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THE ORIGINAL COLLECTION · SINCE 2010

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Research announcements from universities, hospitals and scientific institutions. Explore the stories, people and discoveries behind the headlines.

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Energy

Injuries from legal interventions involving conducted energy devices

About The Study: This study of emergency department visits for physical injuries from use of conducted energy devices, such as TASERs, by police departments found that most visits involved young Black and white males from low-income areas. Black individuals were overrepresented in the sample versus the U.S. population, consistent with research demonstrating increased risk of police violence in Black populations. Authors: Kevin N. Griffith, Ph.D., of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center ...

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Microbial division of labor produces higher biofuel yields
Energy

Microbial division of labor produces higher biofuel yields

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Scientists have found a way to boost ethanol production via yeast fermentation, a standard method for converting plant sugars into biofuels. Their approach, detailed in the journal Nature Communications, relies on careful timing and a tight division of labor among synthetic yeast strains to yield more ethanol per unit of plant sugars than previous approaches have achieved. “We constructed an artificial microbial community consisting of two engineered yeast strains: a glucose specialist and a xylose specialist,” said Yong-Su Jin, a professor of food science and human nutrition ...

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How leafcutter ants cultivate a fungal garden to degrade plants and provide insights into future biofuels
Energy

How leafcutter ants cultivate a fungal garden to degrade plants and provide insights into future biofuels

By Maegan Murray Scientists have spent decades finding ways to efficiently and affordably degrade plant materials so that they can be converted into useful bioproducts that benefit everyday life. Bio-based fuels, detergents, nutritional supplements, and even plastics are the result of this work. And while scientists have found ways to degrade plants to the extent needed to produce a range of products, certain polymers such as lignin, which is a primary ingredient in the cell wall of plants, remain incredibly difficult to affordably break down without adding pollutants back into the environment. These polymers can be left behind as waste products with ...

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Trading between households in smart energy communities: the more the merrier?
Energy

Trading between households in smart energy communities: the more the merrier?

Our energy systems are undergoing rapid change. Many households are generating electricity with solar panels, and there are new sources of demand and storage, such as charging electric vehicles and home batteries. Local prosumers (energy consumers who also generate and store energy) are taking control of their own energy supply. This development is prompting the creation of energy communities and micro-grids, such as the SchoonSchip community in the north of Amsterdam. Energy communities allow consumers ...

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Hybrid energy harvesters that harness heat and vibration simultaneously
Energy

Hybrid energy harvesters that harness heat and vibration simultaneously

Harvesting energy sources such as heat, vibration, light, and electromagnetic waves from everyday environments such as industrial sites and automobiles and converting them into electrical energy is known as energy harvesting. Energy harvesting makes it easier to power today's popular IoT sensors and wireless devices that are located in environments where battery replacement is difficult. Dr. Hyun-Cheol Song and Dr. Sunghoon Hur of Electronic Materials Research Center at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) have developed a hybrid energy harvesting ...

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Energy

UT awarded $2.8 million DOE Grant to modernize the nation’s electric power grid

Validating its status as a leader in power electronics for grid and aviation applications, the University of Tennessee has been awarded a grant from the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) of the US Department of Energy (DOE) to help modernize the nation’s power grid. ARPA-E is distributing $42 million for 15 projects across 11 states to improve the reliability, resiliency, and flexibility of the domestic power grid through the development of next-generation semiconductor technologies. Funded through ARPA-E’s Unlocking Lasting Transformative Resiliency Advances by Faster Actuation of power ...

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Powering the future: Unlocking the role of hydrogen in lithium-ion batteries
Energy

Powering the future: Unlocking the role of hydrogen in lithium-ion batteries

Lithium-ion batteries stand out as one of the most prevalent rechargeable battery technologies in the present era. Within these batteries, lithium-cobalt oxides (LiCoO2) are widely used as the materials for positive electrodes or cathodes (the conductors through which electric current either enters or exits a substance). The cathode plays a pivotal role in lithium-ion batteries and influences their capacity, performance over many charge-discharge cycles, and ability to manage heat. One major issue leading to the deterioration of these batteries is the creation of hydrogen through the splitting of water. Therefore, gaining insights into how hydrogen builds ...

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Boosting the sodium storage performance of Prussian blue analogues via effective etching
Energy

Boosting the sodium storage performance of Prussian blue analogues via effective etching

This study is led by Prof. Yuliang Cao and Prof. Yongjin Fang (College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University). The experiments were performed by using ammonia etching on highly crystalline Na2NiFe(CN)6 (denoted as NaNiHCF) to activate the sodium storage sites and accelerate the Na+ transport. Fe(CN)6 vacancies and the water molecules in the lattice, which are concomitant during the synthesis, however, lead to poor electrochemical performance. Hence, optimizing the crystal structures of PBAs to boost their electrochemical performance is currently a hot spot in the research ...

