Engineering

Next-generation materials offer integrated solutions to water treatment challenges

The water we use every day is purified in wastewater treatment plants and discharged into rivers, and in recent years, the reuse of treated water for domestic and industrial use has been expanding to solve the water shortage problem.

30/05/2025 20:58

Engineers develop self-healing muscle for robots

A University of Nebraska–Lincoln engineering team is another step closer to developing soft robotics and wearable systems that mimic the ability of human and plant skin to detect and self-heal injuries.

30/05/2025 18:47

NASA tech gives treadmill users a 'boost'

Creators of the original antigravity treadmill continue to advance technology with a new company.

30/05/2025 16:41

Burning out? An e-tattoo can track mental strain

Ever thought so long and hard on a problem that your forehead grew hot, your brain became frazzled and your eyes grew bleary?

29/05/2025 22:10

Geopolymer technology turns recycled glass and construction waste into a durable and green construction material

With global population growth accelerating urban expansion, construction activity has reached unprecedented levels—placing immense pressure on both natural resources as well as the environment. A cornerstone of modern-day infrastructure, Ordinary Portland Cement remains the most effective and commonly used soil solidifier despite contributing substantially to global carbon emissions.

29/05/2025 21:51

Laser technique improves ultra-high temperature ceramic manufacturing for space and defense applications

Researchers have demonstrated a new technique that uses lasers to create ceramics that can withstand ultra-high temperatures, with applications ranging from nuclear power technologies to spacecraft and jet exhaust systems.

29/05/2025 19:30

Ultra-light robotic prosthetic hand enables efficient and stable grasping through simple control

An ultra-light robotic prosthetic hand has been developed that enables both precision fingertip control and shape-adaptive gripping through simple motion commands. The hand features an innovative mechanism that allows two degrees of freedom in the thumb (adduction/abduction and flexion/extension) to be independently controlled by a single actuator, achieving exceptional user convenience and weight reduction.

29/05/2025 18:35

Earthquake simulator to test 10-story steel-framed building

A 10-story cold-formed steel-framed building will soon be put to the test on an earthquake simulator at the University of California San Diego to see how well it can withstand earthquakes.

29/05/2025 18:25

Razor-thin solution makes fuel cells cheaper and more environmentally friendly

Fuel cells that run on hydrogen are efficient and emit water vapor instead of exhaust. But so far, the technology is still expensive and therefore not competitive with the electric motor alternative.

29/05/2025 17:06

AI-augmented models improve chemical grouting predictions in complex soils

Soil liquefaction—the process where saturated soil loses its structure and transforms to a fluid-like state—can have devastating outcomes, as evidenced by the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011. Large-scale liquefaction during this disaster damaged thousands of houses in the Tokyo Bay area, posing a formidable challenge to infrastructure in Japan.

28/05/2025 23:32

Ultra-thin protective coating boosts cadmium telluride solar cell performance by 13%

An NYU Tandon-led research team has developed a novel technique to significantly enhance the performance of cadmium telluride (CdTe) solar cells. Unlike conventional silicon panels that use thick layers of silicon, these solar cells use a simpler, less expensive approach—depositing an ultra-thin layer of cadmium and tellurium compounds onto glass.

28/05/2025 23:15

Robot morphs midair to switch from flying to rolling on terrain

Specialized robots that can both fly and drive typically touch down on land before attempting to transform and drive away. But when the landing terrain is rough, these robots sometimes get stuck and are unable to continue operating.

28/05/2025 23:02

VR could help train employees working with robots

Working with robots is becoming more common in the recycling industry, helping automate tasks and making complicated work easier. But training human employees to work with robots can be difficult and time-consuming.

28/05/2025 19:33

Composite material keeps solar panels cool, boosting longevity by more than 200%

A team of international researchers led by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia has developed a new composite material made of acrylate that enhances the performance of solar cells. Adhering the composite material to solar cells deployed in Saudi Arabia for weeks significantly raised the power output and longevity while reducing the electricity consumed by the cells. The study can be read in Materials Science and Engineering: R: Reports.

28/05/2025 19:23

AI-powered manufacturing cuts battery defects and costs

A team of researchers affiliated with UNIST has successfully integrated artificial intelligence (AI) technology into the manufacturing process of lithium-ion battery cathode precursors, reducing defect rates and enhancing production efficiency. This advancement is expected to save over 2 billion won annually in production costs.

28/05/2025 15:37

Dehydration warning at your fingertips: Touchscreen tech tracks body water levels

The holy month of Ramadan is a sacred time when millions of Muslims around the world embark on a profound spiritual journey of fasting, prayer, and reflection. But it is also a time when many face serious health risks, as going without food or water from sunrise to sunset—often in scorching heat—can lead to dangerous levels of dehydration.

