Topics

Portable Science Enclosure Features Unique Innovations

Innovators at NASA Johnson Space Center have designed a science enclosure system for science experiments conducted aboard the International Space Station (ISS). It allows users the ability to safely manipulate objects of study within the transparent enclosure by utilizing protective boundary layer innovations whose designs may be transferable to other containment systems.

New Technique Pinpoints Nanoscale ‘Hot Spots’ in Electronics

When electronic devices like laptops or smartphones overheat, they are fundamentally suffering from a nanoscale heat transfer problem. Pinpointing the source of that problem...

Advances and Innovations in Assistive Robotics

Exploring advances and innovations in assistive robotics.

Improved GaN-Based Semiconductor Devices for Power Electronics

A study led by Nagoya University in Japan revealed that a simple thermal reaction of gallium nitride (GaN) with metallic magnesium (Mg) results in the formation of a distinctive...

International Space Station Uses Cordierite Ceramic Mirror for Optical Communication

A cordierite ceramic mirror was used first time in experimental equipment to conduct optical communication between the International Space Station and a mobile optical station on Earth.

RISING STAR AWARDS 2024 JUDGES

  We want to thank our judges for the Rising Star Awards 2024. Our esteemed panel of judges is comprised of leaders from engineering and technology fields who bring decades of experience and expertise to the...

Surgical Precision: Robotics in the Operating Room

Exploring how robotics are enhancing precision and minimizing invasiveness of surgical procedures.

How Much Do You Know About Labs-on-a-Chip

Lab-on-a-Chip (LoC) technology integrates various analyses such as biochemical operations, chemical synthesis, and DNA sequencing onto a single chip, which otherwise would have been performed in a laboratory taking a substantial amount of time. How much do you know about LoCs? Find out with this quiz.

New Dual-Armed Telerobotic System for Hazardous Waste Clean-Up

Because they can go where humans can’t, robots are especially suited for safely working with hazardous nuclear waste. But first, those robots need to become like the humans...

The Future of Space Habitats

No space habitat has yet been constructed beyond Earth orbit, but many design proposals have been made and aerospace engineers are working on new technologies to turn this science fiction into reality. Take this quiz to learn more about space habitats.

Advancing Low-Carbon Building Materials for Construction

UBC’s nature-based solution with locally available earthen materials could aid in building climate-resilient infrastructure.

NASA’s Noise-Testing Tool Finds Applications Beyond Aircraft

Wireless microphone array quickly, cheaply, accurately maps noise from aircraft and much more.

Videos of the Month

See the videos of the month, including one on NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft; one on the Dragonfly rotorcraft and how it was tested multiple times by Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in wind tunnel facilities; one on a team from Los Alamos National Laboratory going to the Haughton Impact Crater on Devon Island, Canada — a frigid environment similar to Mars; and one on engineers at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s Naval Center for Space Technology recently completing robotic payload component level testing.

The Rise of the Celestial Assembly Line

The concept of space factories holds immense potential to revolutionize space exploration and benefit humanity on Earth. By leveraging advancements in 3D printing, robotics, and automation, these celestial assembly lines will pave the way for a more sustainable and cost-effective space economy.

Advancing Technologies for In-Space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing

Greg Richardson leads COSMIC as the Executive Director of the consortium and primary interface to NASA. He is also a principal engineer/scientist in the Human Exploration and Space-flight Division at The Aerospace Corporation. In this interview, he elaborates on the future vision of COSMIC and how the organization will coordinate work to help accelerate ISAM activities that will foster the future space economy.

In-Space Manufacturing of Self-Replicating Machines

How do we get to a future of self-replicating, Von Neumann space probes? What are some of the steps required to convert the Asteroid Belt into a partial Dyson Sphere? The answer lies in ISAM or in-space servicing assembly and manufacturing, 3D printing on-orbit, and fully automated, ‘lights-out’ production on-Earth.

Beyond Earth: The Future of In-Space Servicing

It no longer requires the imagination of Arthur C. Clarke to see where the space industry is headed. We need only to look at every other system of vehicles, appreciate the falling technical roadblocks, and observe the regulations and resources environment. It is with confidence that we ask not, “if?” but, “when?” We invite you to consider, “what’s next?” because almost anything becomes possible with the right foundations in place.

In-Space Manufacturing to Benefit the Future of Human Health on Earth and in Space

As new commercial stations enable the creation of in-space factories that leverage microgravity to improve products for use on Earth, large-scale 3D bioprinting will significantly benefit from it.

Engineering Next-Generation Expandable Habitats for Living in Space

If we were to live and work in space, it’s essential to change the paradigm of affordable habitats in space and economically accommodate venues ranging from science to farming to entertainment and government applications. Expandable modules have the potential to pave the way for humankind’s off-planet existence, whether on the Moon, Mars, or beyond.

Imperceptible Sensors Printed Directly on Human Skin

Researchers have developed a method to make adaptive and eco-friendly sensors that can be directly and imperceptibly printed onto a wide range of biological surfaces.

3D-Printed Mini-Actuators Can Move Small Soft Robots, Lock Them Into New Shapes

Researchers from North Carolina State University have demonstrated miniature soft hydraulic actuators that can be used to control the deformation and motion of...

Scientists Create Soft Robots Mimicking Human Skin to Provide Medical Treatment

Scientists have created innovative soft robots equipped with electronic skins and artificial muscles, allowing them to sense their surroundings and adapt their...

Molecular Crystal Motors Move Like Microbes When Exposed to Light

At first glance, Rabih O. Al-Kaysi’s molecular motors look like the microscopic worms you’d see in a drop of pond water. But these wriggling ribbons are not alive;...

Robotic Device Restores Wavelike Muscular Function in the Body

The soft-robotic prototype, driven by strong magnets controlled by a wearable external actuator, can aid patients suffering from blockages caused by tumors or those requiring stents.

Recreating ‘Star Trek’ Virtual Environments

A system for generating interactive 3D environments, Holodeck generates a virtually limitless range of indoor environments, using AI to interpret users’ requests.

How Much Do You Know About Integrated Building Systems?

Office buildings use a significant portion of the world’s energy resources. Integrated building systems such as HVAC and lighting can significantly reduce that load. How much do you know about integrated building systems? Test your knowledge with this quiz.