Gigantism Is a Never-Ending Temptation for Engineers and Designers
Vaclav Smil, writing at IEEE Spectrum: There is a fundamental difference between what can be designed and built and what makes sense. History provides a lesson in the shape of record-setting behemoths that have never since been equaled. The Egyptian.....»»
New way to analyze riblet denticles on modern great white sharks sheds light on swimming speed
A team of engineers and zoologists affiliated with several institutions in Japan has developed a new way to study riblet denticles on shark skin. In their study, published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface, the group used their new techni.....»»
Are chemicals still spreading near Placer County missile site in Northern California? New probe data show the latest
The most recent data collected by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the Titan-1 missile silo site in Placer County found that despite longstanding concerns, new soil vapor monitoring probes closest to homes in the Sun City Lincoln Hills development.....»»
Figma explains why AI kept making copies of Apple’s Weather app
Earlier this month, after Figma AI debuted as a set of tools for aiding designers’ process, things quickly went wrong. A designer asked Figma AI’s ‘Make Design’ feature to help him design a weather app, and on every one of his multiple tries,.....»»
New technique to diagnose cancer metastasis uses origami nanoprobes
Johns Hopkins engineers have created a new optical tool that could improve cancer imaging. Their approach, called SPECTRA, uses tiny nanoprobes that light up when they attach to aggressive cancer cells, helping clinicians distinguish between localize.....»»
Engineers build optical elements for the Coronagraph Instrument of the Roman Space Telescope
Engineers and scientists of the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (MPIA), led by Oliver Krause, developed crucial optical elements for the Coronagraph Instrument (CGI) of the Roman Space Telescope and delivered them to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.....»»
CERN physicist explains how team uses subatomic splashes to restart experiments after annual upgrades
When you push "start" on your microwave or computer, the device flips right on—but major physics experiments like the Large Hadron Collider at the European Organization for Nuclear Research, known as CERN, don't work that way. Instead, engineers an.....»»
Former Russian self-driving car company Yandex reboots as Avride
Now the core group of executives and engineers behind the self-driving efforts of former Russian company Yandex have regrouped and formed a new self-driving car brand called Avride Inc......»»
Saturday Citations: The first Goldilocks black hole; Toxoplasma gondii metabolism; pumping at the speed of muscle
This week: Physicists conducted a biological study, engineers built a waste-recycling suit for astronauts (and worm riders), and astronomers identified the first known intermediate-mass black hole, and it's right here in our own galactic back yard......»»
Study measures toughness of bettong and potoroo foods to aid in conservation efforts
From sifting through topsoil for native truffles to cracking open hard shells of seeds and nuts to munch on the tasty kernels, Australia bettongs and potoroos are described as "ecosystem engineers" in a two-way relationship between their rich diet an.....»»
Engineers develop advanced optical computing method for multiplexed data processing and encryption
Engineers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) have unveiled a major advancement in optical computing technology that promises to enhance data processing and encryption. The work is published in the journal Laser & Photonics Reviews......»»
New chemical process separates textile fibers for easier recycling
A combined team of chemical and biomolecular engineers from the University of Delaware, and the Center for Plastics Innovation, both in the U.S., has developed a way to chemically separate fibers in textiles, allowing them to be recycled more quickly.....»»
Novel 2D device for quantum cooling converts heat to voltage at ultra-low temperatures
EPFL engineers have created a device that can efficiently convert heat into electrical voltage at temperatures lower than that of outer space. The innovation could help overcome a significant obstacle to the advancement of quantum computing technolog.....»»
Engineers find a way to protect microbes from extreme conditions
Microbes that are used for health, agricultural, or other applications need to be able to withstand extreme conditions, and ideally the manufacturing processes used to make tablets for long-term storage. MIT researchers have now developed a new way t.....»»
Engineers send 3D printer into space
Imagine a crew of astronauts headed to Mars. About 140 million miles away from Earth, they discover their spacecraft has a cracked O-ring. But instead of relying on a dwindling cache of spare parts, what if they could simply fabricate any part they n.....»»
The hunt for the most efficient heat pump in the world
A new generation of engineers has realized they can push heat pumps to the limit. Enlarge (credit: FHM/Getty Images) Outside a 100-year-old house on the edge of the Peak District in northern England, a heat pump’s fan.....»»
Extreme Hail Storms Are Wrecking Solar Farms—but Defending Them May Be Easier Than It Seems
Climate change is making hail storms more intense, so designers have to find novel solutions to protect panels from expensive damage......»»
The Hunt for the Most Efficient Heat Pump in the World
A new generation of engineers has realized they can push heat pumps to the limit, but just how much heat you can extract depends on your setup......»»
Report: Apple working on bringing Apple TV app to Android phones
Apple is finally bringing the Apple TV app to Android phones and tablets, as reported by Bloomberg. The company is in the process of hiring engineers to help lead the effort and build out the software. Previously, the company has made an app for the.....»»
New device precisely controls photon emission for more efficient portable screens
Recently, a team of chemists, mathematicians, physicists and nano-engineers at the University of Twente in the Netherlands developed a device to control the emission of photons with unprecedented precision. This technology could lead to more efficien.....»»
NASA"s OSIRIS-APEX unscathed after searing pass of sun
Mission engineers were confident NASA's OSIRIS-APEX (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification—Apophis Explorer) spacecraft could weather its closest ever pass of the sun on Jan. 2, 2024. Their models had predicted that despite trav.....»»