Engineering
press releases.

Engineering15 Mar 2025

Cambridge scientist launches free VR platform that eliminates the fear of public speaking

Today is World Speech Day, a day where we are called upon to embrace public speaking opportunities. Unfortunately, this call to action is unlikely to be widely embraced given that the majority of people are affected by speech anxiety and the fear of public speaking. Fortunately, however, there is now a free and highly effective solution. At Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge, researchers are using emerging digital technology to enrich and accelerate learning. Their Immersive Technology Lab received a national innovation award for a project that uses VR to better translate ...

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Engineering14 Mar 2025

Breakthrough in rapid polymer nanostructure production

Researchers at the University of Birmingham have developed a new method for the rapid scalable preparation of uniform nanostructures directly from block polymers. This novel approach, led by the Dove and O'Reilly groups, significantly reduces processing time from a week to just minutes, enabling high-throughput production of precision polymer nanomaterials. Publishing their findings today (14 Mar) in Nature Chemistry, the teams outline a rapid seed preparation technique that supersaturates polymer solutions in a flow system. The process facilitates uniform seed micelle formation and allows ...

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Engineering12 Mar 2025

Tissue engineering offers new hope for spinal cord injury repair

A recent study published in the journal Engineering delves into the application of tissue engineering in spinal cord injury (SCI) repair, presenting a comprehensive review of the latest research and potential treatment strategies. SCI is a severe condition that affects the central nervous system, often leading to permanent loss of sensation and motor function. Current treatments, such as surgical decompression and drug therapy, can only alleviate symptoms to a certain extent, making it crucial to explore new therapeutic approaches. Tissue engineering, an interdisciplinary field integrating life science, material science, engineering technology, ...

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Engineering12 Mar 2025

Decoding nanomaterial phase transitions with tiny drums

When water freezes into ice or boils into vapour, its properties change dramatically at specific temperatures. These so-called phase transitions are fundamental to understanding materials. But how do such transitions behave in nanomaterials? In Nature Communications, a team of scientists led by TU Delft (The Netherlands) presents new insights into the complex nature of phase transitions in magnetic nanomaterials. Their findings reveal the coupling between magnetic and mechanical properties, paving the way for ultra-sensitive sensors. The scientists from TU Delft, together with colleagues from the University of Valencia and the National University of Singapore, studied ...

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Engineering12 Mar 2025

Opening a new chapter in 3D microprinting with the dream material 'MXene'!

The Smart 3D Printing Research Team at KERI, led by Dr. Seol Seung-kwon, has developed the world’s first technology for printing high-resolution 3D microstructures using 'MXene,' a material known as the dream material. MXene, first discovered in the United States in 2011, is a two-dimensional nanomaterial composed of alternating metal and carbon layers. MXene possesses high electrical conductivity and electromagnetic shielding capabilities. Due to its easy combination with various metal chemicals, MXene has gained significant attention ...

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Engineering11 Mar 2025

New Irresistible Materials CEO to drive commercialization and market adoption

University of Birmingham spin-out Irresistible Materials Ltd (IM), a leader in the development of novel resist materials for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography, has announced the appointment of Dinesh R. Bettadapur as its new chief executive officer (CEO) and board director. Bettadapur brings a wealth of business experience and strategic vision to the company, having previously held leadership roles at ASML, Intel, and Lam Research, as well as multiple Silicon Valley startups where he enabled significant business growth leading to three successful exits. In his new role, Bettadapur will lead IM’s business strategy and commercial engagements ...

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Engineering10 Mar 2025

Deep reinforcement learning optimizes distributed manufacturing scheduling

A recent study published in Engineering presents a significant advancement in manufacturing scheduling. Researchers Xueyan Sun, Weiming Shen, Jiaxin Fan, and their colleagues from Huazhong University of Science and Technology and the Technical University of Munich have developed an improved proximal policy optimization (IPPO) method to address the distributed heterogeneous hybrid blocking flow-shop scheduling problem (DHHBFSP). The DHHBFSP is a complex optimization challenge in manufacturing. In distributed manufacturing settings, jobs with diverse requirements arrive randomly at different hybrid flow shops. These shops have varying numbers of machines ...

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Engineering7 Mar 2025

New technical guidelines pave the way for widespread adoption of methane-reducing feed additives in dairy and livestock

Philadelphia, March 7, 2025 – After many decades of research, the dairy sector has a significant body of peer-reviewed research showing that feed additives can effectively reduce methane, the greenhouse gas that makes up most of dairy’s environmental footprint. Yet the practical use of this knowledge on farms—as well as general awareness around additive effectiveness and safety—is still gaining momentum. At this critical point in the dairy sector’s pathway to a net-zero future, the Journal of Dairy Science, the leading general dairy research journal from ...

