What new technology is coming around the corner?

Might microbes mine the Moon and Mars? Scientists aboard the International Space Station test if bacteria can get vital metals, the kind used to make all our electronics, out of rock under low gravity conditions.

Posted on December 30, 2021November 29, 2021 by Mason Woodard 419 views

Scientists aboard the International Space Station test if bacteria can get vital metals out of rock under low gravity conditions.

Essential oil-coated fabrics repel bacteria and mosquitoes Findings show significant antimicrobial and potential mosquito repellent properties for fabrics treated with a microemulsion finish of lemon and litsea essential oils. It washes off, but researchers are working on a way to make it stick better.

Posted on September 22, 2021September 17, 2021 by Ryan Kirby 401 views

Current antimicrobial fabrics have dangerous downsides - researchers have found a safe approach using essential oils. @ryant_kirby

The first climbing robot for Mars A group of scientists developed a robot capable of exploring extreme terrain by climbing vertically, giving it the ability to reach key areas never before accessed in the search for extraterrestrial life.

Posted on August 23, 2021August 11, 2021 by Daniel Runyan 511 views

As the hunt for extraterrestrial life continues, scientists are giving rovers some new game changing abilities. With the "LEMUR", we may not be so far off from finding life on other planets!

Editing genes before birth as a new therapy Editing the PCSK9 gene in mice resulted in reduced cholesterol levels, a heart disease risk factor. After modification of a gene Hpd involved in hereditary tyrosinemia mice developed with no signs of the disease.

Posted on August 16, 2021August 11, 2021 by Ignacy Gorecki 508 views

Although the term ‘gene editing’ may sound like science fiction, it isn’t! CRISPR-mediated gene editing is a technology first developed in the 1990s that enabled scientists to target and modify particular genes without damaging the whole genome. For example, they could modify crops to make them more resistant to…

Are constellations of mini satellites the future of communication? Satellite constellations are groups of satellites working together, rather than as single satellites, orbiting the Earth. Many countries and companies are getting into this game, but there are some engineering challenges.

Posted on February 23, 2021November 16, 2021 by Satyam Tiwari 427 views

A satellite constellation is a group of artificial satellites, working together. In the coming decades, companies like SpaceX, and Samsung are planning to launch a number of satellite constellations. These satellites will allow users to enjoy more reliable connectivity, independent of their location throughout the…

Using Reishi mushrooms to filter methane out of the atmosphere Both living and dead fungi were tested for their ability to capture methane from the atmosphere. Surprisingly, dead fungi performed the best and have high potential for reducing methane levels.

Posted on January 11, 2021July 27, 2021 by Mary Sabuda 1k views

Could dead or living #fungi be used as a biofilter to trap and remove #methane, the potent #greenhousegas, from the atmosphere? Researchers including @shroominn from @UMNews tested both living and dead fungal biomass to determine their ability to capture methane.

Designing an airplane that can fly on Mars! First we put a rover on Mars, then a helicopter. But what about an airplane? This study describes the design of special wings that will help airplanes fly in the thin Martian atmosphere

Posted on January 4, 2021November 16, 2021 by Giulia Carla Bassani 1k views

Can #airplanes fly on #Mars? Maybe! Find out the perfect wing shape for flying in the thin Martian atmosphere.

A new kind of battery that removes carbon dioxide from the air Engineers at MIT invented a device that uses something called "electro-swing absorption" to take carbon dioxide from the air and allow it to be stored or used for other industries.

Posted on November 2, 2020November 16, 2021 by Adam Suttle 1k views

Nature has been able to filter out CO2 from our air for millions of years. So how might a battery prove to be our own artificial tree? #sustainability #environment #carbonemissions

This new tiny biomedical device makes diagnosing cancer types easier A team of scientists has made valves which can operate on tiny channels of fluid the width of 3 human hairs. It can deliver colored stains to tissue samples accurately, so that scientists can view cancer cells under the microscope more easily.

Posted on August 14, 2020November 16, 2021 by Jessica Ray 125 views

A team of scientists has made valves which can operate on tiny channels of fluid the width of 3 human hairs! This paper, published in the Journal of Biomedical Microdevices, represents a step forward in lab technology. Creating a tiny valve like this could have important implications for cancer research, where fluids…

Contaminants in groundwater can take over 20 years to break down But scientists have a method for removing the contaminants more quickly, using a underground barrier. This study demonstrates that an iron-based barrier can remain an effective and sustainable method for the removal of a toxic solvent.

Posted on January 8, 2020November 16, 2021 by Kristen Amodeo 164 views

Have you ever driven past an old factory building and wondered what ever happened to the harsh chemicals that were used there? If you guessed that a lot of the chemicals ended up in the environment, you would be right. Many of these pollutants are what we refer to as “halogenated hydrocarbons”. These are molecules…