Self-Powered Sensor Automatically Harvests Magnetic Energy

MIT researchers have developed a battery-free, self-powered sensor that can harvest energy from its environment.

Researchers Create First Functional Semiconductor Made from Graphene

Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have created the world’s first functional semiconductor made from graphene, a single sheet of carbon atoms held...

Piezo Composites with Carbon Fibers for Motion Sensors

An international research group has engineered a novel high-strength flexible device by combining piezoelectric composites with unidirectional carbon fiber (UDCF), an anisotropic...

Videos of the Month

See the videos of the month, including one on Purdue University researchers teaching robots how to navigate the swaying deck of a boat, one on a Carnegie Mellon-led team developing a soft robot to better understand an organism — the pleurocystitid — that existed 450 million years ago, and more.

Executive Roundtable: Artificial Intelligence

What are the opportunities and risks AI offers in manufacturing? How can manufacturers successfully implement AI and prepare their workforce to integrate it into their processes? What’s its future outlook? Tech Briefs asked four industry experts in this roundtable.

Testing Space Applications with Solar Simulator Technology

NASA’s Artemis program consists of a series of missions designed to land humans on the Moon and establish a sustainable, continuing presence. A long-term foothold on the Moon’s surface enables invaluable research and testing opportunities that will set the stage for future groundbreaking missions, including the first human mission to Mars.

Using Kirigami to make Ultrastrong, Lightweight Structures

Using kirigami, the ancient Japanese art of folding and cutting paper, MIT researchers have now manufactured a type of high-performance architected material known as a plate lattice, on a much larger scale than scientists have previously been able to achieve by additive fabrication.

Exploring 3D Printing in a Weightless Environment

Recent experiments by a team from the West Virginia University focused on how a weightless microgravity environment affects 3D printing using titania foam, a material with potential applications ranging from UV blocking to water purification. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces published their findings.

Using Lasers to ‘Heat and Beat’ 3D-Printed Steel to Help Reduce Costs

A new method for metal 3D printing aims to make more efficient use of resources by allowing structural modifications to be “programmed” into metal alloys during 3D printing, fine-tuning their properties without the “heating and beating” process that’s been in use for thousands of years.

Computing Breakthrough: First Logical Quantum Processor

Harvard researchers have realized a key milestone in the quest for stable, scalable quantum computing, an ultra-high-speed technology that will enable game-changing advances in a variety of fields, including medicine, science, and finance.

Automated Tow/Tape Placement System

NASA’s Langley Research Center has developed a simplified, tool-less automated tow/tape placement (ATP) system. This invention enables several benefits that mitigate limitations associated with conventional ATP systems. Read on to learn more.

A Lightweight Material Stronger than Steel

Scientists at the Columbia University, University of Connecticut, and the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory were able to fabricate a pure form of glass and coat specialized pieces of DNA with it to create a material that was not only stronger than steel, but incredibly lightweight.

Buzzing Loop-Current Leads to Break in Quantum Matter

A series of buzzing “loop-currents” could explain a recently discovered, never-before-seen phenomenon in a type of quantum material. The quantum material is known by the chemical formula Mn 3Si2Te6, but it’s safe to call it “honeycomb.” Read on to learn more.

Scaling Up Nano for Sustainable Manufacturing

Developed by a team led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, a self-assembling nanosheet could significantly extend the shelf life of consumer products. And because the new material is recyclable, it could also enable a sustainable manufacturing approach that keeps single-use packaging and electronics out of landfills.

New Ultra-Strong Material for Microchip Sensors

Researchers have unveiled a remarkable new material with potential to impact the world of material science: amorphous silicon carbide (a-SiC). Beyond its exceptional strength, this material demonstrates mechanical properties crucial for vibration isolation on a microchip. It is therefore particularly suitable for making ultra-sensitive microchip sensors.

Highest-Resolution Single-Photon Superconducting Camera

The NIST camera is made up of grids of ultrathin electrical wires, cooled to near absolute zero, in which current moves with no resistance until a wire is struck by a photon. In these superconducting-nanowire cameras, the energy imparted by even a single photon can be detected because it shuts down the superconductivity at a particular location (pixel) on the grid. Combining all the locations and intensities of all the photons makes up an image.

High-Brightness Source of Coherent Light Spanning from the UV to THz

An international team of researchers reports on a compact high-brightness mid-IR-driven source combining a gas-filled anti-resonant-ring photonic crystal fiber with a novel nonlinear-crystal. The tabletop source provides a seven-octave coherent spectrum from 340 nm–40,000 nm with spectral brightness 2–5 orders of magnitude higher than one of the brightest synchrotron facilities.

