R&D Editors

Could a new telescope unearth cosmic recipes for life? Can a cell patch rescue fading eyesight? And what’s with bubbles “galloping” in a lab? This week’s research roundup probes the surprising frontiers of astronomy, medicine, archaeology, and more — raising as many questions as it answers. Read on for highlights that challenge familiar assumptions and…

Honeywell has rolled out a new technology called Digital Holographic Microscopy (DHM) that uses AI/ML to rapidly count and classify cells or microscopic particles. The company says this technology can be incorporated into portable devices. Digital Holographic Microscopy can yield “high-resolution images without the need for expensive and complex lenses and opto-mechanical systems found in…

As renewable energy sources replace traditional mechanical generators, there is a growing need for accurate and cost-effective inertia monitoring to maintain power system stability. Low inertia in power systems can lead to severe frequency fluctuations, potentially causing blackouts. InertiaMeter, developed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Tennessee Knoxville, addresses this challenge by…

PacBio’s new Onso system offers a unique approach to short-read sequencing using sequencing-by-binding chemistry. This technology delivers low error rates, achieving a Q40+ specification – a 15-fold improvement over traditional methods. This translates to increased sensitivity for detecting rare variants, reduced sequencing requirements, and higher throughput at a lower cost per sample. Onso’s accuracy is…

As cell therapy approvals continue to grow, new technologies and evolutions in cell therapy manufacturing are needed to get these therapies to patients. Despite the promises of the therapy class, many challenges remain within the manufacturing process that can potentially delay getting critical therapies for diseases such as cancer to needing patients. Current hurdles in…

Automotive coating company Axalta’s latest innovation, Primerless Consolidated Coating System, simplifies the traditional multi-layer painting process while enhancing both performance and sustainability. Axalta’s new system eliminates the need for a separate primer layer, achieving the desired color effects and coverage in a single basecoat application. This consolidated process streamlines the painting process, reducing cycle time…

Polartec Power Shield Pro, the latest iteration of the award-winning Polartec NeoShell (winner of the 2009 R&D 100 Award), is an expedition-grade waterproof, breathable fabric that uses non-PFAS, plant-based fiber technology. Power Shield Pro is the brand’s first “20/20” shell, boasting over 20,000 mm hydrostatic pressure (ISO 811) and over 20,000 g/m2/24 h breathability (JIS…

Nuclear energy is poised to reduce the world’s carbon footprint. TRIPWIRE from Idaho National Laboratory’s approach to managing and mitigating radiological risk is vital to building public trust in nuclear energy as a sustainable, low-carbon power source for a clean energy future. The radiation-monitoring system enables the safe, secure, and cost-effective long-term storage of nuclear…

Selenium (Se) pollution, which harms aquatic ecosystems and wildlife and can be toxic in humans and animals, is found in natural water bodies worldwide. Current biological treatment to remove Se from wastewater is expensive, produces non-biodegradable sludges, has a large carbon footprint, and is sensitive to chemical and environmental limitations. Direct electrochemical reduction using gold…

SABIC’s LNP STAT-KON can replace metal-based bipolar plates in redox batteries for energy storage, thus enabling mass production of batteries for traditional and renewable energy-generating systems. This thermoplastic offers a balance of electrical and thermal conductivity, higher mechanical strength, better corrosion resistance to the electrolyte for an extended life, cost, use of available raw materials,…

Industrial Technology Research Institute’s (ITRI) AADREMS is the first energy management system (EMS) to leverage deep reinforcement learning (DRL) for energy-saving services. The team behind AADREMS has made significant strides in accelerating DRL’s learning speed, making the technology practical for real-world applications. The system excels in managing interactions among multiple components, achieving 15 to 20%…

NAMI’s Transparent Sun Nanocurtain offers a durable, cost-effective solution for improving energy efficiency in windows of various shapes and curvatures. The product from Nano and Advanced Materials Institute and co-developer: Harvest Time Facade Limited blocks 50% of solar energy while allowing over 60% of visible light to pass through, and it reflects less than 6%…

