Topics

3D-Printed Nanosatellite Thruster Emits Pure Ions

The thruster provides a low-cost, extremely efficient propulsion source for miniature satellites.

Rotating Detonation Engines for Rocket Propulsion

These engines will allow upper stage rockets for space missions to become lighter, travel farther, and burn more cleanly.

Carbon-Based Air Quality Sensor

This affordable, scalable sensor could be a vital tool in the fight against air pollution and its associated health risks.

Catalyst Makes Styrene Manufacturing Cheaper and Greener

This could reduce the environmental impact of styrene manufacturing.

Predicting In-Flight Air Density for More Accurate Landing

An algorithm runs onboard a vehicle, providing important real-time data to aid in steering the craft.

Hinge Design Helps Quadrotors Climb

The new hinge is the key to get loadbearing, large quadrotors to climb a few dozen feet in seconds.

Hybrid Propellant Formulation Uses Graphene Foams

This method increases burn rate of solid propellants.

System Helps Drones Detect and Avoid Power Lines

This technology provides drones sufficient time and distance to react, avoid wires, and navigate follow-on maneuvers.

Cleaner, Faster Flight is on the Horizon

These 6 advancements are leading us to cleaner, faster aircraft.

Smart Aerogel Turns Air into Drinking Water

This invention achieves sustainable freshwater production in a variety of climates at minimal energy cost.

3D Printing of Gels and Soft Materials

A new method could jump-start the creation of tiny medical devices for the body.

Chip Delivers COVID-19 Test Results on a Smartphone

Programmed magnetic nanobeads are used to detect the virus in 55 minutes or less.

Rocket Thruster Exploits the Mechanism Behind Solar Flares

Thrusters based on magnetic reconnection could complete long-distance missions in a shorter period of time.

Device Measures Toxic Lead in Minutes

The portable lab-on-a-chip detects many contaminants in water supplies.

Navigation Algorithm Enables Drones to Learn Acrobatic Maneuvers

Autonomous quadcopters can be trained using simulations to increase their speed, agility, and efficiency.

Turbulence Model for Design of Aircraft Capable of Handling Extreme Scenarios

This model can be used to design better aircraft without having to wait months for supercomputer calculations.

Cord Tension Measurement Device

Potential applications include parachutes, hot air balloons, weather balloons, blimps, sails, and parasails.

Wafer-Thin Nanopaper Changes from Firm to Soft at the Touch of a Button

Bioinspired cellulose nanofibrils can be controlled by electricity.

Q&A: Platform Converts Headphones from 'Dumb' to 'Smart'

Rutgers researcher Xiaoran Fan developed a "HeadFi" method that uses ordinary headphones as sensors.

Enhancing Hybrid Flow Battery Electrodes with Nanomaterials

This technology provides highly efficient grid-scale electricity storage at a fifth of the cost of current storage technologies.

Wireless Charging for Lunar Robots

See how WiBotic — a maker of wireless charging and fleet energy management technologies — is preparing robots for the Moon.

Product of the Month

A smart temperature transmitter delivers measurements via Bluetooth.

A First Step for Humans on Mars: NASA's Rover Makes Oxygen

The technology demonstration is a first step in showing that humans could someday live (and breathe) on Mars.

A Scalable Method for the Large-Area Integration of 2D Materials

Two-dimensional (2D) materials have a huge potential for providing devices with much smaller size and extended functionalities with respect to what can be achieved with...

Record-Breaking Heat Conduction Material Will Save Computer Chips

In collaboration with groups from China and the United States, a research team from TU Wien set out to find the optimal heat conductor. They finally found what they were...

Transistors Built from Ultra-Thin 2D Materials Take a Step Forward

Two-dimensional materials can be used to create smaller, high-performance transistors than the ones traditionally made of silicon, according to Professor Saptarshi Das of...

A Photonic 'Sunflower' Offers New Ideas for Light-Driven Systems

Taking inspiration from the insect, Tufts researchers created light-activated composite devices that execute precise, visible movements and form complex three-dimensional shapes, like a "photonic sunflower. "