Terahertz Energy Focused by Credit Card-Sized Device to Generate High-Resolution Images

Researchers have created a device that enables them to electronically steer and focus a beam of terahertz electromagnetic energy with extreme precision. This opens the door to high-resolution, real-time imaging devices that are hundredths the size of other radar systems and more robust than other optical systems.

Metasurfaces Control Polarized Light at Will

Researchers at SEAS have uncovered hidden potential in metasurfaces and demonstrated optical devices that manipulate light’s polarization state with an unprecedented degree of control. Read on to learn more.

AI-Powered Self-Driving Microscopy Technique

Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory have developed an autonomous, or self-driving, microscopy technique. It uses AI to selectively target points of interest for scanning. Read on to learn more.

Next-Generation Flow Battery Design

A research team from the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory reports that the flow battery, a design optimized for electrical grid energy storage, maintained its capacity to store and release energy for more than a year of continuous charge and discharge.

3D Battery Imaging Reveals Real-Time Life of Lithium Metal Cells

A team from Chalmers University of Technology has succeeded in observing how the lithium metal in the cell behaves as it charges and discharges. The new method may contribute to batteries with higher capacity and increased safety in our future cars and devices.

Space Solar Power Demonstrator Wirelessly Transmits Power in Space

Wireless power transfer was recently demonstrated by MAPLE — Microwave Array for Power-transfer Low-orbit Experiment — one of three key technologies being tested by the Space Solar Power Demonstrator (SSPD-1), the first space-borne prototype from Caltech’s Space Solar Power Project (SSPP), which aims to harvest solar power in space and transmit it to the Earth’s surface.

A New Design for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory are researching solutions to these Li-ion battery issues by testing new materials in battery construction. One such material is sulfur.

Stretchable Micro-Supercapacitors to Self-Power Wearable Devices

A stretchable system that can harvest energy from human breathing and motion for use in wearable health-monitoring devices may be possible, according to an international team of researchers.

Low-Cost Ventilator Set to Help People in Low-Income Countries

The ventilators are simpler and cheaper to make than those currently available.

More Powerful RNA Vaccines

MIT researchers have engineered both the nanoparticles used to deliver the COVID-19 antigen and the antigen itself, to boost the immune response, without the need for a separate adjuvant. If further developed for use in humans, this type of RNA vaccine could help to reduce costs, the dosage needed, and potentially lead to longer-lasting immunity.

New on the Market

See what's new on the market, including a new feature for RJG's CoPilot process control system, Renishaw's expanded RenAM 500, AIRMAR's three medium ultra-wide transducers, Coilcraft's molded power inductors, VP810 vapor phase soldering systems from ASSCON, and more.

Products of Tomorrow

See the products of tomorrow, including the University of Maryland's "cooling glass"; the Reconfigurable Robotics Lab's sensor that can perceive combinations of bending, stretching, compression, and temperature changes using color; Tufts' tiny biological robots; and more.

Product of the Month

See the product of the month: Advanced Energy Industries' new configurable power supply that delivers optimized, application-specific power conversion in a small form factor with up to four times higher power density than conventional solutions.

New Material Could Lead to Better Hydrogen-Based Batteries, Fuel Cells

Researchers led by Genki Kobayashi at the RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research in Japan have developed a solid electrolyte for transporting hydride ions at room temperature.

How Much Do You Know About PoE?

PoE is growing ever more powerful and useful. As IoT, automation, smart devices, and connectivity become more ubiquitous, new applications are continuing to expand. Test your knowledge with this quiz.

5Ws of the Smart Yard Robot

A smart modular yardwork robot that can blow leaves and plow snow as well as achieve reductions in carbon emissions at the same time.

Seamless Integration and Interoperability of Wearables

Achieving interoperability as medical-grade wearables integrate with diverse healthcare systems.

The Cost of Countering the Evolution of Small UAS

The guest on this first episode of the new A&DT podcast is Shaan Shaikh, a fellow with the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

NASA’s Ruggedized Video Camera Ready for Earth

A ruggedized video camera designed to withstand the shock, vibration, and extreme temperatures of space is now ready for extreme conditions on Earth.

Brain-Inspired AI Code Library Notches Milestone

The open source code library — snnTorch — has surpassed 100,000 downloads and is used in a wide variety of projects, from NASA satellite tracking efforts to semiconductor companies optimizing chips for AI.

How Is Generative AI Transforming Engineering?

As generative AI continues to evolve, we are seeing many new applications emerge across industries. How much do you know about generative AI? Take this quiz to test your knowledge.

