New Material To Make Next Generation of High-Power Electronics Faster and More Efficient

Researchers at the University of Minnesota have achieved a new material that will be pivotal in making the next generation of high-power electronics...

Transmitting Power Through the Body

To free wearable tech from their burdens, researchers developed Power-over-Skin, which allows electricity to travel through the human body and could one day power battery-free devices from head to toe.

NASA’s Moon Shot Launched Commercial Fuel Cell Industry

The first practical fuel cells were developed in preparation for NASA’s Apollo missions because batteries would have weighed too much. The group that produced these fuel cells, now called HyAxiom Inc., sells commercial fuel cells to power buildings and utilities.

A Yarn-Like Seawater Battery

Researchers have developed a yarn-like battery prototype that works when immersed in seawater.

A Safer, More Efficient Lithium Metal Battery

A research team from DGIST has developed a lithium metal battery using a “triple-layer solid polymer electrolyte” that offers greatly enhanced fire safety and an extended lifespan.

My Opinion: There’s a Practical Way to Fix the Electric Grid Bottleneck

There will be a surging need for more electric power in the coming years. The problem is that we will quickly need to upgrade the grid to provide for it. Reconductoring can be a good start.

Videos of the Month

See the videos of month, including one on UW researchers developing a flexible, durable electronic prototype that can harvest energy from body heat and turn it into electricity that can be used to power small electronics; one on Purdue University researchers using both ultrasonic waves and X-ray CT to “see inside” manufactured objects nondestructively; one on Rotograb, a robotic hand that merges the dexterity of human hands with the strength and efficiency of industrial grippers; and more.

How Jet Engine Flow Can Be Controlled Optically

University of Virginia researchers showed for the first time that airflow in supersonic combusting jet engines can be controlled by an optical sensor. The finding could lead to more efficient stabilization of hypersonic jet aircraft. Read on to learn more.

Top 10 Most-Read Tech Briefs Stories of 2024

With another year of Tech Briefs almost in the books, it's time to look at our most-read articles of 2024.

How Much Do You Know About Connecting DC Programmable Power Supplies in Series or Parallel?

There are some applications where the use of a single power supply may not be sufficient to provide the power required by the load. How much do you know about connecting DC programmable power supplies in series or parallel? Find out with this quiz.

DC-DC Converters for High Reliability eVTOL Auxiliary Power Systems

eVTOL power system architectures are not yet well defined, and with the wide variety of possible configurations, from small, unmanned drones through multiseat passenger craft, there may never be one standard. Read on to learn what this means.

Safe, Inexpensive Method to Propel Small Satellites

A novel micropropulsion system was developed for nanosatellite applications using a liquid-fed pulsed-plasma thruster. It uses a liquid propellant for a Lorentz-force pulsed-plasma accelerator and an extended lifetime ignition system driven by nanosecond-long pulses. Read on to learn more.

Product Showcase

See what's in the product showcase, including Miba Resistors' RST5N resistor series; Luxinar's femtosecond lasers; Freudenberg Sealing Technologies' cell caps; CPEG's durable equipment to safely handle and process lithium and other minerals for lithium-ion batteries; and much more.

How Much Do You Know About Power Transformers?

Electrical devices designed to transfer electrical power from one circuit to another without altering the frequency, power transformers function on the principle of electromagnetic induction. How much do you know about power transformers? Find out with this quiz.

How to Meet the Challenge of AI Power Demand

With the skyrocketing growth in AI capabilities, the need for electricity is also increasing, presenting challenges for data centers. Wells Fargo is projecting AI power demand to surge 550 percent by 2026, before rising another 1,150 percent by 2030. How much do you know about power consumption by AI? Take this quiz to test your knowledge.

MXene Nanomaterials for Wireless Charging in Textiles

Researchers have built a full textile energy grid that can be wirelessly charged. The team reported that it can power textile devices, including a warming element and environmental sensors that transmit data in real-time.

Process Purifies Hydrogen Fuel Over a Broad Temperature Range

New fuel cells could increase hydrogen’s application in vehicles, especially in extreme temperatures like cold winters. Read on to learn more about it.

A Cheaper, Greener, More Efficient Alternative to Lithium-ion Batteries

It's time to rethink battery technology. Compared to other existing or developing technologies, a new lithium metal-based solid-state battery brings some significant advantages: It can be charged and discharged within one minute, lasts about 10 times as long as a Li-ion battery, and is insensitive to temperature fluctuations. Read on to learn more about it.

Precise Diagnosis of Electric Vehicle Batteries Using Small Currents

Accurately diagnosing the state of electric vehicle (EV) batteries is essential for their efficient management and safe use. Korea Advanced Institute of Science and...

New Smart Charger May Pave the Way for More EVs

In 2024, more than one in five cars sold is an electric vehicle (EV). Intergovernmental agencies estimate that by 2035, half of all new cars sold globally will be EVs.

How Much Do You Know About Energy Harvesting?

Energy harvesting is an increasingly important technology. It’s important in many different fields, from the Internet of Things to medicine and beyond. How much do you know about energy harvesting? Test your knowledge with this quiz.

My Opinion: AI and Cybersecurity, Protecting the Power Grid

The U.S. power grid is like the body’s central circulatory system — it provides the energy without which virtually nothing functions. Read on to learn more about what SAE Media Group's Ed Brown has to say on the matter.

Building Tiny Batteries to Power Cell-Sized Robots

A tiny battery could enable the deployment of cell-sized, autonomous robots for drug delivery within in the human body, as well as other applications.

How Much Do You Know About Power Supplies?

Power supplies are the backbone of the device’s we use every day to make our lives easier. How much do you know about power supplies? Test your knowledge with this quiz.

Product Focus: Asahi Kasei Showcases Flame-Retardant Nonwoven Fabric

The Japanese technology company Asahi Kasei exhibited its new material solution for enhanced EV battery safety at the Battery Show. A flame-retardant and highly flexible...