Magazine

Nanoparticle Gel Unites Oil and Water in Manufacturing-Friendly Approach

This novel gel-creation method could open applications in water filtration, batteries, and smart windows.

High-Temperature Silicon Carbide Op Amps Fabrication

Applications include sensor signal conditioning in harsh conditions such as automotive, oil and gas operations, and firefighting.

Pre-Treatment Solution for Water Recovery

The solution increases water recovery, prevents mineral scaling, and cuts the volume of brines in half.

Desalination Process Removes Toxic Metals

The desalination method produces clean water while, at the same time, potentially capturing valuable metals such as gold.

Device Powers Wearable Sensors Through Human Motion

A triboelectric generator made of flexible circuit boards creates electricity when the wearer moves.

Data Recorders Aid Earth Dust Mission

The Earth Imaging Spectrometer instrument is heading to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2022.

Stretchable Thermoelectric Generators

The organic composite material is soft, stretchable, and has good thermoelectric properties for many wearable applications.

Q&A: Switching Technology Improves Power Grid Efficiency

Kristin Sampayan from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory found a fast way to switch high voltages.

Lighter Radiation Shielding for Electronics

This new technique shields electronics from ionizing radiation in applications such as military and space exploration.

Tension Element Damping (TED) with Hydraulics for Large Displacements

Applications include wind turbines, solar arrays, commercial space mobile launchers, and industrial process stacks and equipment.

5 Ws of the Anti-Bacterial Hydrogel

A specially designed hydrogel works against all types of bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant ones.

Graphene “Nano-Origami” Creates Tiny Microchips

The microchips are about 100 times smaller than conventional microchips.

Stable, Efficient, Anode-Free Sodium Battery

The battery is smaller than a traditional lithium-ion battery due to the elimination of dendrites.

Rad-Hard CMOS Crystal Oscillator

The oscillator is designed for localized clock signal generation and data transmission in telemetry systems and remote sensing.

Fine-Tuning Alloys for High-Temperature Use

Superalloys that withstand extremely high temperatures could be finely tuned for specific properties such as mechanical strength.

Electronic Hardware System Replicates Many Network Architectures

The circuitry uses race logic to solve complex problems with a minimum expenditure of energy.

Flexible Organic Photovoltaics

These organic solar cells can be useful where constant, low power generation is sufficient.

Nearly Pain-Free Microneedle Patch

The patch can replace blood draws to test for antibodies that signal a viral or bacterial infection such as SARS-CoV-2.

Rolled 2D Heterostructures

The technology potentially enables a new generation of miniaturized electronic and optoelectronic devices.

Sound Waves Power Advances in Smart Materials

High-frequency sound waves can be used to build new materials, make smart nanoparticles, and even deliver drugs to the lungs for painless, needle-free vaccinations.

Ultrahigh-Energy-Density Capacitor

By introducing defects to a common material, a highly efficient capacitor offers dramatically increased energy density.

Facility Focus: Worcester Polytechnic Institute

WPI supports research in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, cybersecurity, and fire safety.

Periodic Wave Disc Brake Rotor

The lightweight brake rotor design with high heat dissipation uses novel surface cooling technology.

Safer, Longer-Lasting, Solid-State Batteries

Solid-state batteries offer a higher level of safety and potentially longer life than lithium-ion batteries.

Reduced Heat Leakage Improves Wearable Health Device

A flexible device worn on the wrist harvests heat energy from the human body to monitor health.

Wearable Device Captures Cancer Cells from Blood

By capturing more cancer cells than blood draw screening, this device could help doctors understand a tumor’s biology and make decisions about treatment.

UpFront: August 2021 Tech Briefs

NASA's Landslide Reporter, a smarter cement, and a way to track microplastics in the ocean.

NASA CO₂ Removal System Integrates High-Speed Blower

After rigorous ground testing, NASA’s Four Bed Carbon Dioxide Scrubber will be installed on the ISS.

Products of Tomorrow

A new COVID test, a "ChromoUpdate," and NASA's brake rotor.