Engineering news
Engineering
Light-controlled microgripper bridges the gap between precision and force
For some time, researchers have used optical tweezers to manipulate tiny objects with incredible precision, using carefully controlled beams of laser light. So far, however, this technique has always come with strict limits ...
9 hours ago
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Engineering
Shake-powered capsule tests and disinfects unsafe drinking water
It is a sobering fact that in the 21st century, 1 in 4 people still lack access to safe, clean drinking water, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The figures increase slightly during natural disasters, when ...
Jun 20, 2026
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Three-armed Sashimi-Bot learns to slice and serve fish like a pro
If you ever need help in the kitchen cutting fish into appetizing bites, a new three-armed robot may be able to help. And that's no easy feat for robots. While they are generally good at picking up rigid objects, something ...
Drones learn to squeeze through narrow gaps using onboard AI control
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, are now widely used for various purposes, ranging from filmmaking and aerial photography to industrial inspection, precision farming and reaching obstructed areas ...
Wet coffee grounds turned into high-grade solid fuel in just 90 seconds
A research team at the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) has developed a technology that converts wet spent coffee grounds directly into high-quality biochar in just 90 seconds, with no drying or ...
Jun 19, 2026
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Engineering
Heat waves: Five reasons why Victorian houses are cooler than modern buildings
More than 4 million homes were built in the U.K. during the Victorian era. Victorian homes were constructed long before the complex computer models used today to design buildings were invented. Yet these homes, built more ...
Jun 19, 2026
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Engineering
Slower heating lets atoms self‑organize into architectures that vastly boost alloy strength
Scientists have revolutionized the way metals are made by using lower and slower heating of alloys to control how atoms self-organize during material manufacturing. The discovery, published in Science by Monash University ...
Jun 18, 2026
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Engineering
NASA tests advanced capabilities for moon and Mars rovers
A prototype rover built with a new design for tackling rugged terrain is helping teams refine capabilities that could one day be used on future lunar and Red Planet missions.
Jun 18, 2026
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Engineering
Ultrathin membranes could transform hydrocarbon processing by slashing energy use
A team of international researchers has developed a new class of ultrathin polymer membranes that can rapidly and selectively separate complex hydrocarbon mixtures, potentially transforming how crude oil is refined and refinery ...
Jun 18, 2026
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Engineering
Data center emissions could be curbed with underground carbon capture
Over the last two decades, annual carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S. have declined significantly. In recent years, however, this trend has slightly reversed, likely due to the explosive growth of data centers. As energy-intensive ...
Jun 18, 2026
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Engineering
Stretchable self-powered sensor delivers stable signals even at 668% elongation
Wearable medical devices that monitor heart rate, respiration and joint movements for long periods without battery concerns, electronic skins that sense external stimuli like human skin, and soft robots made of flexible materials ...
Jun 18, 2026
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Engineering
Ease of use is key to exoskeleton adoption, engineers show
Wearable exoskeletons can help reduce physical strain in the workplace and protect employees from injury, but the technology has yet to achieve widespread adoption. A new study published in PLOS One by engineers at The University ...
Jun 17, 2026
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Engineering
Redesigned high-NA lithography optical system aims to overcome challenges in semiconductor chipmaking
From data centers powering next-generation AI to vital medical technology, cars, and the mobile device or computer you're probably reading this on, semiconductor-based computer chips are essential to modern life.
Jun 17, 2026
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Engineering
Simple coating could make next-generation chip transistors easier to manufacture without damaging ultrathin layers
Inside computer chips are billions of tiny transistors made from silicon. But the material is approaching its limits. In an effort to build smaller, more capable devices, researchers are exploring how they might build transistors ...
Jun 16, 2026
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Robotics
Elephant trunk skin reveals design that could reshape soft robotics
An elephant's trunk is both strong and capable of extremely fine motor movements. With this muscular, boneless structure, an elephant can carry heavy logs—or deftly peel a banana. Lucia Beccai and colleagues studied the skin ...
Jun 16, 2026
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Engineering
Material dents and folds could be engineered into smart surfaces with AI
Wrinkles or dents appearing on material surfaces are often regarded as signs of damage or deformation. In a recent collaborative review paper published in Nano-Micro Letters and titled "Harnessing Surface Instabilities for ...
Jun 16, 2026
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Engineering
UK social housing design must adapt to suit changing climate demands, say researchers
A study carried out by researchers at the University of Manchester has found that future climate change will bring a clear shift toward summer cooling requirements, with implications for grid capacity, occupant well-being ...
Jun 16, 2026
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Engineering
Floating solar panels keep working through icy Canadian winters
To accommodate the increasing demand for clean energy, researchers have been developing floating solar panels for rivers, reservoirs and other waterways in recent years. While there is, of course, plenty of land for solar ...
Robotics
Simple color cue helps people master prosthetic devices faster
Controlling a robotic arm, a prosthetic hand or a rehabilitation device is harder than it looks. Picking up an egg, for example, requires just the right amount of force: too little and it falls, too much and it breaks.
Jun 15, 2026
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Engineering
All-optical signal processor developed to break AI data center transmission bottleneck
A research team led by The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has developed a novel integrated all-optical signal processor (OSP) to address the massive data transmission demands of next-generation AI systems, particularly ...
Jun 15, 2026
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Engineering
Advanced 3D printing creates origami-inspired structures
Researchers at the Department of Energy's Manufacturing Demonstration Facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have introduced an innovation in additive manufacturing by integrating origami-inspired 3D printing techniques ...
Jun 15, 2026
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Robotics
Wing-shape tests could unlock smoother water-to-air drone launches
A bird bursting from the ocean or a mobula ray launching skyward makes the transition from water to air look effortless. For unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, it's one of the hardest maneuvers to ...
Jun 15, 2026
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Engineering
Going up against the heat: Vertical greenery keeps cities cool
Climate change and urbanization have intensified the urban heat island (UHI) effect, where urban areas are significantly warmer than rural areas. This has, in turn, increased the frequency of extreme heat events, such as ...
Jun 15, 2026
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Engineering
How can we make buildings more resilient before—and after—earthquakes? We put one solution to the test
This week's magnitude 7.8 earthquake in the Philippines came with scenes familiar to New Zealanders: collapsed buildings, shattered facades and streets strewn with rubble.
Jun 13, 2026
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Engineering
Surface pre-treatment, barrier layer, automated machining and assembly of cryogenic CFRP hydrogen tanks
Researchers from Plasma Technology and Surfaces, Paint/Lacquer Technology, as well as Automation and Production Technology at Fraunhofer IFAM, in collaboration with HYTANK project partners, developed resource-efficient manufacturing ...
Jun 12, 2026
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