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Released: 21-Apr-2014 8:05 AM EDT
New Material Coating Technology Mimics Nature’s Lotus Effect
Virginia Tech

A unique and low cost method to coat materials is the subject of a pending international patent. Ranga Pitchumani of Virginia Tech’s Mechanical Engineering Department and Atieh Haghdoost, a recent doctoral graduate from Pitchumani’s Advanced Materials and Technologies Laboratory developed the process.

Released: 17-Apr-2014 11:00 AM EDT
Pocket-Sized Anthrax Detector AIDS Global Agriculture
Sandia National Laboratories

A credit-card-sized anthrax detection cartridge developed at Sandia National Laboratories and recently licensed to a small business makes testing safer, easier, faster and cheaper.

Released: 17-Apr-2014 10:00 AM EDT
Patented Research Remotely Detects Nitrogen-Rich Explosives
Kansas State University

A Kansas State University engineer has developed a patented technique that improves military security and remotely detects improvised explosive devices. The same technique could help police during drug searches.

11-Apr-2014 9:00 AM EDT
Bio-Engineered Vaginas, How Do They Work? UPDATE: Watch Pre-Recorded Q&A
Newswise

Newswise hosts the first live, interactive virtual event for major research finding for journalists. Newswise and Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center are collaborating to offer direct access to the investigator via Newswise Live, an interactive virtual event.

Released: 9-Apr-2014 12:00 PM EDT
Hiking Inca Road Informs Engineer's Research, Teaching
Virginia Tech

Can modern engineers learn best practices from ancient road builders? Christine Fiori, who has led the first formal engineering study of the Inca Road, thinks so.

   
Released: 9-Apr-2014 11:00 AM EDT
At Long Last: A Concrete That’s Nearly Maintenance-Free
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Milwaukee engineers have created a cement composite that is durable, water-resistant and malleable with such a high level of “crack control” that the researchers estimate it has a service life of 120 years or more.

7-Apr-2014 10:00 AM EDT
Is the Power Grid too Big?
American Institute of Physics (AIP)

Researchers are asking whether there is a "right" size for the U.S. power grid; they believe that smaller grids would reduce the likelihood of severe outages, such as the 2003 Northeast blackout, likening the grid behavior to sandpiles: “Sandpiles are stable until you get to a certain height. Then you add one more grain and the whole thing starts to avalanche.”

Released: 2-Apr-2014 4:00 PM EDT
Bioengineer Studying How the Brain Controls Movement
University of California San Diego

A University of California, San Diego research team led by bioengineer Gert Cauwenberghs is working to understand how the brain circuitry controls how we move. The goal is to develop new technologies to help patients with Parkinson's disease and other debilitating medical conditions navigate the world on their own. Their research is funded by the National Science Foundation’s Emerging Frontiers of Research and Innovation program.

Released: 1-Apr-2014 12:20 PM EDT
Good Vibrations: Using Light-Heated Water to Deliver Drugs
UC San Diego Health

Researchers from the University of California, San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, in collaboration with materials scientists, engineers and neurobiologists, have discovered a new mechanism for using light to activate drug-delivering nanoparticles and other targeted therapeutic substances inside the body.

Released: 26-Mar-2014 3:00 PM EDT
Engineered Bacteria Produce Biofuel Alternative for High-Energy Rocket Fuel
Georgia Institute of Technology

Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology and the Joint BioEnergy Institute have engineered a bacterium to synthesize pinene, a hydrocarbon produced by trees that could potentially replace high-energy fuels, such as JP-10, in missiles and other aerospace applications.

Released: 25-Mar-2014 3:00 PM EDT
Iowa State Engineer Builds Instrument to Study Effects of Genes, Environment on Plant Traits
Iowa State University

Iowa State University's Liang Dong is leading a research team that's developing an accessible instrument with the scale, flexibility and resolution needed to study how genes and environmental conditions affect plant traits.

Released: 19-Mar-2014 11:00 PM EDT
Tiny Transistors for Extreme Environs
University of Utah

University of Utah electrical engineers fabricated the smallest plasma transistors that can withstand high temperatures and ionizing radiation found in a nuclear reactor. Such transistors someday might enable smartphones that take and collect medical X-rays on a battlefield, and devices to measure air quality in real time.

Released: 15-Mar-2014 11:45 PM EDT
A Battery That ‘Breathes’ Could Power Next-Gen Electric Vehicles
American Chemical Society (ACS)

Sales of electric vehicles (EVs) nearly doubled in 2013, but most won’t take you farther than 100 miles on one charge. To boost their range toward a tantalizing 300 miles or more, researchers are reporting progress on a “breathing” battery that has the potential to one day replace the lithium-ion technology of today’s EVs. They presented their work at the 247th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society, the world’s largest scientific society.

