Advantest Corporation, Japan, and Tokyo Seimitsu Co., Ltd. announce plans to co-develop a new die-level prober, designed for the testing of high-performance computing devices.
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A joint research team at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology and IBM T. J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, N.Y., has developed a new analysis method that can detect “hidden defects” in semiconductors, electronic traps that interfere with electrical flow, with approximately 1,000 times higher sensitivity than existing techniques.
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Researchers from the Institute of Metal Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed an innovative flexible sensor that can simultaneously detect strain, strain rate, and temperature using a single active material layer, representing a significant advance in multimodal sensing technology.
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Imina Technologies SA, Switzerland, released a new Nanoprobing High-Voltage Platform designed to safely apply voltages up to 1 kV through both nanoprobing tips and the backside of the sample, addressing the growing need for reliable electrical characterization of wide-bandgap and high-power semiconductor devices such as SiC- and GaN-based MOSFETs, IGBTs, and other devices.
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Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tenn., modified a commercial atomic force microscope with artificial intelligence to assemble and detect patterns in bismuth ferrite and analyze defects at the materials’ surface, advancing the understanding of these materials and enabling innovative data storage and computation methods.
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Researchers at Manipal Institute of Technology, India, developed a machine learning-based approach to detect faults in ball bearings through acoustic signals, proving that this innovative methodology could revolutionize predictive maintenance strategies.
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Tescan, Czech Republic, announces that Carlyle, together with the other shareholders, has entered into a definitive agreement with Shimadzu Corporation, Japan, for the sale of the company, resulting in a change in Tescan’s shareholding structure.
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Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and their collaborators conducted experiments with gold to learn more about the unexpected structures and properties it would adopt under high pressure. The results, which show gold switching structure at 10 million times the Earth’s atmospheric pressure, are essential for planetary modeling and fusion science.
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New research shows that diamond—although known for being the best natural heat conductor on Earth—at the atomic scale it can briefly trap heat in unexpected ways. The findings could influence how scientists design diamond-based quantum technologies, including ultra-precise sensors and future quantum computers.
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3D-Micromac AG, Germany, introduced microPREP L, a laser-based sample prep system that supports up to whole 12-inch wafers and system-level boards, enabling fast, precise, reproducible, and non-destructive material removal for semiconductor failure analysis and quality assurance.
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NVIDIA, Santa Clara, Calif., and Samsung, South Korea, are building a new AI factory with 50,000 NVIDIA GPUs to accelerate agentic and physical AI applications for advanced chip manufacturing, mobile devices, and robotics.
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By studying the theoretical limits of how light can be used to perform computation, Cornell researchers have uncovered new insights and strategies for designing energy-efficient optical computing systems.
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A research team from Tokyo University of Science, Japan, has developed an automated artificial intelligence-based approach for analyzing X-ray absorption spectroscopy data to establish a clear and objective link between a material’s spectral data and its underlying material properties.
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Velo3D, Inc., Fremont, Calif., a leading additive manufacturing company for mission-critical metal parts, and Linde AMT, Speedway, Ind., (formerly known as Praxair Surface Technologies), a global leader in metal powders and coatings, have signed an agreement to supply domestically produced CuNi (70-30 Copper-Nickel) powder in support of the U.S. Navy and the Maritime Industrial Base Program.
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Industrial Info Resources, Sugar Land, Texas, reports that several technology providers for high-capacity power-generation projects, including those catering to the growing data-center market, are reporting a dramatic growth in U.S. gas-turbine orders.
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ATL Turbine Services, Scotland, has expanded its technological capabilities by investing in the Surface Two thermal spray system from Oerlikon, Switzerland.
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Chromalloy, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., a global leader in the aerospace engine aftermarket, has received Federal Aviation Administration parts manufacturer approval for its CFM56-5B/7B high pressure turbine blade.
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There are two basic types of feed systems that feed materials that can be thermally sprayed (including polymers, metals, metal alloys, intermetallics, ceramics, and composites): one that feeds wires or rods and another that feeds particulates.
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Tescan Group, Czech Republic, acquired FemtoInnovations, a leading innovator in ultrafast laser technologies, and created a new dedicated Laser Technology Business Unit headquartered at the University of Connecticut Tech Park that expands Tescan’s correlative and multimodal portfolio for semiconductor, biomedical device manufacturing, and advanced research markets.
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Materials scientists at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities have found a way to create and control tiny internal “flaws” inside ultra-thin materials known as extended defects, that could give next-generation nanomaterials entirely new properties, opening the door to advances in nanotechnology.
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New technology and foundry partnership between GlobalFoundries, Malta, NY., and Navitas Semiconductor, Torrance, Calif., expands U.S. capacity for advanced GaN technology, design, and at-scale manufacturing to support a wide range of power management applications.
