Two Johns Hopkins University researchers have initiated preliminary work on synthesizing epiphragmin, a key protein found in snail mucus, with potential biomedical applications. The project aims to develop laboratory-based protein synthesis protocols as an alternative to traditional snail mucus extraction methods, as a press release noted. Marie Wei, studying molecular and cellular biology and classics,…

A new method for recycling black polystyrene plastics, such as coffee lids and food containers, could help divert these materials from landfills. The approach, reported in ACS Central Science, uses sunlight or white LED light to transform black and colored polystyrene waste into reusable chemical components. Black plastics are notoriously difficult to recycle due to…

Researchers from the University of South Australia, in collaboration with Chinese colleagues, have documented an 18.8% increase in seawater evaporation rates compared to pure water through the integration of mineral materials into photothermal hydrogel evaporators. The study, published in Advanced Materials, demonstrates a new approach to interfacial solar-powered desalination that addresses both surface salt accumulation…

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory have documented the successful fabrication of a shape-morphing antenna using additive manufacturing of modified nitinol, demonstrating temperature-controlled transformation between flat spiral and conical configurations. The researchers describe the work, published in ACS Applied Engineering Materials, as an empirical validation of shape memory alloy (SMA) application in reconfigurable RF…

Researchers at the Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials (KIMM) say they have developed a magnetic 3D printing system for motor fabrication that eliminates the need for traditional molds. While the team claims successful performance validation, the results to date are only shared in a press release, which notes the development of an “all-encompassing technological…

Integrated energy company Idemitsu Kosan Co. (Idemitsu) has expanded its partnership with Enthought, a specialist in digital transformation for science-driven companies. This move supports Idemitsu’s ambition to scale the development and production of innovative battery materials. The expanded partnership will include new technical consulting and implementation services and continued participation in Enthought’s Materials Informatics (MI)…

The relentless demand for faster, smaller and more efficient electronic devices is finally pushing existing silicon technology to its physical limits. Decades of phenomenal innovation have largely delivered the prophesy of Moore’s Law, which predicts that the number of transistors that can be crammed onto a silicon chip should double every two years, but there…

In the pursuit of sustainable energy, some inventors think big. Zhiyu (Jerry) Hu, Ph.D., thinks small — at the nanoscale. His work in thermoelectric devices is transforming how we understand and harvest energy, turning minute temperature differences into reliable power sources. For much of his life, Hu has found inspiration not just in fire but…

The R&D World Index (RDWI) for the week ending October 18, 2024, closed at 4.022.95 for the 25 companies in the RDWI. The Index was down -0.66% (or -26.77 basis points). Thirteen RDWI members gained value last week from 0.21% (Pfizer) to 4.63% (Cisco).  Twelve RDWI members lost value the previous week from -0.05% (Sanofi…

Scientists from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) have identified cellulose diacetate (CDA) foam as the fastest-degrading bioplastic tested in seawater, offering a promising alternative to traditional plastics like Styrofoam. The study, led by Collin Ward and his team, was published in ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering. It revealed that foamed CDA degrades 15 times…

Every year, thousands of groundbreaking ideas emerge from research labs and universities, brimming with the potential to reshape industries. Yet, a significant number of these innovations never see the light of day. They fall into the abyss ominously termed the “Valley of Death,” which, as a paper in Science Direct puts it, “is an unfavorable…

Thermo Fisher Scientific has introduced the Thermo Scientific Iliad (S)TEM, a fully integrated multimodal scanning transmission electron microscope designed to advance research in materials science by offering atomic-level insights into complex modern materials. Revealed at the European Microscopy Congress 2024 in Copenhagen, the Iliad (S)TEM combines inventive technologies such as electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS)…

An analysis of 45 years of R&D 100 Awards reveals a clear leader: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), with more than two hundred winning products. National labs dominate the top ranks, demonstrating the staying power of consistent government investment in R&D. All of the top 10 organizations since 2010 are federally-backed entities. ORNL Frequently featured…

In a breakthrough for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, scientists at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have identified manganese as a promising alternative to traditional materials used in battery cathodes. Smartphones, electric vehicles, and energy storage systems have spurred demand for lithium-ion batteries, but essential elements such as nickel and cobalt pose challenges to procure. However,…

The 2011 Fukushima disaster sent shockwaves through the nuclear industry, sparking a global quest for safer reactor designs. At Argonne National Laboratory, scientists are tackling this challenge head-on by exploring the extreme behavior of nuclear fuels at unimaginable temperatures. Researchers at Argonne successfully measured and analyzed the structure of molten plutonium oxide (PuO2) at temperatures…

Researchers from Peking University and the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology have developed a novel method to generate multiple vortex beams of light simultaneously, potentially benefitting terahertz communication devices. The research, published in the journal Light: Advanced Manufacturing, introduces a new approach using metasurfaces to create “orbital angular momentum (OAM) combs” in the…

Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy have announced the manipulation of quantum properties of graphene, the single-atom-thick layer of carbon that has captivated researchers for about two decades. In their research, scientists constructed quantum electronic devices using a bespoke configuration of graphene layers: a twisted monolayer–bilayer graphene structure. This setup consists of a single…

A recent study focused on polymer binders could point to future breakthroughs in solid-state batteries, enabling safer, more powerful, and longer-lasting energy storage. Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have discovered that the molecular weight of these often-overlooked components plays a crucial role in the performance and durability of sulfide solid-state electrolytes (SSEs), a key…

Scientists at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico, have announced that they are pioneering an environmentally friendly method to purify rare-earth elements for an array modern technologies. This research follows other recent announcements from Sandia, including a new computer simulation tool designed to accelerate scientific discovery. Exploiting metal-organic frameworks The crux of the new…

Move over, neural networks. Scientists at the University of Reading have taught a simple hydrogel to play the 1970s game Pong, which, for those unfamiliar, is something like an uber-simple game of table tennis (pingpong). The discovery, published in Cell Reports Physical Science, could pave the way to a new era of ‘smart’ materials that…

A new class of nanoscale materials that act like microscopic mood rings, changing color with temperature, could help measure temperature at the tiniest scales, with potential applications in electronics, biology, and beyond. Published in Advanced Materials, this research from scientists at the University of California, Irvine involves a one-dimensional nanoscale material known as indium selenium…

The R&D World Index (RDWI) climbed 2.57% this week, with Eli Lilly leading the charge at a 10.84% gain, while tech giants ramp up AI investments amidst regulatory challenges. In the week ending August 9, 2024, the index closed at 3768.96 for the 25 companies in the RDWI. The index was up 2.57% (or 94.45…

R&D World has announced the winners of the 2024 R&D 100 Professional Awards. The honorees were selected by a panel of 56 prestigious industry experts from around the globe. The list of 2024 winners follows, along with highlights from their nomination letters. These winners will be formally awarded at the R&D 100 Awards Banquet at…

Scientists at Argonne National Laboratory report an advance in the quest for energy-efficient computing. Their latest research, published in Physical Review Letters, focuses on charge density waves, wave-like patterns of electrons. Using a novel microscopy technique, the researchers succeeded in manipulating these waves, potentially paving the way for a new generation of supercomputers that sip…

Scientists have engineered a promising new quantum defect using computational modeling. Published in Nature Communications, the research highlights how cobalt, a common metal, could be key to building future quantum computers. The team began by simulating more than 700 potential defects in tungsten disulfide (WS2), a material with desirable electronic properties. To sift through this…