Released: 15-Mar-2014 11:45 PM EDT
Harnessing Everyday Motion to Power Mobile Devices (Video)
American Chemical Society (ACS)

Imagine powering your cell phone by simply walking around your office or rubbing it with the palm of your hand. Rather than plugging it into the wall, you become the power source. Researchers at the 247th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society, the world’s largest scientific society, presented these commercial possibilities and a unique vision for green energy. To see a video of the team’s work, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVhJ4G-7na4.

Released: 13-Mar-2014 12:00 PM EDT
'Super Circles' to Lessen Rush-Hour Headaches
Wayne State University Division of Research

While Mother Nature continues to challenge drivers across the country, a team of traffic engineers is working hard on a new way to make rush-hour commutes safer and faster in any weather. “We can’t do much about snow falling, but we can do something about road capacity and congestion,” said Joseph Hummer, traffic engineering expert and Wayne State University College of Engineering chair of civil and environmental engineering.

Released: 11-Mar-2014 5:00 PM EDT
Lignin Breakthroughs Serve as GPS for Plant Research
North Carolina State University

By thoroughly mapping a single specialized tissue involved in wood formation, scientists at North Carolina State University have developed the equivalent of turn-by-turn directions for future plant research.

Released: 10-Mar-2014 12:00 PM EDT
West Virginia Spill Activates Virginia Tech Engineers to Determine Effects of Chemicals
Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech engineers sprung into action when more than 10,000 gallons of a chemical mixture leaked from a storage tank near Charleston, W.Va., and entered a river upstream of a water-treatment plant in January.

Released: 9-Mar-2014 2:45 PM EDT
Biomolecular Tweezers Facilitate Study of Mechanical Force Effects on Cells and Proteins
Georgia Institute of Technology

A new type of biomolecular tweezers could help researchers study how mechanical forces affect the biochemical activity of cells and proteins. The devices use opposing magnetic and electrophoretic forces to precisely stretch the cells and molecules.

3-Mar-2014 11:00 PM EST
Squeezing Light into Metals
University of Utah

Using an inexpensive inkjet printer, University of Utah electrical engineers produced microscopic structures that use light in metals to carry information. This new technique, which controls electrical conductivity within such microstructures, could be used to rapidly fabricate superfast components in electronic devices, make wireless technology faster or print magnetic materials.

Released: 5-Mar-2014 10:00 AM EST
Reflection Makes Sense: New Initiative Prompts Engineering Students to Look Back to Go Forward
University of Washington

The University of Washington's Center for Engineering Learning & Teaching has received a $4.4 million grant from the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust to develop and promote teaching practices that help undergraduate engineering students reflect on their experiences. The award establishes the Consortium to Promote Reflection in Engineering Education that focuses on first- and second-year undergraduates who want to be engineers, especially those from underrepresented populations.

Released: 4-Mar-2014 6:05 PM EST
Silk-Based Surgical Implants Could Offer a Better Way to Repair Broken Bones
Tufts University

Surgical plates and screws made of silk protein may improve bone remodeling after injury and also be absorbed by the body, eliminating the need for removal. In vitro and rodent studies showed the devices to be robust, readily implanted, and easily sterilized. They could also deliver therapeutics to support healing.

   
3-Mar-2014 12:45 PM EST
Flying Snakes—How Do They Do It?
George Washington University

New research, titled “Lift and Wakes of Flying Snakes," appears March 4 in the journal Physics of Fluids. This work is the first to study the lift of a snake's cross-section computationally.

Released: 4-Mar-2014 10:00 AM EST
Iowa State Engineers Build Software Tools to Assure Security of Smartphones
Iowa State University

Iowa State's Suraj Kothari is leading researchers from Iowa State University and Ames, Iowa-based EnSoft Corp. who are developing ways to secure smartphone software for the Defense Department.

3-Mar-2014 8:00 AM EST
Shale Could Be Long-Term Home for Problematic Nuclear Waste
American Chemical Society (ACS)

Shale, the source of the United States’ current natural gas boom, could help solve another energy problem: what to do with radioactive waste from nuclear power plants. The unique properties of the sedimentary rock and related clay-rich rocks make it ideal for storing the potentially dangerous spent fuel for millennia, according to a geologist studying possible storage sites. He presented his research today at the 247th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society.