EssilorLuxottica has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its over-the-counter Nuance Audio Glasses, alongside achieving CE marking under the EU’s Medical Devices Regulation. The company also developed an ISO Quality Management System certification for hearing aids, enabling the product’s launch in Europe. Nuance Audio Hearing Aid Software is the first…

Coatings for cookware and grills face a tough challenge: withstanding high temperatures and repeated cleaning cycles while maintaining a smooth finish. Silicone resins offer heat resistance but lack strength and are costly, while polyesters provide good strength but struggle with heat. Dow (Shanghai) Holding Co.’s Silicone Modified Polyester (SMP) aims to combine the best of…

Elevated Materials, a newly established company supported by TPG’s Rise Climate fund and Applied Materials, has entered the battery market. It focuses on producing ultra-thin, uniform lithium films. The company aims to enhance battery performance by leveraging decades of vacuum roll-to-roll processing expertise and hundreds of patents from Applied Materials. Its technology is designed to…

The battery industry is buzzing with activity as researchers explore alternatives like aluminum-ion and solid-state batteries, promising greater safety and sustainability. Toyota is preparing a battery plant in North Carolina for 2025, KORE Power has canceled a $1.2 billion Arizona gigafactory, and Octillion has opened a Nevada facility to meet demand. Nuvvon is advancing solid-state…

CHIMEI Corporation and Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) have developed a close-looped, zero waste, and non-toxic method to make polycarbonate resin. It uses sophisticated catalysts to effectively address the common environmental problems in traditional methods. This technology avoids toxic chemical feedstock and recycles all solvents and wastewater, significantly reducing energy consumption and overall carbon emissions.…

Berelex Green eco-friendly paint combines sustainability with improved indoor air quality. Specifically designed for poorly ventilated spaces, this paint from Pinturas Berel S.A. de C.V. promotes healthier environments while reducing carbon emissions. Composed of 29% renewable materials, Berelex Green replaces fossil-based components, significantly lowering its carbon footprint. Its air-purifying formula sets it apart; it converts…

The rapid advance of AI is hampered by the “memory bottleneck,” a challenge stemming from the separation of memory and processing units in the von Neumann architecture. This bottleneck is particularly pronounced in generative AI applications, where memory-intensive operations exacerbate the issue. Over the past two decades, the growth of computing power has outpaced memory…

The rapid shift towards electric vehicles is driving a demand for more powerful and efficient electric motors. Traditional electric motors lose a significant amount of energy due to losses in their soft magnetic cores, which are typically the bulkiest components in these systems. CorePower Magnetics (Co-developer: Carnegie Mellon University) has developed a new electric motor…

NASA missions with limited mass and power budgets have long demanded innovative communication systems. In response, the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) developed Frontier Radio, which first flew in 2012 on the twin Van Allen Probes. This compact, radiation-tolerant radio became a critical component on several near- and deep-space missions, including Parker Solar Probe,…

Military/law enforcement personnel are often exposed to blast overpressure in training and operational settings, which can lead to short-term cognitive impairments and increased risk of conditions like anxiety and depression. The Electrooculography and Balance Blast Overpressure Monitoring System (EYEBOOM) is a wearable monitoring system that provides early warning of blast exposure risk from MIT Lincoln…

Ericsson has introduced Cognitive Labs, a virtual research initiative dedicated to advancing artificial intelligence (AI) technologies such as Graph Neural Networks (GNNs), Active Learning, and Large-Scale Language Models (LLMs). The program operates with teams in Madrid, Málaga, and Cairo. Focus areas include enhancing mobile communications and exploring emerging technology applications in sectors like healthcare. The…

Berxel Photonics Co. Ltd.’s new 3D camera using Polarization-Structured Light (PSL) transforms depth perception in challenging environments. Traditional 3D cameras struggle with reflective surfaces like glass, mirrors, and water, often producing inaccurate depth readings. The PSL 3D camera overcomes these limitations by leveraging the polarization properties of light. It employs high-contrast-grating vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs)…

Data centers are facing a growing energy challenge as demand for computing power, particularly for AI applications, continues to surge. According to Goldman Sachs Research, data center power demand is projected to increase by 160% by 2030. This growing demand translates into increased heat generation and, consequently, higher cooling requirements, putting a strain on energy…