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Polymer power: Incheon National University researchers enhance the safety of lithium batteries
Energy

Polymer power: Incheon National University researchers enhance the safety of lithium batteries

Lithium-ion batteries are a widely used class of rechargeable batteries in today’s world. One of the processes that can hamper the functioning of these batteries is an internal short circuit caused by direct contact between the cathode and anode (the conductors that complete the circuit within a battery). To avoid this, separators composed of polyolefins—a type of polymer— can be employed to maintain separation. However, these separators can melt at higher temperatures, and the inadequate absorption of electrolytes (essential for conveying ...

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Development of real-time trace hydrogen gas leakage via a novel terahertz-wave optical platform
Energy

Development of real-time trace hydrogen gas leakage via a novel terahertz-wave optical platform

Hydrogen gas is the smallest and lightest of all known molecules, and its colorless and odorless nature makes it easy to leak. Also when concentrated above 4% in a confined space, it poses a risk of ignition or explosion. In order for hydrogen to become a major player in the future energy industry, it is essential to ensure the safety issues via ultra-sensitive gas detection technology over the entire gas-dealing processes such as gas production, storage, and transportation. However, conventional gas-leakage sensors using electric signals are prone to yield electrical sparks, which can cause an explosion of leaked hydrogen gas. In addition, the mainstream electrode-based contact sensors ...

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Energy

Fast-charging lithium battery seeks to eliminate ‘range anxiety’

ITHACA, N.Y. – Cornell University engineers have created a new lithium battery that can charge in under five minutes – faster than any such battery on the market – while maintaining stable performance over extended cycles of charging and discharging. The breakthrough could alleviate “range anxiety” among drivers who worry electric vehicles cannot travel long distances without a time-consuming recharge. “Range anxiety is a greater barrier to electrification in transportation than any of the other barriers, like cost and capability of batteries, and we have identified a pathway to eliminate it using rational electrode designs,” said Lynden ...

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Liquid lithium on the walls of a fusion device helps the plasma within maintain a hot edge
Energy

Liquid lithium on the walls of a fusion device helps the plasma within maintain a hot edge

Emerging research suggests it may be easier to use fusion as a power source if liquid lithium is applied to the internal walls of the device housing the fusion plasma. Plasma, the fourth state of matter, is a hot gas made of electrically charged particles. Scientists at the Department of Energy’s Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) are working on solutions to efficiently harness the power of fusion to offer a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels, often using devices called tokamaks, which confine plasma using magnetic fields. “The purpose of these devices is to confine the energy,” said Dennis Boyle, a staff research physicist ...

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Energy

Energy drinks linked to poor sleep quality and insomnia among college students

Knocking back energy drinks is linked to poor quality sleep and insomnia among college students, finds a large Norwegian study published in the open access journal BMJ Open. And the higher the frequency of consumption, the fewer hours of nightly shut eye the students clocked up. But even just the occasional can—1-3 times a month—is linked to a heightened risk of disturbed sleep, the findings indicate. Energy drinks contain an average caffeine content of 150 mg per litre as well as sugar, vitamins, minerals and amino acids in varying quantities, note the researchers. Marketed as mental and physical pick-me-ups, ...

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Energy

Argonne National Laboratory flexes capabilities with receipt of four nuclear innovation vouchers

A decade that began with a global shutdown is a third of the way done. Its finale — a major deadline for reducing U.S. carbon emissions to slow climate change — approaches at the usual clip. With the decade’s halfway mark in view, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) awarded seven new vouchers to companies and national laboratories working to develop and commercialize clean nuclear energy projects. Nuclear energy is considered central to efforts to minimize carbon emissions and still reliably meet rising ...

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Hidden cause of lithium-rich cathode materials’ low energy efficiency revealed
Energy

Hidden cause of lithium-rich cathode materials’ low energy efficiency revealed

1. A research team consisting of the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) and Softbank Corp. has found that voltage hysteresis in Li2RuO3—a high-energy-density rechargeable battery cathode material—is caused by differences in the intermediate crystalline phases formed during charge and discharge processes. Voltage hysteresis is a phenomenon detrimental to lithium (Li)-ion batteries in which discharge voltage becomes significantly lower than charge voltage. These results revealed a voltage-hysteresis-causing mechanism inconsistent with conventional theory. 2. ...

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Ultrafast laser pulses could lessen data storage energy needs
Energy

Ultrafast laser pulses could lessen data storage energy needs

A discovery from an experiment with magnets and lasers could be a boon to energy-efficient data storage. “We wanted to study the physics of light-magnet interaction,” said Rahul Jangid, who led the data analysis for the project while earning his Ph.D. in materials science and engineering at UC Davis under associate professor Roopali Kukreja. “What happens when you hit a magnetic domain with very short pulses of laser light?” Domains are areas within a magnet that flip from north to south poles. This property is used for ...