3-Mar-2014 8:00 AM EST
Toward ‘Vanishing’ Electronics and Unlocking Nanomaterials’ Power Potential
American Chemical Society (ACS)

Brain sensors and electronic tags that dissolve. Boosting the potential of renewable energy sources. These are examples of the latest research from two pioneering scientists selected as this year’s Kavli lecturers at the 247th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society, the world’s largest scientific society.

3-Mar-2014 8:00 AM EST
New Way to Make Biodiesel Creates Less Waste From Alligator, and Likely Other Animal Fats
American Chemical Society (ACS)

Animal fat from chicken, pork, beef and even alligators could give an economical, ecofriendly boost to the biofuel industry, according to researchers who reported a new method for biofuel production here today. The report, following up on their earlier study on the potential use of gator fat as a source of biodiesel fuel, was part of the 247th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, the world’s largest scientific society.

Released: 28-Feb-2014 11:00 AM EST
Sustainable Energy Is Focus of Plenary Talks at American Chemical Society Meeting
American Chemical Society (ACS)

Advances in renewable and sustainable energy, including mimicking photosynthesis and optimizing lithium-ion batteries, are the topics of three plenary talks at the 247th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society, the world’s largest scientific society, taking place here through Thursday. The presentations will be held on Sunday, March 16, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Ballroom A of the Dallas Convention Center.

Released: 28-Feb-2014 10:00 AM EST
Shaky Hand, Stable Spoon: U-M Study Shows Device Helps Essential Tremor Patients
Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan

For people whose hands shake uncontrollably due to a medical condition, just eating can be a frustrating and embarrassing ordeal – enough to keep them from sharing a meal with others. But a small new study suggests that a new handheld electronic device can help such patients overcome the hand shakes caused by essential tremor.

Released: 25-Feb-2014 11:00 AM EST
3-D Printer Creates Transformative Device for Heart Treatment
Washington University in St. Louis

Using an inexpensive 3-D printer, biomedical engineers at Washington University in St. Louis and around the world have developed a custom-fitted, implantable device with embedded sensors that could transform treatment and prediction of cardiac disorders.

Released: 24-Feb-2014 9:30 AM EST
New Biological Scaffold Offers Promising Foundation for Engineered Tissues
Michigan Technological University

Engineered tissues like the ones used to create artificial skin need a scaffold for cells to grow on. Now a team led by Michigan Technological University’s Feng Zhao has coaxed cells called fibroblasts into creating a scaffold that mimics the body’s own internal matrix, and in early tests, cells seem happy to set up residence.

Released: 21-Feb-2014 2:00 PM EST
Chemical Transport in Plants Likened to That of Humans
Missouri University of Science and Technology

Plant roots and certain human membrane systems resist chemical transport in much the same way, say researchers at Missouri University of Science and Technology in a recent journal article. This similarity could make it easier to assess chemical risks for both people and plants, and may even lead to a new approach to testing medications.

Released: 20-Feb-2014 4:00 PM EST
Vibration Energy the Secret to Self-Powered Electronics
University of Wisconsin–Madison

A multi-university team of engineers has developed what could be a promising solution for charging smartphone batteries on the go — without the need for an electrical cord.

Released: 19-Feb-2014 3:00 PM EST
ORNL Microscopy System Delivers Real-Time View of Battery Electrochemistry
Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Using a new microscopy method, researchers can image and measure electrochemical processes in batteries in real time and at nanoscale resolution.

Released: 18-Feb-2014 1:05 PM EST
Video: Students Invent ‘Aura’ Musical Instrument Using Gloves
Cornell University

Imagine holding music in your hands. That’s what you can do with the Aura, a new electronic musical instrument conceived by Cornell University engineering students.

Released: 18-Feb-2014 9:00 AM EST
Silicon-Germanium Chip Sets New Speed Record
Georgia Institute of Technology

A research team has demonstrated the world's fastest silicon-based device to date. The investigators operated a silicon-germanium (SiGe) transistor at 798 gigahertz (GHz) fMAX, exceeding the previous speed record for silicon-germanium chips by about 200 GHz.

Released: 17-Feb-2014 5:40 PM EST
Research Leads to 20 Percent Cuts in Energy Consumption in Buildings
University of Oklahoma, Gallogly College of Engineering

OU researcher creates virtual sensors to detect unreliable heating, vent and air conditioning systems in buildings. The method is a low cost, reliable process to reduce a company's utilities bills and carbon footprint.

