taiwan University researchers have developed an ultrahigh-solid-loading (83 vol%) yet highly flowable suspension for 3D printing that produces ceramic parts with extremely low shrinkage and 100% density, overcoming a major barrier in precision ceramic manufacturing. Go to techxplore

Elastic metasurface can capture multiple frequencies at once It has long been considered common sense that a single device performs only one function. Just as tuning a radio to a different frequency changes the channel, systems that manipulate waves have traditionally been designed to operate at only one specific frequency, requiring different devices for different…

Origami-inspired ring lets users ‘feel’ virtual worlds Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are technologies that allow users to immerse themselves in digital worlds or enhance their surroundings with computer-generated filters or images, respectively. Both these technologies are now widely used worldwide, whether to experience video games and media content in more engaging ways…

Three-in-one process recycles spent lithium batteries, captures CO₂ and generates catalysts—all at room temperature Scientists from China have developed a new way to recycle lithium batteries that is a triple win for the planet. It not only extracts nearly all the lithium for reuse but also traps carbon dioxide and converts the remaining metal waste…

Unlocking vast lithium stores: Faster, cleaner method extracts critical mineral from low-grade brines Demand for lithium is skyrocketing as factories across the world churn out electric vehicles and the massive batteries that make wind turbines and solar panels reliable sources of energy. Unfortunately, current methods for producing lithium are slow and require high-quality feedstocks that…

New 3D-printing extrusion system redefines printing limits Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a novel extrusion system that combines multiple 3D-printing extruders into a single, high-output stream via specially designed nozzles. This system matches the speed of larger extruders while providing greater flexibility, precision and multi-material printing capabilities. Go…

Newly discovered metallic material with record thermal conductivity upends assumptions about heat transport limits A UCLA-led, multi-institution research team has discovered a metallic material with the highest thermal conductivity measured among metals, challenging long-standing assumptions about the limits of heat transport in metallic materials. Go to techxplore

Solid-state material can store and release hydrogen using sunlight or LEDs Hydrogen, a clean energy source, requires a highly reliable and safe storage system, which is currently lacking. Layered hydrogen silicane (L-HSi) is a promising, safe, lightweight, and energy-efficient solid-state hydrogen carrier with potential for practical utility. This material releases hydrogen when irradiated with low-intensity…

Sub-zero green freezer achieves zero emissions Researchers at the School of Engineering of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have developed the world’s first sub-zero Celsius elastocaloric freezing device, capable of reaching temperatures as low as -12℃. This represents a significant milestone in expanding green solid-state elastocaloric refrigeration technology into the global…

Perovskite-based betavoltaic battery achieves high efficiency and long-term stability A research team led by Professor Su-Il In of the Department of Energy Science & Engineering at DGIST has achieved a breakthrough improvement in the performance of the radiation absorber, a key component of perovskite-based betavoltaic batteries, by applying additive engineering and antisolvent process control techniques.…

Novel AI method sharpens 3D X-ray vision X-ray tomography is a powerful tool that enables scientists and engineers to peer inside of objects in 3D, including computer chips and advanced battery materials, without performing anything invasive. It’s the same basic method behind medical CT scans. Go to techxplore

Study shows potential for sustainable azelaic acid production from vegetable oils Azelaic acid is a renewable monomer used in the production of lubricants, polymers, and skincare. While conventionally produced via the energy-intensive ozonolysis of oleic acid, recent advances enable its production from high-oleic vegetable oil via the two-step oxidative cleavage (TSOC) process, improving process safety.…

Neutron diffraction unveils the ‘relay’ of hardening mechanisms in next-gen superalloys As the aerospace sector pursues propulsion systems that are cleaner, quieter, and more efficient, materials used in turbine components face increasingly demanding thermal and mechanical environments. Ni-Co-based superalloys are widely regarded as prime candidates for next-generation turbine disks due to their exceptional ability to…

OLED lighting: Corrugated panel design extends longevity and efficiency The organic light emitting diodes—known widely as OLEDs—that create vibrant smartphone displays could illuminate rooms, but current designs burn out too quickly at the high brightness needed for room lighting. A new approach overcomes this tradeoff by building OLEDs on a corrugated surface, packing more emitting…

Heat pumps will soon be able to store and distribute heat as needed Researchers have developed a heat storage unit that takes up less space than a regular hot water tank. It charges when electricity is cheap and releases heat when needed. Go to techxplore

Perovskite solar cells maintain 95% of power conversion efficiency after 1,100 hours at 85°C with new molecular coating Scientists have found a way to make perovskite solar cells not only highly efficient but also remarkably stable, addressing one of the main challenges holding the technology back from widespread use. Go to techxplore

New process densifies electrolytes, stabilizing lithium anodes for long-lasting all-solid-state batteries Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have achieved a breakthrough on the path to practical application of lithium metal all-solid-state batteries—the next generation of batteries that can store more energy, are safer to operate, and charge faster than conventional lithium-ion batteries. Go to…