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Engineering7 Mar 2025

New composite structure boosts polypropylene’s low-temperature toughness

A recent study published in Engineering presents a significant advancement in improving the toughness of polypropylene (PP), a widely used thermoplastic material. The research, led by Zhiyi Zhang and Qiang Zheng from Taiyuan University of Technology and Zhejiang University, focuses on developing a novel core–shell structured composite to enhance PP’s performance at low temperatures. PP has many advantages, such as high thermal and chemical resistance, but its low-temperature toughness is a limiting ...

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Engineering7 Mar 2025

Suicide, the music industry, and a call to action

Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain, Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington, Joy Division’s Ian Curtis, country music singer Mindy McCready, Keith Flint of The Prodigy, Electronic Dance Music (EDM) DJ Avicii, K Pop stars Goo Hara, Sulli and Moonbin, and many more. This long and heartbreakingly incomplete list of musicians that have died by suicide represents not only tragedies, but cultural reminders of a devastating apparent connection between artists, mental health challenges, and early mortality. New data published today in Frontiers in Public ...

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Engineering6 Mar 2025

Engineers took apart batteries from Tesla and China’s leading EV manufacturer to see what’s inside

Two main manufacturers dominate the EV (electric vehicle) market: Tesla, which is most popular in Europe and North America, and BYD, which leads the Chinese EV market. However, both manufacturers have released limited data about their batteries, so the mechanical structure and characteristics of these battery cells has remained mysterious. To compare the batteries used by each manufacturer and better understand how EV batteries function overall, a team of researchers took one of each apart. The results publish on March 6 in the Cell Press journal Cell Reports Physical Science and show that Tesla’s batteries prioritize high-energy density and performance, ...

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Engineering6 Mar 2025

A new way to engineer composite materials

— By Rachel Berkowitz Composite adhesives like epoxy resins are excellent tools for joining and filling materials including wood, metal, and concrete. But there’s one problem: once a composite sets, it’s there forever. Now there’s a better way. Researchers have developed a simple polymer that serves as a strong and stable filler that can later be dissolved. It works like a tangled ball of yarn that, when pulled, unravels into separate fibers. A new study led by researchers ...

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Engineering3 Mar 2025

Complete breakdown of Plexiglas into its building blocks

In brief - ETH materials researchers have developed a groundbreaking method that enables the near-complete recycling of Plexiglas for the first time. - The polymer chains are broken down into their individual monomer building blocks, which can then be purified using straightforward distillation processes. - The mechanism relies on a chlorinated solvent. When exposed to UV light, a chlorine radical is released from the solvent, which then triggers the breakdown of the polymer chain. Today, plastics recycling is primarily limited to the collection of sorted PET or polyethylene beverage bottles. The plastic collected is of identical chemical composition, with polymer molecules of similar ...

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Engineering28 Feb 2025

CFRP and UHPC: New insights into strengthening reinforced concrete beams under thermocyclic distress

A recent study published in Engineering delves into the behavior of reinforced concrete beams strengthened with Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) and Ultra-High-Performance Concrete (UHPC) under thermocyclic loading. This research, conducted by Ju-Hyung Kim and Yail J. Kim, aims to understand the effects of multi-hazard loading on these strengthened structures, which is crucial for the maintenance and rehabilitation of existing buildings. Multi-hazards, such as the combination of seismic events and high temperatures, pose ...

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Engineering26 Feb 2025

Sea sponge inspires super strong compressible material

Inspired by the humble deep-sea sponge, RMIT University engineers have developed a new material with remarkable compressive strength and stiffness that could improve architectural and product designs. The double lattice design was inspired by the intricate skeleton of a deep-sea sponge known as Venus' flower basket, which lives in the Pacific Ocean. Lead author of the latest RMIT study into the structure, Dr Jiaming Ma, said extensive testing and optimisation revealed the pattern's impressive combination of stiffness and strength, mixed with an ability to contract when compressed. It’s this last aspect – known as auxetic behaviour – ...

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Engineering26 Feb 2025

Double network hydrogel polymers with rapid self-strengthening abilities

New double network hydrogel technology features automated self-strengthening that rapidly activates upon deformation of its polymer network. Hydrogels are soft materials consisting of polymer networks and water. They are permeable to substances smaller than their network mesh size and have applications in biomaterials, contact lenses, soft robots, and more. At the molecular level, the cleavage of chemical bonds causes a material to become mechanically weaker and can lead to its destruction. Mechanochemically ...

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Engineering21 Feb 2025

UTA partnership boosts biomanufacturing in North Texas

The University of Texas at Arlington is joining forces with the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) to operate the new National Center for Therapeutics Manufacturing Satellite Campus at Pegasus Park (NCTM2) in Dallas. UTA’s Institute of Biomanufacturing and Precision Medicine (IMPRINT) is partnering with TEES on NCTM2, an extension of the National Center for Therapeutics Manufacturing (NCTM) in College Station. The collaboration will expand UTA’s biomanufacturing capabilities and provide NCTM2 with access to financial ...