Released: 13-Feb-2014 10:00 AM EST
Patented Airflow System Decreases Pollutants From Large Piston Engines
Kansas State University

A patented airflow control system enables large-bore, multi-cylinder engines used in trains, pipelines, backup diesel generators and other fields to run efficiently while producing lower levels of harmful emissions than they do currently.

Released: 12-Feb-2014 8:00 AM EST
Iowa State’s Icing Wind Tunnel Blows Cold and Hard to Study Ice on Wings, Turbine Blades
Iowa State University

Iowa State engineers have refurbished an icing wind tunnel and are using it to study ice buildup on aircraft wings and wind turbine blades. A better understanding of the icing problems could lead to better solutions.

Released: 11-Feb-2014 12:00 PM EST
No Clowning Around: Juggling Sheds Light on How We Run
 Johns Hopkins University

Juggling may seem like mere entertainment, but a study led by Johns Hopkins engineers used this circus skill to gather critical clues about how vision and the sense of touch help control the way humans and animals move their limbs in a repetitive way, such as in running. The findings eventually may aid in the treatment of people with neurological diseases and could lead to prosthetic limbs and robots that move more efficiently.

Released: 6-Feb-2014 2:00 PM EST
Credit Card-Sized Device Could Analyze Biopsy, Help Diagnose Pancreatic Cancer in Minutes
University of Washington

University of Washington scientists and engineers are developing a low-cost device that could help pathologists diagnose pancreatic cancer earlier and faster. The prototype can perform the basic steps for processing a biopsy, relying on fluid transport instead of human hands to process the tissue.

1-Feb-2014 6:00 PM EST
Ballistic Transport in Graphene Suggests New Type of Electronic Device
Georgia Institute of Technology

Using electrons more like photons could provide the foundation for a new type of electronic device that would capitalize on the ability of graphene to carry electrons with almost no resistance even at room temperature – a property known as ballistic transport.

Released: 3-Feb-2014 3:00 PM EST
South Dakota State University Engineers Develop System to Prevent Combine Fires
South Dakota State University

Sunflower farmers have known for a long time that they are at increased risk for combine fires, but an answer to this nerve-wracking problem may be just around the corner. A team of agricultural engineers at South Dakota State University found that sunflower debris ignites at temperatures that are 68 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit lower than residue from corn or soybeans. When sunflower dust is drawn into the fan that pulls air through the radiator to cool the engine, some bits of debris can ignite. The patent-pending device encases the turbocharger and exhaust manifold and then a fan pulls in clean air to cool the chamber, while keeping the system exterior within a safe temperature range.

Released: 3-Feb-2014 1:00 PM EST
New Understanding Could Result in More Efficient Organic Solar Cells
Penn State Materials Research Institute

Designing more efficient organic solar cells should be easier with an explanation of how charge separation works.

Released: 3-Feb-2014 7:00 AM EST
Making "Frozen Smoke" the Fast Way
Union College

Union College's Aerogel Team is studying the feasibility of commercializing their aerogel fabrication process

Released: 2-Feb-2014 1:00 PM EST
Engineered Cardiac Tissue Developed to Study the Human Heart
Mount Sinai Health System

Mount Sinai researchers generated their engineered cardiac tissue from human embryonic stem cells with the resulting muscle having remarkable similarities to native heart muscle, including the ability to beat and contract like the human heart. This research breakthrough study was highlighted as the cover story of the February 2014 issue of The FASEB Journal.

29-Jan-2014 9:00 AM EST
New Study Finds Differences in Concussion Risk Between Football Helmets
Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech biomedical researchers took the lead in a large six-year study to see if helmets reduce concussion risk. Data were collected between 2005 and 2010 from eight collegiate teams: Virginia Tech, University of North Carolina, University of Oklahoma, Dartmouth College, Brown University, University of Minnesota, Indiana University, and University of Illinois. Overall, the study found a significant reduction in concussion risk when comparing a 1-star helmet to a 4 star helmet.

Released: 30-Jan-2014 2:00 PM EST
Researcher Turns Sights on Prostate Cancer, Tissue Engineering, and Blood Vessel Repair
Penn State Materials Research Institute

Tissue engineering utilizing click chemistry provides increased mechanical strength and biofunctionalization.

Released: 29-Jan-2014 6:00 PM EST
Analysis of Salamander Jump Reveals an Unexpected Twist
Northern Arizona University

A small, secretive creature with unlikely qualifications for defying gravity may hold the answer to an entirely new way of getting off the ground. Analysis of high-speed film reveals how salamanders—or at least several species of the Plethodontidae family—achieve vertical lift.



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