Collaborate Disseminate
Inspired by the wings of dragonflies and cicadas, researchers have developed a new coating for orthopedic implants. It not only shreds harmful bacteria, but also monitors stress on the system, meaning it could warn of impending implant failure.Continue… Continue reading Bug-inspired coating could make for better bone and joint implants
A team of researchers has created a way to inexpensively manufacture acoustic head simulators. They can help measure the way we take in and process sound – especially in noisy environments like cocktail parties.Continue ReadingCategory: TechnologyTags:… Continue reading 3D-printed heads talk, swivel, and listen to improve audio devices
As the perception of plant-based diets slowly shifts away from the image of a lettuce leaf on a plate, it’s no surprise to find that the popularity of this style of eating is now crossing over into meals for our canine companions.Continue ReadingCatego… Continue reading Lab tested: Vegan dog foods get the paw shake of approval
If a robot is going to be tiny, then it better have a way of getting around the many obstacles that will block its way. A new type of robot takes a unique approach to doing so, by jumping like a click beetle.Continue ReadingCategory: Robotics, Technolo… Continue reading Tiny robots copy the click beetle to jump over obstacles
Back in 2012, we heard about tiny biped “biobot” robots that used actual muscle tissue to walk. Well, the descendants of those bots are now equipped with LEDs, which allow them to be remotely steered in a practical fashion.Continue ReadingCategory: Rob… Continue reading Tiny eBiobots use LEDs and muscle tissue for real-time remote control
It’s a cruel irony that over 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered in water, but it’s undrinkable. Scientists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) have now modeled the feasibility of a hypothetical system that can capture water vapor f… Continue reading Offshore structures could harvest city drinking water from ocean air
Just like many of the flowers in your garden, rice has traditionally been an annual plant – that means new crops have to be sown every year. A perennial version is now available, however, which comes back on its own over multiple growing seasons.Contin… Continue reading New perennial rice promises less labor, lower costs and higher profits
In a bid to reduce the environmental burden associated with both the manufacturing and disposal of plastics, scientists have demonstrated a new upcycling technique that turns one common form of it into another. The team says they also have the means to… Continue reading Recycling breakthrough turns one common type of plastic into another
Engineers at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) have developed a device that can efficiently convert captured carbon dioxide into ethylene, a plastic precursor material. When run using renewable energy, the technique could make for net negative e… Continue reading “Net negative” system converts captured CO2 into plastic precursor
A team from the University of Illinois and UC Berkeley has demonstrated a new cooling method that sucks heat out of electronics so efficiently that it allows designers to run 7.4 times more power through a given volume than conventional heat sinks.Cont… Continue reading New heat spreading tech delivers 740% increase in circuit power density