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Engineering20 Feb 2025

Lehigh Engineering faculty named Senior Members of the National Academy of Inventors

Six Lehigh University professors have been named Senior Members of the National Academy of Inventors. The 2025 cohort comprises 162 academic inventors representing 64 NAI Member Institutions across the United States. Collectively, they are named inventors on over 1200 U.S. patents. “This year’s class comes from a multitude of impressive fields and research backgrounds from across the world,” said NAI President Paul R. Sanberg. “We applaud their pursuit of commercialization to ensure their groundbreaking technologies ...

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Engineering20 Feb 2025

Giant X-ray facility shows that magnets can reduce flaws in 3D printed components

Safety critical components for aircraft and Formula 1 racing cars could one day be 3D printed via a new technique, developed by researchers at UCL and the University of Greenwich, that substantially reduces imperfections in the manufacturing process. The technique was developed after the team used advanced X-ray imaging to observe the causes of imperfections that formed in complex 3D printed metal alloy components. If this technique becomes widely deployed it could make a range of these components, from artificial hip joints to aircraft parts, stronger and more durable. The study, published in Science, observes the forces at play during ...

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Engineering20 Feb 2025

Cooling materials – Out of the 3D printer

Rapid, localized heat management is essential for electronic devices and could have applications ranging from wearable materials to burn treatment. While so-called thermoelectric materials convert temperature differences to electrical voltage and vice versa, their efficiency is often limited, and their production is costly and wasteful. In a new paper published in Science, researchers from the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) used a 3D printing technique to fabricate high-performance thermoelectric materials, reducing production costs significantly. Thermoelectric coolers, also called solid-state ...

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Engineering19 Feb 2025

Bio-hybrid drone uses silkworm moth antennae to navigate using smell

Conventional drones use visual sensors for navigation. However, environmental conditions like dampness, low light, and dust can hinder their effectiveness, limiting their use in disaster-stricken areas. Researchers from Japan have developed a novel bio-hybrid drone by combining robotic elements with odor-sensing antennae from silkworm moths. Their innovation, which integrates the agility and precision of robots with biological sensory mechanisms, can enhance the applicability of drones in navigation, gas sensing, and disaster response. Technological advances have led to the development of drones with diverse applications, ...

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Engineering18 Feb 2025

New microactuator driving system could give microdrones a jump-start

An innovative circuit design could enable miniature devices, such as microdrones and other microrobotics, to be powered for longer periods of time while staying lightweight and compact. Researchers from the University of California San Diego and CEA-Leti developed a novel self-sustaining circuit configuration—featuring miniaturized solid-state batteries—that combines high energy density with an ultra lightweight design. The results will be presented at the 2025 IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC), which will take place from Feb. 16 to 20 in San Francisco. One important application envisioned for microdrones is ...

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Engineering17 Feb 2025

Breaking the pattern: How disorder toughens materials

Cut open a bone and you’ll see a subtly disordered structure. Tiny beams, called trabeculae, connect to one another in irregular patterns, distributing stress and lending bones an impressive toughness. What if human-made materials could exhibit similar properties? In a new paper in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Nexus, researchers at Penn Engineering, Penn Arts & Sciences and Aarhus University found that adding just the right amount of disorder to the structure of certain materials can make them more than twice as resistant to cracking. The finding opens the door to more widespread use of so-called “mechanical metamaterials,” ...

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Engineering14 Feb 2025

Three Texas A&M professors elected to National Academy Of Engineering

Drs. Vanderlei Bagnato, Rodney Bowersox and Don Lipkin from Texas A&M University’s College of Engineering have been elected to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) Class of 2025, joining 128 new members and 22 international members. This is one of the highest professional honors for engineers. “Congratulations to Drs. Bagnato, Bowersox and Lipkin for achieving this recognition. This prestigious honor reflects their groundbreaking contributions to engineering and underscores the exceptional talent within our faculty,” said Dr. Robert H. Bishop, vice chancellor and dean of Texas A&M ...

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Engineering13 Feb 2025

MIT engineers develop a fully 3D-printed electrospray engine

CAMBRIDGE, MA – An electrospray engine applies an electric field to a conductive liquid, generating a high-speed jet of tiny droplets that can propel a spacecraft. These miniature engines are ideal for small satellites called CubeSats that are often used in academic research. Since electrospray engines utilize propellant more efficiently than the powerful, chemical rockets used on the launchpad, they are better suited for precise, in-orbit maneuvers. The thrust generated by an electrospray emitter is tiny, so electrospray engines typically use an array of emitters that are uniformly ...

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