With speeds of over 1-million frames per second, high-speed imaging is an invaluable research tool capable of capturing the most fleeting events in scientific and engineering applications. Yet, achieving this speed comes with strings attached. Most high-speed cameras are designed to achieve a maximu

A hyphenated instrument is one that blends the capabilities of two different technologies to form a new analytical technique with novel abilities. The microscope spectrophotometer is one such hyphenated instrument; it is a hybrid that combines the magnifying power of an optical microscope with analy

Electronic complexity in automobiles has increased rapidly, making testing these electronic sub-assemblies very challenging. Aerospace electronic engineers have their own unique testing needs driven by requirements for long operating life, high reliability, and hostile environmental conditions. In t

For people with prosthetic limbs, one of the greatest challenges is controlling the prosthesis so that it moves the same way a natural limb would. Most prosthetic limbs are controlled using electromyography — a way of recording electrical activity from the muscles — but this approach provides only l

Each human fingertip has more than 3,000 touch receptors that largely respond to pressure. Humans rely heavily on sensation in their fingertips when manipulating an object, so the lack of this sensation presents a unique challenge for individuals with upper limb amputations. While there are several

In a recent study, scientists from Tokyo University of Science (TUS) developed a novel self-powered diaper sensor that generates the required electricity directly from urine using a biofuel cell. The proposed device can wirelessly transmit the measured glucose concentration and notify the presence o

Columbia Engineers have developed the smallest single-chip system that is a complete functioning electronic circuit; implantable chips visible only in a microscope point the way to developing chips that can be injected into the body with a hypodermic needle to monitor medical conditions. Widely used

Researchers have determined how built-in resonators handle vibrations under a variety of scenarios. Resonators are devices that help manage vibrations — some vehicles have them to limit the sound emitted from a car’s muffler and some bridges and buildings use them to limit noise and movement from th

While invisible to the human eye, UV rays surround us in our environment, and excessive exposure can cause health issues including skin cancer and premature skin aging. The intensity of UV rays is typically reported through an index during weather reports. A wearable device, such as a T-shirt or wat

Accurate thermal performance information, including effective thermal conductivity data, are needed as a result of advances in polymers and composites, along with growing industrial needs in below ambient temperature applications. NASA Kennedy developed a method for measuring thermal performance of

From microwave ovens to Wi-Fi connections, the radio waves that permeate the environment are not just signals of energy consumed but are also sources of energy themselves. Researchers have developed a way to harvest energy from radio waves to power wearable devices. Current energy sources for wear

A real-time 3D motion tracking system combines transparent light detectors with advanced neural network methods to create a system that could one day replace LiDAR and cameras in autonomous technologies. The imaging system exploits the advantages of transparent, nanoscale, highly sensitive graphene

Solar or photovoltaic (PV) cells fixed to roofs convert sunlight into electricity. Bringing that technology indoors could further boost the energy efficiency of buildings and energize swaths of wireless smart technologies such as smoke alarms, cameras, and temperature sensors. A straightforward appr

A team of researchers has bioengineered a microbe to efficiently turn waste into itaconic acid, an industrial chemical used in plastics and paints. Producing itaconic acid currently involves fungi feeding on relatively pure sugars, which can be expensive. The team used lignin, a waste product from

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are envisioned to operate much closer to each other in low-altitude airspace than in the conventional high-altitude air traffic system and therefore impose challenges not only to the vehicle design but also to the development of a safe yet efficient low-altitude air t

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory developed an imaging system suitable for use in a periscope head that yields a non-rotating 360-degree view of the surrounding environment. With conventional periscopes, the instantaneous field of view (FOV) is limited by the entrance aperture, so the user sees an ap

Battery optimization generally involves a tradeoff between energy (the amount it can store) and power density (the rate of its release), all of which depends on the materials, their configurations, and such internal structures as porosity. There are adjustable parameters associated with the structur

NASA Cites Winners of CO2 Conversion Challenge On Earth, plants use sunlight to turn carbon dioxide (CO2) into sugars for energy. On Mars, there aren’t plants and oceans but there is an abundance of CO2. A recent NASA challenge awarded teams that demonstrated systems to convert CO2 into sugar, which

Industrial programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and their associated operations technology (OT) software and communication protocols have traditionally been best suited for localized installations. They lacked the computing performance, connectivity options, and security needed to easily integrate

Researchers have developed a product to detect chemical weapons accurately at low concentration levels. The Chemical Agent Disclosure Spray and the Contamination Indicator/Decontamination Assurance System (CIDAS) incorporates enzymes into polymers that would be stabilized for use outside the cell an