Why There Is No Silver Bullet for Countering Small UAS Technology Part 1

Michael O’Hara, CUAS Mission Manager, Northrop Grumman, is the guest on this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast.

A New Kind of Microphone

Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering Ron Miles and his team at Binghamton University, New York, have developed an entirely new microphone technology based on research into how spiders hear.

Powering Wearables: Balancing Battery Life with Power Efficiency

Wearable medical devices must balance the need for continuous monitoring with power efficiency.

RISING STAR AWARDS 2025 WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Home How to Enter Terms & Conditions Meet the Judges Hall of Stars Sponsors   Platinum Sponsors See all sponsors The wait is over. We’re thrilled to announce the...

RISING STAR AWARDS NOMINATION

Home How to Enter Terms & Conditions Meet the Judges Hall of Stars Sponsors   Nominations for the 2025 Rising Star Awards have closed. All entries are being evaluated by a panel of judges...

RISING STAR AWARD RULES

Home How to Enter Terms & Conditions Meet the Judges Hall of Stars Sponsors   The Women in Engineering: Rising Star Awards program celebrates and recognizes women engineers who are enhancing the...

RISING STAR AWARDS 2025 JUDGES

Home How to Enter Terms & Conditions Meet the Judges Hall of Stars Sponsors   Thank you to our esteemed panel of judges, comprising leaders from engineering and technology fields, who bring...

RISING STAR AWARDS: PAST WINNERS

Home How to Enter Terms & Conditions Meet the Judges Hall of Stars Sponsors   Meet the trailblazing women engineers who made history as winners of last year’s Rising Star Awards, chosen...

RISING STAR AWARDS 2025 SPONSORS

Home How to Enter Terms & Conditions Meet the Judges Hall of Stars Sponsors   We are deeply grateful to our sponsors for their invaluable support of this year’s Rising Star Awards...

RISING STAR AWARDS 2024

  Women have been making significant improvements to engineering and are at the forefront of innovation and sustainable development. SAE Media Group shines the spotlight on their achievements with its inaugural...

Behold: The First Battery Prototype Using Hemoglobin

Researchers have developed a battery that uses hemoglobin as an electrochemical reaction facilitator, functioning for around 20-30 days.

How Much Do You Know About Oscilloscopes?

One of the most widely used test instruments, the oscilloscope's primary function is to provide a graph of a signal’s voltage over time. Its applications include acoustic research, television-production engineering, and electronics design. So, how much do you know about oscilloscopes? Find out with this quiz.

Why There Is No Silver Bullet for Countering Small UAS Technology Part 2

This is the second half of our two-part podcast interview with Michael O’Hara, C-UAS Mission Manager, Northrop Grumman on the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast.

Hot Rocks Store Energy

Sandia engineers convert excess renewable electricity into heat that gets stored in piles of gravel.

Navigating Clinical Trials with Wearables

Medical-grade wearables can increase patient engagement and gather robust data for clinical trials.

Understanding Energy Dissipation for Improved Space Weather Forecasting

Insaco manufactured custom tooling to meet the unique part specifications for NASA’s DISSIPATION mission, which will enable better understanding of how the energy imparted by solar winds into the atmosphere is dispersed.

Metamaterials: Changing the Arrays of Counter UAS Radar

Tom Driscoll, CTO and Founder, Echodyne, is the guest on this episode of Season 1 of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast.

How Much Do You Know About Energy Storage?

Renewable energy sources like wind and solar require energy storage in order to be practical and reliable. Test your knowledge of energy storage with this quiz.

A Breakthrough in Wearable Neuromodulation

An at home, non-invasive for urge urinary incontinence and urinary urgency without the need for surgery, implants, or drugs demonstrated to potential of wearable neuromodulation.

DNA Origami Folded into Tiny Motor

Scientists have created the world’s first working nanoscale electromotor, according to research published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology. The science team designed a turbine engineered from DNA...

Scientists Design a Two-Legged Robot Powered by Muscle Tissue

Compared to robots, human bodies are more flexible, capable of fine movements, and can efficiently convert energy into movement. Drawing inspiration from human gait, researchers...

Are Shapeshifting “Soft Machines” In Our Future?

Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have furthered a new type of soft material that can change shape in response to light, a discovery that could advance “soft...

My Opinion: We Need Humans in the Loop

With all the chatter these days about AI, it’s important to really understand what it is and how to use it. A project at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory is exploring how operators and an AI automated control system interact.

Countering Illegally Operated Drones at Airports, Stadiums, and Prisons

Jeffrey Starr, Chief Marketing Officer, D-Fend Solutions, is the guest on this episode of Season 1 of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast.