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Briefs: Design

Water-Activated Paper Battery

A team of researchers at EMPA have developed a water-activated disposable paper battery.

Briefs: Design

Extending the Lifetime of Organic Aqueous Flow Batteries

Over the course of their research, the team discovered that these anthraquinones decompose slowly over time, regardless of how many times the battery has been used.

Briefs: Lighting

Unprinting Method Removes Toner with Xenon Light

A new way to unprint paper uses intense pulsed light from a xenon lamp.

Briefs: Green Design & Manufacturing

Organic Steam Generator Uses Sunlight to Purify Water

Researchers have developed an inexpensive and eco-friendly steam generator to desalinate and purify water using sunlight.

Articles: Green Design & Manufacturing

Solar Power for Carbon Capture

A solar thermal device mimics photosynthesis to convert carbon dioxide emissions into a clean energy resource.

5 Ws: Green Design & Manufacturing

5 Ws of Gel Film for Water Harvesting

Researchers at The University of Texas, Austin, developed a low-cost gel film made of abundant materials that can pull drinkable water from the air in even the driest climates.

Special Reports: Energy

Power Electronics - August 2022

This compendium of recent articles from the editors of Tech Briefs and Aerospace & Defense Technology looks at the latest advances in power electronics and energy storage for a range of applications including...

5 Ws: Photonics/Optics

5 Ws of Unmanned Lasers for Methane Detection

As concerns rise about methane, a CU startup is working toward plugging the leaks.

Briefs: Energy

A Heat Engine with No Moving Parts

The design could someday enable a fully decarbonized power grid.

Articles: Green Design & Manufacturing

Pushing the Boundaries of Sustainability in Global Materials

Sustainability isn’t just about making sure your discarded water bottle is recycled. It’s also about teaming with global entities to form innovative, technologically solid partnerships.

Articles: Manned Systems

Aeronautics in the 21st Century: Safe. Sustainable. Smart.

Aviation is emerging aggressively from the pandemic to turn setbacks into comebacks.

Special Reports: Transportation

Vehicle Electrification - July 2022

Innovation is happening at a rapid pace in the e-mobility space. Read this compendium of recent articles from the editors of Automotive Engineering and Truck & Off-Highway Engineering to learn about the...

Articles: Energy

Propelling the Future of Sustainable Aviation

Electric aircraft hold tremendous potential to improve emission, noise, and operating economics across a range of different applications in support of the goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

5 Ws: Electronics & Computers

5 Ws of Floating Sensors

Wireless sensors inspired by Dandelions could be used to monitor climate change.

NASA Spinoff: Manufacturing & Prototyping

Combating COVID-19 with Clean Air Tech

NASA-derived air-quality technologies help curtail the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.

Briefs: Green Design & Manufacturing

Method Recycles Facemasks into Roads to Combat COVID-Generated Waste

Making one kilometer of a two-lane road would use up about three million masks.

INSIDER: Green Design & Manufacturing

Micromobility Modes Could Replace One-Fifth of Short Car Trips

Carnegie Mellon University's Corey Harper, an assistant professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Heinz School of Public Policy, led a study that...

Blog: Green Design & Manufacturing

How to Clear Dust from Solar Panels (Without All the Water)

An MIT team has a water-free way to charge up dust on solar panels and repel it away.

INSIDER: Test & Measurement

Smart Grid for Stable, Reliable Electricity Supply

The largest ever simulation of its kind, modeled on the Texas power grid, concluded that consumers stand to save about 15 percent on their annual electric bills by partnering with...

Question of the Week: Green Design & Manufacturing

Will Battery Recycling Efforts Take Off?

Have you listened to the latest episode of our podcast series Here’s an Idea?

Blog: Power

NOx Emission Control: Does High-Temperature Combustion Lead to More Air Pollutants?

An industry expert supports a “diesel engine without the diesel fuel.”

Special Reports: Energy

Engine Technology - March 2022

From diesel to electric to hydrogen, SAE's Truck & Off-Highway Engineering magazine reports on the latest advances in commercial vehicle engines. Stay up to date with this compendium of recent articles...

Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping

3D-Printed Graphene Aerogels for Water Treatment

The aerogels safely remove contaminants from water without releasing any problematic chemical residue.

Briefs: Materials

Self-Sustaining, Intelligent Electronic Microsystems from “Green” Material

Researchers have created an electronic microsystem that can intelligently respond to information inputs without any external energy input, much like a...

Briefs: Propulsion

Process Converts Ethanol to Jet Fuel

A new catalyst and microchannel reactors improve efficiency and cost of the process.

Briefs: Materials

Gel-Like Fluid Prevents Wildfires

The long-lasting, environmentally benign fire-retarding treatment, if used on high-risk areas, could dramatically cut the number of fires that occur each year.