Research News | Research News – Research Information

technology

09/13/2018 / By Edsel Cook

Novel device reflects sound back to its source, rather than deflecting it at an angle

When a wave of light or sound or similar energy hits something, it is usually deflected at an angle off the surface of the object. Rarely does it bounce back right towards its point of origin. North Carolina-based engineers have come up with a device that can reflect sound waves back to their sources, an […]

09/11/2018 / By Rhonda Johansson

MIT researchers create a “blind” robot that can climb stairs and step over obstacles

Engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed two new algorithms that have spawned the creation of the “blind” Cheetah 3. The 90-pound mechanical beast is capable of leaping, galloping, and maneuvering around rough terrain and messy environments using only its sense of touch. Essentially blind, Cheetah 3 displays an astonishing range of […]

09/09/2018 / By Edsel Cook

New computer simulations show that a liquid medium can act like a solid silicon-based semiconductor

What do you think of a computer that uses liquid materials as semiconductors? A recent simulation demonstrated that a liquid medium works just as effectively as the silicon-based solids used in computer chips, an article in Science Daily stated. A liquid medium uses far fewer materials than its solid counterparts. The soft parts are also very […]

09/05/2018 / By David Williams

Segway for the skies: Zapata Ezfly could be the long-awaited key to unlocking individual human flight

The miracle of human flight is something that one needs to experience first-hand in order to fully appreciate. And even then, it’s possible to pay no mind and take it for granted. After all, sitting in a comfortable chair while keeping yourself busy with in-flight entertainment can do a lot to obscure the fact that […]

09/01/2018 / By David Williams

Experts in soft robotics field create low-cost robots able to lift 200 times their weight and heal themselves

The next-generation of robots created by some of today’s leading scientists might be just as flexible and just as nimble as humans – even capable of healing surface wounds – according to details of a recent report. In the field of soft robotics, a group of researchers has reportedly made a recent breakthrough that allowed for […]

08/27/2018 / By Zoey Sky

A pinch of salt dramatically improves the performance of batteries

It turns out that salt is more than just a versatile condiment: Researchers found that salt can also be used to significantly boost the performance of batteries. The research teams from the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Queen Mary University of London, and the University of Cambridge discovered that once salt is added to a supermolecular sponge […]

08/24/2018 / By Zoey Sky

Factoring in turbulence leads to breakthrough in tornado forecasting, translating to increased warning times

Disaster preparedness is important no matter which state you live in. Two researchers from Western University have revealed that they devised a method that can give warnings at least 20 minutes before a tornado hits. Even a warning given several seconds before a storm hits can spell the difference between safety and total catastrophe. Anna Hocking, […]

08/17/2018 / By Edsel Cook

Wind energy expected to soon exceed hydro energy as the largest renewable source of electricity generation

Move aside, hydroelectric power, because a new wind is blowing through the U.S. According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), wind power will become the biggest provider of renewable electricity by the end of this year. Hydroelectric power is the historical leader in renewable electricity thanks to its mature technologies and widespread usage. However, the […]

08/15/2018 / By Edsel Cook

Physicists demonstrate a way to conduct electricity between transistors without energy loss

Chinese researchers have created a new superconductor, a material that can transport electrical energy between transistors with such efficiency that there is no energy lost during the transfer. In an article in Science Daily, their discovery can lead to the development of electronics that can run on very little power and quantum computers whose speeds […]

08/12/2018 / By Edsel Cook

Researchers create a laser that can “smell” different gases

A laser can do many things, but Australian researchers have created one that can “sniff” out the faintest of odors from the air. An article in Science Daily detailed how the modified device can match the nose of a bloodhound when it comes to identifying different gases in a single sample. The University of Adelaide […]

1 of 4