R&D 100

For Joshua New, Ph.D., distinguished R&D staff member at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory and R&D World’s 2024 Researcher of the Year, innovation starts with a core instinct: “I do my level best to never lay my hand to an object or process without asking — how can this be made better?”…

The 2025 R&D 100 Awards are open for nominations as of today, March 5th, 2025. The submission platform is once again available at: https://rd100.secure-platform.com/a The official Call for Nominations (in PDF format) can be downloaded here — or by clicking on the image at right. This year’s competition is the 63rd. The R&D 100 Awards is…

The official Call for Nominations for the 2025 R&D 100 Awards has been released. Click here — or on the image at right — to download a PDF of the Call for Nominations. This year’s competition, the 63rd, will open for submissions on March 5th, 2025. The R&D 100 Awards is the only science and…

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…

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,…

In Taiwan, traffic violations, especially those involving motorcycles, remain a problem. In 2022 alone, traffic accidents resulted in 3,085 deaths and nearly 500,000 injuries, the highest in a decade. Limited police resources make traffic violation enforcement difficult, leading to a gap between issued penalties and actual infractions. Traditional enforcement methods pose safety risks to officers,…

All unexpected radiological releases affect public health, economic stability, and global security. Los Alamos National Laboratory’s QUIC-DEPDOSE is a software application that calculates individualized radiation doses for people downwind from a radioactive plume by combining two key models: QUIC (for atmospheric dispersion) and DEPDOSE (for respiratory tract deposition and dose calculations). It leverages real topography…

The Pixel Primo is an advanced device for multiplexed measurements at single-cell resolution. It combines unique measurements, using varying electrical field geometries and frequencies, with the highest electrode density on the market. This allows it to provide unparalleled information on cellular morphology and function, surpassing other live cell impedance devices. The Pixel Primo is the…

The timing for the 2025 R&D 100 Awards has been announced. This year’s competition, the 63rd, will open for submissions on March 5th, 2025. The R&D 100 Awards is the only science and technology awards competition that recognizes new commercial products, technologies, and materials for their technological significance that are available for sale or license.…

Nenovision’s LiteScope 2.5 represents an inventive AFM-in-SEM technology, especially for nanoscale analysis. Its unique integration of Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Scanning Force Microscopy (SEM) capabilities allows site-specific, multimodal correlative analysis, making advanced research accessible to various industries. Key features include self-sensing probe technology, seamless SEM integration without modifications, and AI-driven image correlation, enhancing precision,…

With co-developer Lenzing Plastics, DuPont de Nemours has created Tyvek Trifecta, an inventive new building wrap that improves fire safety and building performance. It combines three key functions — non-combustibility, weather resistance, and vapor permeability — into a single, durable, and reliable solution. Tyvek Trifecta, designed for residential, commercial, and mixed-use buildings, is particularly well-suited…

Every year, millions of windshields are replaced worldwide, leaving behind a significant amount of waste in the form of the polyvinyl butyral (PVB) interlayer, which keeps shattered glass together. Recycling this material is complex and costly, often resulting in low-quality materials unsuitable for reuse. The sheer volume of PVB waste is substantial — over 175…

UltraSonic Photonics, developed by the University of Pittsburg, with help from the National Energy Technology Laboratory and Sensible Photonics, is a sensor system that monitors large-scale infrastructure under stress, offering novel capabilities in detecting potential failures before they occur. The technology uses ultrasonic waves and optical fiber cables to “listen” for changes in the structural…

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and Advent Technologies collaborated to develop Ion Pair membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) for fuel cell-powered heavy-duty vehicles. This technology aims to improve fuel cell performance, rated power, and durability. As part of the collaboration, Advent Technologies licensed patents from LANL and established a fuel cell research, development, and manufacturing facility…

Weather forecasts are essential for national safety, economic performance, and environmental management. Aircraft-derived observations (ADOs) are especially valuable, offering more impactful data for weather models than traditional sources like ground stations or satellites. ADOs help estimate current atmospheric conditions to help generate accurate forecasts. However, the current NOAA system, MDCRS, is installed on only a…

Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Orbitrap Astral mass spectrometer transforms proteomics by enabling rapid and detailed analysis of biological samples. It can identify over 8,000 protein groups from a human cell line digest in just eight minutes, significantly enhancing experimental scale and statistical power. The instrument integrates three advanced technologies: a high-resolution quadrupole mass filter, the Thermo…

In atomic force microscopy (AFM), numerous incremental improvements have been made, yet relatively few new products showcase transformative technologies and capabilities. Asylum Research has been a player in the AFM industry since its founding in 1999. By implementing closed-loop scanning, the MFP-3D AFM (2002) achieved significant advancements in the accuracy of AFM imaging metrology. The…

Nevada National Security Sites’ Electromagnetic Spectrum Management System (ESMS) offers a solution for controlling radio frequencies in sensitive areas. It identifies and “manages” unwanted signals, effectively silencing them while allowing authorized communications to pass through. This is achieved by removing the modulation of hostile signals, rendering them unintelligible while preserving the intended data and voice communication…

Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), co-developers Element3 Mineral Selective Technologies, and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County have developed a new method of extracting lithium from waste liquids. This method could potentially transform the production of this critical battery metal. The process uses readily available aluminum hydroxide as an effective adsorbent material.…

China Steel Corporation (CSC) and its co-developer, Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), developed the new Digital Twin System for Tapping Process, which is helping transform the steel manufacturing landscape through automation and digitalization. This comprehensive system, featuring a real-time digital twin model, integrates monitoring, predictive maintenance, and process optimization to boost productivity, reduce costs, and enhance…

The automotive industry faces a challenge in balancing the need for fuel-efficient lightweight materials to improve the range of electric vehicles with solid and safe vehicles to protect passengers. Aluminum-silicon-coated press-hardened steels (PHS) are a promising solution, but these materials pose a unique challenge in laser welding. The presence of the Al-Si coating often leads…

Stem cell therapy shows promise in healing damaged tissues, yet existing scaffolds often do not replicate the natural flexibility of human tissue. This can result in cell detachment, death, and even secondary injury during recovery. Researchers at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, along with co-developers from the MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering, have created a new type…

MIT Lincoln Laboratory’s Precision Photon Synchronization System represents a significant step forward in quantum networking. It offers a practical and efficient solution for enabling quantum communication across vast distances. By ensuring that entangled photons can arrive at their destinations with extreme precision, the system helps overcome one of the significant challenges in establishing global quantum…

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…

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…