27/05/2025 22:11

Nets and high-tech hijackings: Anti-drone systems offer new ways to counter rising threats

Drones have harassed airports and bedeviled local police. They have trespassed over nuclear plants and prisons. On the battlefield, they can kill.

27/05/2025 20:10

Machine learning simplifies industrial laser processes for metals

Laser-based processes for metals are considered to be particularly versatile in industry. Lasers can be used, for example, to precision-weld components together or produce more complex parts using 3D printing—quickly, precisely and automatically. This is why laser processes are used in numerous sectors, such as the automotive and aviation industries, where maximum precision is required, or in medical technology, for example for the production of customized titanium implants.

27/05/2025 19:51

Ultra-thin display technology shows dozens of images hidden in a single screen

From smartphones and TVs to credit cards, technologies that manipulate light are deeply embedded in our daily lives, many of which are based on holography. However, conventional holographic technologies have faced limitations, particularly in displaying multiple images on a single screen and in maintaining high-resolution image quality.

27/05/2025 18:16

Novel elastic alloy achieves 20x temperature change and 90% Carnot efficiency in solid-state heat pumping

Researchers at the School of Engineering of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have developed a novel elastic alloy called Ti78Nb22, which achieves remarkable efficiency for solid-state heat pumping and exhibits a reversible temperature change (ΔT) ability that is 20 times greater than that of conventional metals when stretched or compressed, offering a promising green alternative to traditional vapor-compression heating and cooling technologies.

26/05/2025 22:40

Proposed wave energy park could generate power while shielding Portuguese coastline

A study by researchers from the Interdisciplinary Center of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR) and the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP) analyzes the potential and feasibility of a wave energy converter park off the coast of Esposende, Portugal, with the dual aim of producing electricity from renewable sources and promoting coastal protection by mitigating local sea waves.

26/05/2025 21:11

Engineered interface layer extends life and enhances safety of next-generation lithium-metal batteries

A research team affiliated with UNIST has unveiled a novel surface processing technique that prolongs the lifespan of lithium-metal batteries (LMBs) while reducing explosion risk.

26/05/2025 17:25

Golden Dome: An aerospace engineer explains the proposed nationwide missile defense system

President Donald Trump announced a plan to build a missile defense system, called the Golden Dome, on May 20, 2025. The system is intended to protect the United States from ballistic, cruise and hypersonic missiles, and missiles launched from space.

24/05/2025 17:10

Property owners urged to take action as study reveals overlooked flood risks

The risk of heavy rainfall and severe flooding increases with climate change. But property owners—regardless of size—often underestimate their own responsibility and are unaware of what preventive measures they can take themselves. In a new scientific article, researchers from Linköping University, Sweden, show how to go about preventive work.

22/05/2025 23:23

A new approach could fractionate crude oil using much less energy

Separating crude oil into products such as gasoline, diesel, and heating oil is an energy-intensive process that accounts for about 6% of the world's CO2 emissions. Most of that energy goes into the heat needed to separate the components by their boiling point.

22/05/2025 22:59

Researchers use AI to 'see' beyond a structure's facade in Google Street View

Researchers at the University of Toronto have developed a method that uses artificial intelligence (AI) and Google Maps' Street View images to glean more detailed information about buildings—such as their age and floor area.

22/05/2025 21:49

3D printers leave hidden 'fingerprints' that reveal part origins

A new artificial intelligence system pinpoints the origin of 3D printed parts down to the specific machine that made them. The technology could allow manufacturers to monitor their suppliers and manage their supply chains, detecting early problems and verifying that suppliers are following agreed upon processes.

22/05/2025 19:48

Motion sickness technology could alleviate symptoms for passengers in today's cars, and tomorrow's

Few weekends send more people on long car journeys than Memorial Day Weekend, with AAA estimating as many as 39 million people hitting the road this year. But unfortunately, motion sickness could make those trips uncomfortable and unpleasant for many people.

22/05/2025 18:41

Inside Safe-Construct: The AI system built for the world's most dangerous workplaces

Every day, millions of workers step onto construction sites—arguably some of the most hazardous environments in modern industry. Despite years of safety protocols, equipment upgrades, and training programs, construction continues to rank among the top industries for workplace injuries and fatalities worldwide. For years, we've asked: Could artificial intelligence help? So far, the results have been mixed.

22/05/2025 14:10

Metal fleeces boost battery energy density by enabling thicker, faster-charging electrodes

Batteries are becoming more and more powerful. A discovery by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research in Heidelberg could now give them a significant energy boost.

21/05/2025 22:30