Building Magnetically Responsive Robots and Materials

A lollipop gripper is one demonstration of a new type of soft magnetic hydrogel developed by engineers at MIT and their collaborators at EPFL in Switzerland and the University of Cincinnati. The MIT team reports on a new method to print and fabricate the gel, which can be made into complex, magnetically activated three-dimensional structures. Read on to learn more.

Products of Tomorrow

See the products of the month, including a new method that automatically keeps a fleet of robots moving smoothly; inspiration for a new class of materials built on interlocking particles; and a new chip design that could improve how GPUs convert and manage power.

NASA Fires Up Powerful Lithium-Fed Thruster for Trips to Mars

A prototype of an electric thruster was tested in a special chamber at NASA’s JPL. With further development, thrusters like this could be part of a nuclear electric propulsion system powering human missions to Mars.

How Much Do You Know About Aircraft Safety?

In 2025, the global aviation industry transported under 5 billion passengers across 38.7 million flights. And yet commercial aviation continues to be one of the safest modes of public transportation — there were 1.32 accidents per million sectors in 2025. What keeps all those aircraft safe? Take this quiz to find out.

5Ws of Perched Drones

A new robotic platform developed by Aithon Robotics enables safe, efficient work at height by combining drone mobility with human capability.

Floating Piston Valve

A valve developed by NASA Stennis Space Center consists of a solid piston floating in a medium to control the flow stream. The piston is designed to be axially and radially balanced within the flow stream whether the valve is in the open or closed position. This valve has many unique features and design advantages over conventional valve concepts. Read on to learn more.

Magnetocaloric Heat Pumps: The Future of Sustainable Cooling and Heating

A team of researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy Ames National Laboratory developed a magnetocaloric heat pump that matches current vapor-compression heat pumps for weight, cost, and performance. Read on to learn more about it.

Supersonic Spike Diffuser

A new type of spike diffuser recently developed by NASA Stennis Space Center is able to provide approximately double the pumping performance of second-throat diffusers via Pareto-efficient reduction of both core Mach number and flow deflection. Read on to learn more about it.

UAVs and the Future of Urban Logistics: Rethinking Congestion in the Supply Chain

To keep pace with rising delivery demand and sustainability goals, municipalities are beginning to reimagine the supply chain. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, aka drones, are emerging as one potential solution. Read on to learn more.

Celebrate 50 Years of Tech Briefs: Share Your Story

Thank you to everyone who shared their Tech Briefs story. We are no longer accepting submissions. Watch for featured stories in our September issue.  

Redefining the Automotive Industry with Versatile Innovation

In November 2023, technology development company Ganaio’s regenerative damper won the Automotive/Transportation category at the Create the Future contest. Find out what they’ve been up to since then.

Advancing Nuclear Fusion Space Propulsion

U.K.-based Pulsar Fusion has tested the physical architecture of a nuclear fusion exhaust system for space travel.

Bridging the Gap Between Analog and Digital Factory Automation Through Integrated Valves

Digital innovations in hydraulic components, such as digitally enhanced high-response directional valves, are moving the needle for machine builders and raising performance standards for machine builders. As hydraulic systems evolve, smart technology is enabling deeper connectivity for more productive machines. Read on to learn more.

Baby Turtles Inspire a New Swimmer Bot

A team of roboticists at the University of California San Diego has developed a robot that can swim under the sand and dig itself out too, thanks to two front limbs that mimic the oversized flippers of turtle hatchlings. Read on to learn more about it.

Meet PASE: The Pneumatically Actuated Soft Elbow Exoskeleton

For workers whose jobs involve hours of lifting and repetitive motion, even small innovations can make a big difference in preventing future musculoskeletal disorders. That’s why engineers at The University of Texas at Arlington have developed PASE (Pneumatically Actuated Soft Elbow Exoskeleton), a soft robotic exoskeleton that lightens the load — literally — by reducing strain on the arm and elbow. Read on to learn more.

Soft Robots That Can Walk on Water

Imagine a tiny robot, no bigger than a leaf, gliding across a pond’s surface like a water strider. One day, devices like this could track pollutants, collect water samples, or scout flooded areas too risky for people. Baoxing Xu, Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Virginia’s School of Engineering and Applied Science, is pioneering a way to build them. Read on to learn more.