nanotechnology

A decades-old patent from MIT Professor Bill Freeman inspired the new “Y-zipper,” a three-sided fastener that can snap gear, robots, and art into shape with the push of a button. Long before shape-shifting robots and self-assembling structures became engineering goals, one MIT professor had already imagined a zipper that could transform floppy materials into rigid [...]

Some time ago I posted this Raspberry PI DIY Mass Spec using Raman Scattering . It's was something of a cumbersome project though, needing a 3D printer and special heat-resistant plastic giving of carcinogenic fumes during printing. To be blunt it was also not very mobile and interpreting... Read more

Scientific Reports, Published online: 24 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41598-026-54692-w Flashover prediction of polluted composite insulators based on arc time constant and velocity using CNN–LSTM

A curious laboratory observation led us to an unexpected discovery: electronic skin that forms in just two seconds. By harnessing metal-coordination-driven molecular assembly, cellulose molecules rapidly assemble into an ultrathin, conductive, and biodegradable membrane.

A breakthrough lithium-extraction method could help solve one of clean energy’s dirtiest problems. Researchers at Columbia Engineering have developed a fast new technique that pulls lithium directly from salty underground brines using a temperature-sensitive solvent, avoiding the giant evaporation ponds that can take years and drain precious water supplies. Even better, the method works on low-qu…

IntroductionReliable electrical interfacing between additively manufactured conductive polymer anodes and external circuits remains a key challenge in biophotovoltaic (BPV) systems, particularly due to debonding failures during operation. This study aims to identify interface configurations that enhance mechanical stability and electrical performance while maintaining biocompatibility, thereby im…

Engineering faculty will pursue development of wide/ultrawide bandgap semiconductors for use in harsh environments, to improve communications and more.

Engineering faculty will pursue development of wide/ultrawide bandgap semiconductors for use in harsh environments, to improve communications and more. The post Texas Tech Receives $4.5 Million Grant to Advance Semiconductor Research appeared first on Semiconductor Digest .

Researchers have developed a new method to overcome long-standing challenges in manipulating nanowires--tiny, rod-shaped structures essential for next-generation electronics, quantum devices, and biological sensors. The technique combines holographic optical tweezers with an alternating current (AC) electric field to pre-align nanowires before trapping them. This hybrid approach significantly imp…

Researchers report an IR nozzle preheating method that boosts PEI extrusion strength and cuts warping while avoiding a 200C chamber. The post IR Nozzle Preheat Lifts PEI FFF Strength, Stability appeared on Fabbaloo .

Nature Communications, Published online: 20 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-73483-5 The study builds a digital twin of a power substation and combines topology, alarms, waveforms, and measurements using attention-based graph models to diagnose fault location, fault type, and protection failures with robust performance under noise and missing data.

The Liquid Oxygen Flight demonstration (LOXSAT) will help NASA test and develop technologies to support in-space transfer and storage of cryogenic propellants, critical abilities for the Artemis program to return astronauts to the moon.

Insider Brief PRESS RELEASE — The research group, including Professor Tsai Hanshen, Special Assistant Professor Matsuda Takuya (at the time of the study), and Professor Nakatsuji Tomo of the Graduate School of Science at the University of Tokyo, is comprised of Professor Arita Ryotaro of the Graduate School of Science (and Team Director of the […]

US-based manufacturing company Skuld is leading a DARPA Rubble to Rockets (R2R) program effort to convert scrap metal into structural parts through advanced casting and AI-assisted analysis.  The company has filed a patent application covering its ability to cast wrought-grade aluminum alloys, including 6061 and 7075, directly from scrap feedstock. That detail reframes what might…

Researchers at Imperial College London have developed a computational framework for the inverse design of nonlinear mechanical metamaterials, using topology optimization to generate microscale unit cells from prescribed homogenized stress–strain targets. Published in Advanced Engineering Materials, the study was authored by Charlie Aveline, Matthew Santer, and Robert Hewson from Imperial College …

The National Science Foundation is channeling $1.5 billion over the next decade into independent research teams. Focus areas include quantum systems and next-generation scientific instruments. The news comes even as the agency navigates proposed budget cuts that would slash its funding by more than half and a grant pipeline that has slowed dramatically under the… The post NSF bets $1.5B on X-Labs…

Berlin-based 3D printer manufacturer BigRep GmbH and Technical University of Berlin spin-off Endless Industries have entered a long-term global technology partnership focused on bringing continuous fiber reinforcement to large-format additive manufacturing (LFAM) at an industrial scale.  The announcement, made on April 30, 2026, follows two years of joint development and marks the beginning of a&…

Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a method that uses additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, to fabricate custom canisters for powder metallurgical hot isostatic pressing, streamlining production of large-scale metal components used in aerospace, energy and medical applications.

dc.title: Oxygen Saturation as a Strategy to Mitigate User-Induced Variation in Tomographic Volumetric Additive Manufacturing dc.description.abstract: Tomographic Volumetric Additive Manufacturing (TVAM), also known as Computed Axial Lithography (CAL), offers unparalleled geometric freedom and speed but faces challenges with inconsistency caused by user-induced variation. This paper presents nove…