Microbe chews through PFAS and other tough contaminants
In a series of lab tests, a relatively common soil bacterium has demonstrated its ability to break down the difficult-to-remove class of pollutants called PFAS, researchers said.
Read moreCivil Engineering
Hyperbolic paraboloid origami harnesses bistability to enable new applications
Researchers are looking the 'hypar' origami for ways to leverage its structural properties.
Read moreAcoustic energy harnessed to soften shear-thickening fluids
Researchers are using ultrasonic waves to manipulate the viscosity of shear-thickening materials, turning solids to slush — and back again.
Read moreNew method reveals how damage occurs in human biological cells due to mechanical fatigue
Researchers have developed a novel way to measure how mechanical fatigue affects biological cells. They also have established the important role of this effect in influencing physical properties of biological cells such as red blood cells (RBCs). This new technique assesses the mechanical integrity and fatigue behavior of RBCs using a general microfluidics method that incorporates amplitude-modulated electro-deformation. This method has important applications for mechanical fatigue studies in conjunction with other microenvironments related to health and materials engineering.
Read moreResearchers build microscopic biohybrid robots propelled by muscles, nerves
Researchers have developed soft robotic devices driven by neuromuscular tissue that triggers when stimulated by light — bringing mechanical engineering one step closer to developing autonomous biobots.
Using smart sensor technology in building design
In today's world, spaces with motion and temperature 'smart sensors' are common and generally improve our overall well-being. However, research indicated that while the information and technology exists to assist architects in designing structures that offer more efficient space and energy management, they seldom take advantage of those available resources.
Read moreParamagnetic spins take electrons for a ride, produce electricity from heat
Local thermal perturbations of spins in a solid can convert heat to energy even in a paramagnetic material — where spins weren't thought to correlate long enough to do so. This effect, which the researchers call 'paramagnon drag thermopower,' converts a temperature difference into an electrical voltage.
Read moreTeam discovers polymorph selection during crystal growth can be thermodynamically driven
Scientists provide solid calculation to demonstrate the structural transformation in colloidal crystallization can be entirely thermodynamic, in contrast to the kinetic argument, from both theoretical and computational perspectives.
Read moreGroovy! These grooved patterns better mitigate shock waves
Engineers have discovered a method that could make materials more resilient against massive shocks such as earthquakes or explosions. They found that cutting small grooves in obstacle materials diminished the impacts of what's called the reflected shock wave–once the initial wave has hit the spiral of obstacles and bounced back.
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