Pioneering Engineering

In case of medical emergency, having the most up-to-date technology at your disposal can mean the difference between life and death. Siemens medical Solutions’ Acuson P10 is the world’s smallest ultrasound system, and is the first pocket-sized device of its kind.

Its instant accessibility is believed to have changed the way doctors are able to treat their patients, and could save the lives of many when faced with an emergency situation.

While portable ultrasound equipment has been available for almost 10 years, the portability of the ...Read More

It has recently been discovered by researchers at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) that stained glass windows which are painted with gold act as an air purifier when lit up with sunlight. These kinds of windows can be found in churches throughout Europe.

“For centuries people appreciated only the beautiful works of art and long life of the colors, but little did they realize that these works of art are also, in modern language, photocatalytic air purifier with nanostructured gold catalyst,” said Associate Professor Zhu Huai Yong, from QUT’s School of Physical and Chemical Sciences in a recent news story released by the school.  

According to the researchers, when the gold particles found on the glass are energized...Read More

Invisibility, a power we all wish for, may be possible with breakthroughs from the University of California, Berkeley. Scientist at the University of California has engineered 3-D materials that are able to reverse the direction of both visible and near-infrared light.

This achievement could aid in the development of higher resolution optical imaging, nanocircuits for high-powered computers, and devices that could make objects invisible to the human eye.

These breakthroughs have come with the development of metamaterials, which are able to change the way light normally behaves. The key component of this is that this material has a negative refraction. This differs from natural material, which have a positive refraction; a measure of how electromagnetic waves are...Read More

Researchers have found a way to make joint replacements last longer. Scientists and engineers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a new, biologically-inspired, material which may enhance tissue healing, improve bone growth around the implant, and strengthen the attachment of the implant to the bone.   

On average, a knee or hip replacement may last 15 years before it begins to breakdown and loosen. As a result, those who have replacement surgeries at a young age may face a second surgery to replace the initial artificial joint.

The most advanced replacement surgery at this time involves the roughening of the surface of a titanium implant, or coating it with ceramic which will bond directly to the bone.

The research team at Georgia Tech has developed a thin, dense polymer to be used to coa...Read More

A new record has been set for both the brightness and efficiency of white LEDs. The developmental engineers of Osram Opto Semiconductors have developed a prototype LED which measures one square millimeter and has the brightness of 155 lumens at 350 milliamps. This new prototype also holds the record of efficiency for 136 lumen per watt.

These new semiconductors are able to function at a higher current. According to the company, at 1.4 amps, these LEDs will produce up to 500 lumens, which is brighter than a 40-watt incandescent bulb. Yet, the incandescent bulb only has an efficiency of 15 lumens per watt. In comparison with Osram’s Ostar lighting LED, which produces 75 lumens per watt, their newest creation is significantly more efficient.

The researchers from Osram Opto Semiconductors, were able to esta...Read More

Fish scales and seashells are not what come to mind when I think “armor.” Yet, Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers have suggested that the study of these materials could lead to the development of lighter and more resistant armor material.

The currently used armor for the military weighs approximately 30 pounds. While this is a definite improvement from the armor of the past, these researchers, with funding from the US Army, are trying to find ways to create even more advanced materials.

 In a recent article written by Carolyn Y. Johnson of The Boston Globe, a focus is brought to a 96-million-year-old fish, known as a “...Read More

With a growing need to find alternative energy sources, even oilmen are calling for access to different resources. In areas throughout the world, organizations are working to develop alternative energy sources which may help to end the global dependence on oil.

In a recent Op-Ed column for the New York Times, columnist Thomas L. Freidman calls attention to two major contributors to this goal. These are Shai Agassi, an Israeli businessman, and T. Boone Pickens, an oil billionaire from Texas. Agassi and Pickens have both developed strategies for decreasing the need for oil within their respective nations.  

The Great Wall will no longer be the only world-renown construction in China. With the use of modern engineering and technology, as well as the drive to gain recognition as a First-World nation, China has entered into an age of developing the world’s largest infrastructures. From dams to bridges, the nation now holds a number of “world’s largest” titles.

MSNBC News Producer Adrienne Mong has recently entered into a discussion of this very idea. It is no wonder that with the Summer Olympics set to open in Beijing this August, all eyes have turned to travel in China.

With reporters traveling throughout the nation to set up stories for the Olympics, Mong has commented on China’s road development in saying “were it no...Read More

Have you ever wished for a copy of yourself—one who could look and act just like you—for those moments when you’d rather be somewhere else? I’m sure Ferris Beuller could have used one while on his day off.

With the scientific innovations of Hanson Robotics, that wish could be a possibility. Hanson Robotics, founded by Dr. David F. Hanson, has worked to develop a variety of human-like robots, known as HumanKind, and can even create a replica of you.

According to their Web site, the main purpose for founding Hanson Robotics is to “design, develop, produce, and distribute revolutionary, interactive, bio-inspired conversational robots.”

These virtual robots are designed to take on rol...Read More

If you or somebody you know has undergone treatment for heart failure or arrhythmias, you understand that having the more up-to-date technology and treatment can make a life-changing difference.

Zarlink Semiconductors has teamed up with St. Jude Medical Center to expand technology used for in-body communications. St. Jude’s is a leader in development of medical technologies and services used to treat cardiac, neurological, and chronic pain in patients worldwide.  Located in Canada, Zarlink has shipped over 30,000 radio modules to the center which are being used in wireless enabled devices to treat patients with heart failure and arrhythmias. Implantable medical devices which can use these radio modules including pacemakers, implantable cardio...Read More

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has reported that researchers have made significant advances in nanoscale lithographic technology, which is used in the manufacturing of computer chips and other electronic devices. These developments have enabled finer patterns of lines over larger areas than previously possible.

The technique developed may lead the way to the next generation of computer memory, integrated circuit chips, advanced solar cells, etc.

The research team has developed lines approximately 25 nanometers wide, which are separated by 25 nm spaces. As of now, the most commercially available chip has a minimum feature of 65nm, and Intel has recently announced that it will begin manufacturing at the 32 nm minimum line-width scale in 2009.

This newly developed technique may ...Read More

While living in eastern Massachusetts I have had minimal exposure and experience with tornadoes. As anyone who has ever watched the news during tornado season in the US, I am well aware of the fact that this natural phenomenon is wild, uncontrollable, and devastating to those affected.

What if you were told that these monsters of nature could be our next great source of energy? The image of Storm Chasers and movies like Twister make it seem impossible to control and harness such energy. Yet, Canadian engineer Louis Michaud believes he has found a way to create a tame tornado that may be used to generate electricity.

Michaud has studied tornadoes for 40 years, and suggests that it is possible to crea...Read More

Can your dog carry over 300 pounds on its back and cross any kind of terrain? I know that mine cannot. Yet, Boston Dynamics is the proud owner of a dog that can. His name is BigDog, and unlike most dogs, he does not bark and happens to be made out of metal.

Boston Dynamics has been working on a series of robots that can take on a variety of tasks from climbing trees to swimming to running and jumping over concrete. Their largest robot, BigDog, is the size of a mule and weighs in at 165 pounds. The robot also has the ability to maintain secure footing on any terrain. The ultimate goal the developers have for this robot is to aid soldiers with its ability to carry ove...Read More