How smart home materials can shield us from extreme heat and cut energy bills all year Australia is getting hotter. Climate change is driving more frequent and prolonged extreme heat waves and our homes are struggling to keep up. Alarmingly, many Australian houses—especially older ones—weren’t designed for these harsh conditions. Go to techxplore

New semiconductor etching process achieves five-fold speed improvement After more than a decade of research and development, Tokyo Electron Miyagi Ltd. has introduced an innovative semiconductor etching method that achieves etch rates up to five times faster than conventional processes. Now, a collaborative research team from Nagoya University and the company has examined the underlying…

What the New Year’s fire at a Swiss bar tells us about fire prevention In the early hours of Jan. 1, 2026, a fire ripped through Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, killing 40 people and injuring 116, many of them severely. Go to techxplore

Ultrathin polymer layer extends lifespan of anode-free lithium metal batteries Anode-free lithium metal batteries, which have attracted attention as candidates for electric vehicles, drones, and next-generation high-performance batteries, offer much higher energy density than conventional lithium-ion batteries. However, their short lifespan has made commercialization difficult. Go to techxplore

Decompression sickness in fish reveals hidden risks of hydropower operations Professor Ole Gunnar Dahlhaug and postdoctoral fellow Wolf Ludwig Kuhn at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) have three goals: To understand the problem of gas supersaturation at hydropower plants, to solve it, and to help correct mistakes made during Norway’s more than…

I grew up in the world’s coldest city without central heating. Here’s what the world can learn from us On winter mornings in Harbin, where the air outside could freeze your eyelashes, I would wake up on a bed of warm earth. Go to techxplore

New AI-based technology offers real-time electric vehicle state estimation for safer driving A research team led by Professor Kanghyun Nam from the Department of Robotics and Mechanical Engineering at DGIST has developed a physical AI-based vehicle state estimation technology that accurately estimates the driving state of electric vehicles in real time. Go to techxplore

Bio-inspired copper composite achieves zero thermal expansion and high heat transfer Zero-thermal-expansion (ZTE) materials are widely used in precision optics, cryogenic equipment and sensors, where even small temperature changes can cause performance problems. Yet creating ZTE materials that also conduct heat efficiently and remain mechanically robust has long been a challenge. Most conventional ZTE materials…

New calibration module offers improved measurement of thermoelectric device performance A standard reference thermoelectric module (SRTEM) for objectively measuring thermoelectric module performance has been developed in Korea for the first time. A research team led by Dr. Sang Hyun Park at the Korea Institute of Energy Research developed the world’s second standard reference thermoelectric module,…

Smart composite combines ceramic strength with metal flexibility for large-scale manufacturing Since his postdoctoral days at MIT, Hang Yu, associate professor of materials science and engineering, has been wrestling with the challenge of creating a shape-memory ceramic that can be manufactured at scale without breaking. Now, in tandem with Ph.D. student Donnie Erb ’15, M.S.…

AI-driven assistant calculates best injection molding settings and explains decisions in multiple languages Most of the plastic products we use are made through injection molding, a process in which molten plastic is injected into a mold to mass-produce identical items. However, even slight changes in conditions can lead to defects, so the process has long…

Sentinel-6B extends global ocean height record On November 16, 2025, the Sentinel-6B satellite launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB) in California. Go to techxplore

Industrial solar cells achieve 26.09% efficiency with reduced silver use and better bifacial performance A research team led by Prof. Ye Jichun from the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering (NIMTE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with partners, has proposed a synergistic technical solution enabling industrial tunnel oxide passivating contact (TOPCon)…

Basalt and cotton fiber composite yarn advance textile industry’s green transition A research team from the Xinjiang Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has developed a basalt fiber/cotton fiber composite yarn that integrates weavability with multiple functional properties. The study was published in Composites Communications. Go to techxplore

Vapor-deposition method delivers unprecedented durability in perovskite–silicon tandem solar cells NUS researchers have developed a vapor-deposition method that dramatically improves the long-term and high-temperature stability of perovskite-silicon (Si) tandem solar cells. The findings were published in Science. Go to techxplore

Putting the squeeze on dendrites: New strategy addresses persistent problem in next-generation solid-state batteries New research by Brown University engineers identifies a simple strategy for combating a major stumbling block in the development of next-generation solid-state lithium batteries. Go to techxplore

Mussel shell grit offers suitable, sustainable abrasive for denim sandblasting An EHU study, now published in the Journal of Cleaner Production, has found a way of using mussel shells, which usually end up in landfills, in the textile industry. Go to techxplore

Batteries lose charge when they ‘breathe’: Understanding deterioration is a step toward longer-lasting batteries Researchers have identified a key reason why the batteries used to power everything from smartphones to electric vehicles deteriorate over time, a critical step toward building faster, more reliable and longer-lasting batteries. Go to techxplore

