Tag: techxplore

Researchers develop new design and fabrication method to make lightsails for interstellar travel In a potential step toward sending small spacecraft to the stars, researchers have developed an ultra-thin, ultra-reflective membrane designed to ride a column of laser light to incredible speeds. Go to techxplore

Improving steel pipelines for safe transport of hydrogen: Synchrotron light captures 3D images of cracks formed inside Hydrogen is increasingly gaining attention as a promising energy source for a cleaner, more sustainable future. Using hydrogen to meet the energy demands for large-scale applications such as utility infrastructure will require transporting large volumes via existing pipelines…

Spray-on concrete innovation could transform bridge repairs More than 40,000 bridges in the United States are deemed structurally deficient, and as many as 221,000 are deemed in need of repair, according to the American Road & Transportation Builders Association. Florida International University (FIU) researchers have developed a system that could play a key role in…

Carbon-negative construction: New method turns CO₂ into strong, fire-resistant building materials A new method inspired by coral reefs can capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and transform it into durable, fire-resistant building materials, offering a promising solution for carbon-negative construction. Go to techxplore

New machine learning framework enhances precision, efficiency in metal 3D printing Researchers at University of Toronto Engineering, led by Professor Yu Zou, are leveraging machine learning to improve additive manufacturing, also commonly known as 3D printing. Go to techxplore

HyperNIR technology: Transforming cameras into real-time environmental monitors Detecting microplastics and identifying plant stress at an early stage—this and much more can now be done thanks to a new method based on near-infrared light measurements. It is inexpensive and works in real time. Go to techxplore

Biodiesel wastewater treatment: Capturing carbon and valuable chemicals While biodiesel provides a cleaner-burning alternative to petroleum diesel, it produces CO2 and hazardous wastewater during manufacturing, requiring extra steps to achieve sustainability. A diagnostic study led by University of Michigan researchers works to improve a process that captures CO2 while treating biodiesel wastewater and produces valuable…

Basalt fabric-based cathode enhances solar-powered wastewater treatment The rapid growth of industrialization has made the treatment of oily wastewater a pressing global challenge in environmental remediation. Electrocoagulation (EC), a process known for its high efficiency and environmental sustainability, has shown promise in treating various types of wastewater. However, the widespread adoption of traditional EC technology…

3D printing approach strings together dynamic objects to assemble bionic robots, sculptures and more It’s difficult to build devices that replicate the fluid, precise motion of humans, but that might change if we could pull a few (literal) strings. At least, that’s the idea behind “cable-driven” mechanisms in which running a string through an object…

A quantum light source for eco-friendly production of biogas Much of our waste is far too valuable to simply be incinerated. If it is recycled in a carefully controlled way, not only can thermal energy be generated, but the resulting gas can also be used to produce valuable chemicals—from hydrogen to methane or methanol. However,…

Building a safer future: Researcher works to strengthen Haiti’s earthquake resilience Over the past two decades, Haiti has endured the devastation of two catastrophic earthquakes—first in 2010 and again in 2021. Each disaster left behind widespread destruction: buildings reduced to rubble, entire communities displaced and an overwhelming loss of life. A major factor in the…

‘Audible enclaves’ could enable private listening without headphones It may someday be possible to listen to a favorite podcast or song without disturbing the people around you, even without wearing headphones. In a new advancement in audio engineering, a team of researchers led by Yun Jing, professor of acoustics in the Penn State College of…

Pinpointing weaknesses in hot water bottle design Research from the University of Liverpool has highlighted weaknesses in the structural design of hot water bottles. Hot water bottles have been around for generations, yet there is surprisingly little research into how they respond to external forces. However, increased reports of sudden ruptures causing burns prompted a…

System delivers early prediction of wind turbine failure A researcher from VUB has developed a system that can predict wind turbine failures caused by early component malfunctions. He specializes in condition monitoring, a technique that uses data from turbine sensors and artificial intelligence to track the machine’s condition. “If operators can anticipate that a specific…

Growing solar: Optimizing agrivoltaic systems for crops and clean energy Agrivoltaic systems, which combine solar power generation with agricultural practices, offer a promising solution to the growing demand for both renewable energy and food production. By integrating solar panels with crops, these systems not only address the land use conflict between agriculture and energy production,…

Reusing old oil and gas wells may offer green energy storage solution Moving from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources like wind and solar will require better ways to store energy for use when the sun is not shining or the wind is not blowing. A new study by researchers at Penn State has found…

Developing an ontology for smart city infrastructure threats, cybercrime and digital investigation With technological advancements and a growing awareness about the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), interconnected systems within cities that capture real-time data indicators reflecting chosen SDGs are a way forward. Known as smart city infrastructure (SCI), these systems are vital to…

Researchers develop new feature selection method for limited-sample industrial data A research team from the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has introduced a novel feature selection method by removing noise entropy within mutual information. This study was published in IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics. Go to techxplore

Nature-inspired 3D-printing method shoots up faster than bamboo Charging forward at top speed, a garden snail slimes up 1 millimeter of pavement per second. By this logic, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology researchers’ new 3D printing process speeds past existing methods—at a snail’s pace. Go to techxplore

Generative AI drones can guard aging tunnels, enhancing safety and efficiency Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology has developed “Generative AI-Based Inspection Technology” to safely construct and maintain urban underground highways. Go to techxplore

Optical remote sensing technology helps monitor aircraft emissions A research team from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed an advanced Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) optical remote sensing system for real-time monitoring and analysis of aircraft emissions. Go to techxplore

Scientists develop AI-powered digital twin model that can control and adapt its physical doppelganger Scientists say they have developed a new AI-assisted model of a digital twin with the ability to adapt and control the physical machine in real time. Go to techxplore

AI reveals new way to strengthen titanium alloys and speed up manufacturing Producing high-performance titanium alloy parts—whether for spacecraft, submarines or medical devices—has long been a slow, resource-intensive process. Even with advanced metal 3D-printing techniques, finding the right manufacturing conditions has required extensive testing and fine-tuning. Go to techxplore