Tag: techxplore

Optical interference sensor system developed for simultaneous precision force and depth measurement A research team led by Professor Cheol Song at the Department of Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), has successfully developed an optical interferometer-based sensor system that can simultaneously measure ultra-precise force and depth information. As this…

Compact camera uses 25 color channels for high-speed, high-definition hyperspectral video A traditional digital camera splits an image into three channels—red, green and blue—mirroring how the human eye perceives color. But those are just three discrete points along a continuous spectrum of wavelengths. Specialized “spectral” cameras go further by sequentially capturing dozens, or even hundreds,…

Low-cost sensor system can check indoor air quality in real time Humans spend about 80% of their time indoors, but keeping track of the air we breathe usually requires expensive lab-grade equipment. Researchers at Concordia and Qatar University have created a low-cost sensor system that does the job just as well—and in real time. Go…

Physics-based algorithm enables nuclear microreactors to autonomously adjust power output A new physics-based algorithm clears a path toward nuclear microreactors that can autonomously adjust power output based on need, according to a University of Michigan-led study published in Progress in Nuclear Energy. Go to techxplore

Advanced sensors peer inside the ‘black box’ of metal 3D printing With the ability to print metal structures with complex shapes and unique mechanical properties, metal additive manufacturing (AM) could be revolutionary. However, without a better understanding of how metal AM structures behave as they are 3D printed, the technology remains too unreliable for widespread…

Patterned electrodes reveal how bubble spacing affects hydrogen production efficiency As part of a Special Invitation Collection celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Global Young Academy (GYA), a UT team led by David Fernandez Rivas has presented new insights into how bubbles behave during hydrogen production. By designing electrodes that guide the formation and merging…

Portable printer developed for fabrication of origami devices In the present times, origami-inspired three-dimensional (3D) devices are being developed, where a single sheet of material is folded into small devices. These devices are being developed for medical applications like stents or surgical tools; agricultural devices like soil-sensors; and efficient spacecraft radiators or solar arrays that…

Clever device drastically reduces the vibration from rotating parts An EPFL Ph.D. student in mechanical engineering has developed a device that significantly dampens the flow-induced vibration caused by rotating parts, such as those in boat propellers, turbines and hydraulic pumps. His device can be produced with a 3D printer and has recently been patented. Go…

Next-generation cooling garments aim to combat rising global heat and health risks Global warming poses a growing threat to human health and work performance. Currently, about 3.6 billion people worldwide live in areas highly susceptible to climate change. From 2000 to 2019, more than 480,000 heat-related deaths occurred globally each year. Extreme heat also impairs…

FAD-driven electrochemical system promises safer, cheaper green hydrogen storage A research team affiliated with UNIST has unveiled a novel system to produce green hydrogen more cost-effectively by harnessing a biological energy coenzyme to reduce electrical energy consumption. This technology also enables direct storage of hydrogen within liquid organic compounds without the need for prior conversion…

Unlocking ceramic 3D printing for next-generation chemical reactors Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have integrated binder jet additive manufacturing with an advanced post-processing method to fabricate leak‐tight ceramic components, overcoming a key challenge of ceramic additive manufacturing. Go to techxplore

AI-driven smart jig can detect micro-level defects in just 2.79 seconds A research team affiliated with UNIST has unveiled an innovative, high-precision AI-powered quality inspection system that reduces inspection time from 12 minutes to just under 3 seconds. This cutting-edge technology facilitates real-time, micron-scale defect detection during continuous manufacturing processes, paving the way for fully…

If every US home and personal vehicle goes electric, power outages could spike unless key measures are taken A future where all homes and vehicles in the U.S. are fully electrified could overwhelm power supply and risk outages unless key upgrades are made, says a new study conducted by Purdue University engineers. But a few…

Next-gen perovskite solar cells edge closer to market with improved stability Researchers at IMDEA Nanoscience (Madrid) have developed a perovskite solar cell with a certified efficiency of 25.2%, very close to the world record of 26.7%. In addition, they managed to manufacture a 5 cm square solar panel with this material that maintains high efficiency…

Decoding the sounds of battery formation and degradation Before batteries lose power, fail suddenly, or burst into flames, they tend to produce faint sounds over time that provide a signature of the degradation processes going on within their structure. But until now, nobody had figured out how to interpret exactly what those sounds meant, and…

Architecture’s past holds the key to sustainable future Modern “sustainable”‘ innovations in architecture are failing to slow climate change, but revisiting ancient knowledge and techniques found in traditional architecture could offer better solutions. Go to techxplore

Ant swarm simulation unlocks possibilities in materials engineering, robot navigation and traffic control Think twice about eliminating those pesky ants at your next family picnic. Their behavior may hold the key to reinventing how engineering materials, traffic control and multi-agent robots are made and utilized, thanks to research conducted by recent graduate Matthew Loges and…

Color-changing strip enables affordable nanoplastic analysis using ordinary microscope A joint team from the University of Stuttgart in Germany and the University of Melbourne in Australia has developed a new method for the straightforward analysis of tiny nanoplastic particles in environmental samples. One needs only an ordinary optical microscope and a newly developed test strip—the…

Cyclic triaxial tests: Evaluation of liquefaction resistance in chemically treated soils Soil liquefaction can be a major threat to the infrastructure and built environments in an earthquake-prone area. This happens due to substantial loss of soil stiffness and strength due to applied stress. Loose, moderately granulated, sandy soil is more prone to soil liquefaction. Go…

X-ray imaging point way toward cleaner oil sands processing Canada’s oil sands are an important source of energy and economic activity, but the bitumen that is extracted there takes a lot of processing and cleaning before it can be transported to refineries to be converted into usable oil. Go to techxplore

Waste plant fibers could reduce construction costs and improve sustainability Earth mortar could be more resilient, flexible and stronger by adding plant fibers to the mix. The finding comes from research to better understand the strength and performance of raw earth mortar, which has been carried out by the University of Portsmouth’s School of Civil…

Where does your glass come from? The word “local” has become synonymous with sustainability, whether it’s food, clothes or the materials used to construct buildings. But while consumers can probably go to a local lumberyard to buy lumber from sustainably grown trees cut at nearby sawmills, no one asks for local glass. Go to techxplore

Decentralized methanol production: Wet biomass and renewable power yield cost-competitive fuel In the future, it could become easier to manufacture methanol from biomass decentrally and on site. Researchers at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) are proposing a method with which raw and waste materials from plants can be processed in a self-contained procedure under mild reaction conditions.…

Cracks in flexible electronics run deeper than expected: Study points to potential fix From health monitors and smartwatches to foldable phones and portable solar panels, demand for flexible electronics is growing rapidly. But the durability of those devices—their ability to stand up to thousands of folds, flexes and rolls—is a significant concern. Go to techxplore