Engineering news
Robotics
Autonomous navigation of microrobots in complex flows demonstrated for the first time
For the first time, researchers at Leipzig University have shown that tiny synthetic microswimmers can perceive their surroundings directly through their own body shape and autonomously adapt to rapidly changing fluid flows. ...
5 hours ago
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Engineering
Dual electrode system cracks seawater electrolysis deposit problem
A research team led by Dr. Ji-Hyung Han from the Convergence Research Center of Sector Coupling & Integration at the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) has developed a new seawater electrolysis system that overcomes ...
8 hours ago
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Thermal cameras used in drones and robots can be tricked by heat sources, study finds
As thermal cameras become commonplace on autonomous drones and vehicles, a University of Florida engineering professor is working to make sure they can't be maliciously tricked into "seeing" things that aren't there.
11 hours ago
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First-of-its-kind ion pump developed for seawater desalination, energy and biomedical applications
Researchers at the University of California, Irvine, Israel's Tel Aviv University and other institutions have developed a first-of-its-kind membrane through which charged molecules pass using nothing more than a rapidly switching ...
Mar 16, 2026
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Engineered yeast gives the US a green edge in the critical minerals market
There is a new, U.S.-based, environmentally friendly method for mining rare-earth elements used in consumer electronics, clean energy, defense and biomedical imaging. By using oxalic acid made by sugar-eating engineered yeast, ...
Mar 16, 2026
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Robotics
4D printing technology uses waste sulfur to enable self-actuating soft robots
A joint research team led by Dr. Dong-Gyun Kim of the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), Professor Jeong Jae Wie of Hanyang University, and Professor Yong Seok Kim of Sejong University report the world's ...
Mar 16, 2026
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Engineering
New model tests hundreds of MTA subway flood defenses in one minute
As transit agencies face growing climate risks and limited capital budgets, deciding which flood protection measures to implement—and where—has become a critical challenge. Now, a research team at NYU Tandon School of ...
Mar 16, 2026
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Engineering
No battery needed: Single organic device can act as both indoor solar cell and photodetector
Next-generation optoelectronic systems (devices that convert light to electrical energy) leverage organic semiconductor-based indoor energy-autonomous architectures for cutting-edge applications. Notably, organic semiconductors ...
Mar 14, 2026
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Engineering
Microscopic metal 'thorns' shed light on how lithium-ion batteries short-circuit
For the first time, scientists have observed how tiny metal "thorns" called dendrites sprout inside lithium-ion batteries, which can cause the batteries to short-circuit. Their findings, published in the journal Science, ...
Mar 12, 2026
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Engineering
Dripping paint: Research resolves annoyance that hindered Michelangelo's 'The Creation of Adam'
More than 500 years ago, Michelangelo spent four years painting "The Creation of Adam" on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, struggling with paint dripping onto his face. He described the process as "closer to torture than ...
Mar 12, 2026
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Engineering
A new disaster recovery algorithm prioritizes fairness in aid delivery
When natural disasters or extreme weather events hit, delivering aid quickly and efficiently to those affected is crucial. Humanitarian relief efforts commonly rely on the combination of trucks and drones as a "tag team" ...
Mar 12, 2026
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Engineering
A microphone that can sort sounds and measure noise could be coming to a construction site near you
Do you want to know how much noise there is on a construction site? You want to measure the sound of the excavator or the hammer drill, but you don't want to measure seagulls, traffic noise or a helicopter flying by. Now ...
Mar 12, 2026
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Engineering
Low-cost, high-performance plastic heat exchanger rivals traditional metal systems
A recent study in Advanced Science reports an innovative, low-cost polymer heat exchanger that could transform how industries manage heat. The device was developed by a Rice University research team led by Daniel J. Preston, ...
Mar 11, 2026
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Engineering
An overlooked step in battery recycling: Pre-treatment may account for 38% of environmental impact
New research shows pre-treatment in lithium-ion battery recycling drives environmental impact and recovery of valuable metals—yet it is often overlooked in recycling strategies. Published in Nature Sustainability, the Monash ...
Mar 11, 2026
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Engineering
Atom-thin material could help solve chip manufacturing problem
Making computer chips smaller is not just about better design. It also depends on a critical step in manufacturing called patterning, where nanoscale structures are carved into materials to form the circuits inside everything ...
Mar 10, 2026
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Engineering
Hair-thin 'soft yarn' actuator fiber moves with electricity
Researchers at Tohoku University, working with international collaborators in France, have developed an ultrafine "soft yarn" actuator fiber capable of bending, contracting, and producing complex three-dimensional movements ...
Mar 10, 2026
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Robotics
Robot hands so sensitive they can grab a potato chip
A new type of robotic hand developed at The University of Texas at Austin demonstrates such sensitive touch that it can grasp objects as fragile as a potato chip or a raspberry without crushing them. The technology, called ...
Mar 10, 2026
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Engineering
PFAS waste can be used to extract lithium from high-salinity brine pools
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are primarily thought of as environmental pollutants, and most research on them focuses on removing them from the environment. Rice researcher James Tour, however, has ...
Mar 10, 2026
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Engineering
Can tomorrow's grid handle extremes? New simulations test renewables far faster
As power grids add more renewable energy and large-scale battery storage, utilities face a growing challenge: how to stress-test tomorrow's electricity systems before investing billions to build them. Wind, solar and battery-backed ...
Mar 9, 2026
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Engineering
Ice electrolyte can power battery: Researchers unlock lithium conduction in solid organic electrolytes
A research team affiliated with UNIST has demonstrated that liquid electrolytes, when frozen, can still facilitate lithium-ion conduction sufficient for battery operation—challenging the traditional view that electrolytes ...
Mar 9, 2026
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Engineering
For precision tech, a hydrogen-tuned crystal could cancel thermal expansion
Scientists from Tokyo Metropolitan University have discovered that a hydrogen-absorbing material shrinks in one direction upon heating, so-called negative thermal expansion (NTE). They found that this NTE is driven by a phase ...
Mar 9, 2026
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Robotics
New ultra-low-cost technique could slash the price of soft robotics
Engineers at Oxford University have developed a rapid, ultra-low-cost method for manufacturing soft robots using common lab equipment. The method has been published in Advanced Science. The new technique enables researchers ...
Mar 8, 2026
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Engineering
Tiny thermometers offer on-chip temperature monitoring for processors
The semiconductor chips driving modern-day computer processors are covered in billions of individual transistors, each of which can overheat under stress, causing steep drops in performance. To address this, a team led by ...
Mar 6, 2026
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Engineering
Listening to the body's quietest, yet most dynamic movements with a wearable sensor
The human body continuously generates a rich spectrum of vibrations—often without us ever noticing. Everyday unconscious activities such as breathing, speaking, and swallowing all produce subtle yet distinct mechanical ...
Mar 5, 2026
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Engineering
Non-destructive battery testing with ultralow-field nuclear magnetic resonance
Rechargeable batteries are everywhere—from portable electronic devices and electric vehicles to renewable energy storage. Battery failures are often due to the loss or chemical degradation of the electrolyte.
Mar 5, 2026
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