New interface engineering strategy developed for efficient and stable back-contact solar cells As the demand for renewable energy grows, scientists are developing new types of solar cells that are both highly efficient and scalable. The back-contact perovskite solar cell (BC-PSC) is one such innovative architecture, emerging as a promising alternative to traditional front-contact designs. Go…

More safety and comfort for protective clothing thanks to auxetic fabrics When everyday materials are pulled, they stretch or elongate in the direction of the pull and become narrower in cross-section. We can also observe this property in two-dimensional textiles. Auxetic structures behave differently here. They have the striking property of not changing under tensile…

How 3D printing creates stronger vehicle parts by solving aluminum’s high-temperature weakness Aluminum is prized for being lightweight and strong, but at high temperatures it loses strength. This has limited its use in engines, turbines, and other applications where parts must stay strong under high temperature conditions. Researchers at Nagoya University have developed a method…

Why new kinds of steel are needed to build lead-cooled reactors Safer operation, better fuel efficiency and lower waste mark lead-cooled nuclear power as a potentially dramatic shift from the water-cooled nuclear stations the world has relied on since the mid 20th century. A recent Swedish study casts new light on how to avoid corrosion…

New window insulation blocks heat, but not your view Physicists at the University of Colorado Boulder have designed a new material for insulating windows that could improve the energy efficiency of buildings worldwide—and it works a bit like a high-tech version of Bubble Wrap. Go to techxplore

Transistor ‘design limitation’ actually improves performance, scientists find What many engineers once saw as a flaw in organic electronics could actually make these devices more stable and reliable, according to new research from the University of Surrey and Joanneum Research Materials. Go to techxplore

A multifunctional carbon-titanium composite material enhances the performance of lithium-sulfur batteries A research team led by Professor Jongsung Yu of the Department of Energy Science and Engineering at DGIST has successfully developed a new electrode material that can significantly enhance the performance of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries. The main achievement of this research is the simple…

Using smartphones to improve disaster search and rescue When a natural disaster strikes, time is of the essence if people are trapped under rubble. Conventional search-and-rescue methods use radar-based detection or employ acoustics that rely on sounds made by victims. Go to techxplore

Avoiding marine collisions with system powered by radar and machine learning Collisions between marine vessels and stationary structures, like offshore oil platforms and depleted wellheads, are becoming increasingly common. These collisions come with a cost—including the financial burden of lost goods and potential loss of life. Go to techxplore

A metamaterial that bridges air and water Have you ever tried yelling underwater? Not only is it difficult to make the noise, but it is rarely audible to those outside of the water. Sound travels differently in mediums of different densities, and that causes a high acoustic impedance ratio between air and water, meaning that…

Rock ‘n’ research: Engineering student builds 3D-printed guitar Timothy Tran ’27 has a new guitar for jamming out to his favorite Jimi Hendrix tunes, and he didn’t pick it up at a music shop—he printed it. Go to techxplore

Researchers develop new algorithms for the efficient design of motorcycles in the digital environment Researchers at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) have developed a set of innovative methods and algorithms that improve the performance and precision of vehicle design through topological optimization, a mathematical technique that allows designs to be optimized by distributing materials…

An integrated data model for next-generation bridge maintenance Japan is facing the urgent challenge of aging infrastructure, amidst ineffective linking of on-site experience and expertise with vast amounts of digital data in maintenance operations. This is especially the case for bridges across Japan. Go to techxplore

Researchers pioneer pathway to mechanical intelligence by breaking symmetry in soft composite materials A research team has developed soft composite systems with highly programmable, asymmetric mechanical responses. By integrating “shear-jamming transitions” into compliant polymeric solids, this innovative work enhances key material functionalities essential for engineering mechano-intelligent systems—a major step toward the development of next-generation smart…

UAV-based system could predict sag and environmental risks for power transmission lines Power transmission lines (TLs) are ubiquitous, spanning diverse landscapes, including forests, agricultural regions, as well as mountains. Therefore, it is crucial to develop novel technologies to monitor their condition in terms of environmental infringement as well as sag estimation. Go to techxplore

Strategic maintenance could double Öresund Bridge lifespan to 200 years Researchers at Lund University have developed a new framework that can lead to the Öresund Link, thanks to the right maintenance at the right time and smart monitoring, having a total lifespan of 200 years. This is twice as long as envisaged when the bridge…

Low-cost green hydrogen: New electrode design dramatically reduces wear in membrane electrolyzers A University of California, Berkeley chemist has engineered a new technology that could make hydrogen-producing fuel cells last longer and hasten the arrival of cost-competitive, eco-friendly versions of the fuel source. Go to techxplore

Researchers develop model to accurately predict vessel turnaround time at ports In the 21st century, as global trade expands and cargo volumes surge, ports face mounting pressure to operate efficiently. A key challenge lies in accurately predicting vessel turnaround time (VTT)—the period between a ship’s arrival and departure—which directly influences scheduling, congestion management, and energy…