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Smooth operation of future nuclear fusion facilities is a matter of control
Energy

Smooth operation of future nuclear fusion facilities is a matter of control

As researchers around the world work to develop viable alternatives to fossil fuels, the prospect of nuclear fusion—harnessing the same energy-generating reactions that power the sun—has grown increasingly attractive to private equity firms. In 2022, the U.S. Department of Energy launched a partnership with investors in the private sector to accelerate the development of fusion energy, in part through the development of a fusion pilot plant, or FPP, in the United States. The FPP and ITER—the world’s largest nuclear fusion reactor, currently being ...

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Dual-metal sulfides improve overall function of anode material in lithium-ion capacitors
Energy

Dual-metal sulfides improve overall function of anode material in lithium-ion capacitors

The use of dual metal sulfides, specifically ZnS/CuS, shows marked improvement in electrochemical stability and performance when included in the design of flexible lithium-ion capacitors over the use of transition metal sulfides and carbon fiber materials. Technology is becoming more and more integrated with daily life, especially wearable, flexible tech and smart devices. Transition metal sulfide (TMS) materials are popular among choices for anodes in developing flexible lithium-ion capacitors ...

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Advancement in thermoelectricity could light up the Internet of Things
Energy

Advancement in thermoelectricity could light up the Internet of Things

Osaka, Japan – Imagine stoplights and cars communicating with each other to optimize the flow of traffic. This isn’t science fiction – it’s the Internet of Things (IoT), i.e., objects that sense their surroundings and respond via the internet. As the global population rises and such technologies continue to develop, you might wonder – what will power this digital world of tomorrow? Wind, solar, yes. Something all around us might not immediately come to mind though – heat. Now, in a study recently published in Nature Communications, a multi-institutional research team including Osaka University has unveiled a ...

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Energy

Using idle trucks to power the grid with clean energy

University of Waterloo researchers are tapping into idled electric vehicles to act as mobile generators and help power overworked and aging electricity grids. After analyzing energy demand on Alberta’s power grid during rush hour, the research proposes an innovative way to replenish electrical grids with power generated from fuel cells in trucks. “Canada’s power grids need to be upgraded,” said Dr. XiaoYu Wu, lead researcher and a professor in Waterloo’s Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering. “But the price ...

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$900,000 awarded to optimize graphene energy harvesting devices
Energy

$900,000 awarded to optimize graphene energy harvesting devices

U of A physics professor Paul Thibado received a commitment of $904,000 from the WoodNext Foundation, administered by the Greater Houston Community Foundation. The five-year grant will support Thibado’s development of graphene energy harvesters. “We have successfully developed a process for building graphene energy harvesting device structures,” Thibado said, “but current structures do not harvest enough power. This proposal will allow us to optimize these structures to harvest nanowatts of power, which is enough energy to run sensors.” Thibado and his colleagues will develop graphene energy harvesting ...

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Towards realizing eco-friendly and high-performance thermoelectric materials
Energy

Towards realizing eco-friendly and high-performance thermoelectric materials

In a new study, environmentally benign inverse-perovskites with high energy conversion efficiency have been reported by Tokyo Tech scientists with potential for practical application as thermoelectric materials (TEMs). Addressing the limitations typically faced with TEMs, such as insufficient energy conversion efficiency and environmental toxicity due to heavy elements, the new TEMs provide a suitable alternative to TEMs based on toxic elements with better thermoelectric properties than conventional eco-friendly TEMs. Thermoelectric materials (TEMs) capable of converting thermal energy to electrical energy and vice versa have become an essential part of our world, which needs ...

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Glass packaging with a mix of thermoelectric in the vias
Energy

Glass packaging with a mix of thermoelectric in the vias

Photonics offers various advantages, including enablement of high-speed and low-loss communication by leveraging light properties in optical data communication, biomedical applications, automotive technology, and artificial intelligence domains. These advantages are realized through complex photonic circuits, comprising diverse photonic elements that are integrated on a photonic chip. Electronic chips are then added to supplement the photonic chips for certain functions, such as light source operation, modulation, and amplification. The close integration of electronic and photonic chips on a substrate is a critical aspect of photonic packaging. Photonic packaging plays a vital role in ...

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Architectures, opportunities, and challenges of Internet-of-batteries for electric Vehicles
Energy

Architectures, opportunities, and challenges of Internet-of-batteries for electric Vehicles

A paper describing the architectures, opportunities, and challenges of the IoB was published in the journal Green Energy and Intelligent Transportation on September 7th, 2023. The present battery technology employed in electric vehicles (EVs) faces several critical challenges. Firstly, the limited operation range of EVs remains a major concern for potential users, as it affects their ability to travel long distances without the need for frequent recharging. Additionally, long charging times are inconvenient ...

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Energy

Department of Energy announces $24 million for small business research and development grants

Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced awards totaling $24 million for small businesses in 30 states and the District of Columbia. The 111 projects funded by DOE’s Office of Science include the development of computing, advanced materials, and scientific instrumentation that will help advance the department’s clean energy mission. “Small businesses are the cornerstone of America and contribute significantly to the growth of our economy,” said Asmeret Asefaw Berhe, ...

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