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Researchers at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and Florida State University’s Center for Advanced Power Systems and the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory developed a cable design that uses multiple strands of superconducting tape, minimizing the chance of failure from defective spots within a wire.
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NIST has released a report outlining strategies to build a more efficient, sustainable, and resilient U.S. metals processing infrastructure, emphasizing the need for improved standards for recycled content and stronger supply chains for critical materials. Covering the full lifecycle—from mining and alloy design to manufacturing, reuse, and recycling—the report highlights that addressing these challenges is essential for innovation, industrial competitiveness, and national security. The findings stem from a NIST workshop held in July 2024.
“The workshop brought together a diverse group of experts from industry, academia and the policy world to take on some of the biggest challenges in the metals processing space,” said NIST materials research engineer Andrew Iams, a co-author on the report. “Meeting these challenges requires a new approach in how to source, process, use and recycle metals.”
The report covers various topics related to metals manufacturing, from new technologies for extracting and processing bulk materials, like aluminum and steel, to developing new modeling and data tools to design advanced alloys.
The report highlights the importance of critical materials, including minerals containing lithium and cobalt that are key manufacturing elements for smartphones, batteries, semiconductors and medical devices, as well as superalloys used in military hardware and jet engines.
These materials can be challenging to obtain due to limited availability and the risk of supply chain disruptions. Industries can address these issues by diversifying their supply chains with new sources, identifying substitute materials, and improving recycling methods to enable greater recirculation of existing materials.
The report also highlights the need to improve standards for metals reuse and recycling. Better standards can make the separation of metals for recycling more efficient, reducing industry costs. New certification programs can help ensure that products made with recycled content meet performance standards, which could expand the market for recycled materials.
The report highlights five strategies that would help the industry tackle these and other challenges:
The NIST workshop brought together manufacturers, technology companies, researchers and other experts from all stages of the metals processing chain. NIST has a long history of convening stakeholders across industrial sectors to solve shared problems through better technology and standards.
“We are always seeking ways to help industrial partners solve tough engineering or scientific problems,” Iams said. “Part of NIST’s mission is to help keep U.S. industry competitive. We can do that by identifying promising technologies and helping to move them out of the lab so they can be implemented on an industrial scale.”
For more information: Material Challenges in Developing a Sustainable Metal Processing Infrastructure – Workshop Report
Lehigh University’s Blacksmithing Club is set to move into its first dedicated lab space in Whitaker Laboratory, marking a major step for its growing community of student metalworkers. The club, supported by professor Laura Moyer and partnerships with Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites and Lehigh Heavy Forge, offers hands-on experience in both traditional and modern metalworking. Students have also practiced basic techniques at the historic 1750 Smithy, while The Loewy Institute continues to provide education in advanced metal-forming technology.
Moyer said the team had discussed building a lab for years but wasn’t sure how to achieve it financially or where it would be located.
With student interest rising, Moyer said the idea for the blacksmithing club started to solidify two years ago when a student — now club president Josh Swavely, ‘26 — mentioned his passion for blacksmithing in one of Misiolek’s classes.
Under the guidance of Moyer and Misiolek, the group helped launch a one-credit blacksmithing elective offered each spring. Moyer said this course, now in its second year, is open to students of all majors, as is the club.
Moyer also said they are hoping to grow the one-credit course that is currently offered for half a semester into a full-semester three-credit elective for students.
“Within the course we are developing, the idea is to balance time between the laboratory and the lecture hall, between practice and theory,” Misiolek said. “It will be much more of an opportunity to design your own products, analyze the proposed processes, and learn while you are going through the process.”
Moyer said the new laboratory will allow students to complete every stage of the design cycle in one place — from heating and shaping metal at the forge to examining the microstructure of their finished work.
She said students will also be able to fabricate hooks, blades and small hardware entirely on campus supported by new ventilation hoods, anvils and space for larger tools.
Misiolek said the club’s growth has been driven by access to working forges across Bethlehem. Through its partnership with Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites, students learn centuries-old techniques at the 1750 Smithy.
He also said their work with the Lehigh Heavy Forge in Bethlehem allows students to witness a modern industrial facility that provides advanced forgings to clients.
“We are connecting the historical aspects of forging technology with hands-on experience and current industrial practices,” Misiolek said.
He also said beyond traditional forging skills, the new lab will support lessons on heat treatments, controlled cooling and other methods that help students compare how different variables affect the strength and performance of their designs.
Nick Rockwell, a researcher at the Loewy Institute, said community partnerships have been essential in turning the club’s ideas into practice.
“With all the support we’ve received, it’s really helped us connect with Historic Bethlehem,” he said.
He also said Mike Rex, the shop and laboratory operations supervisor, has been instrumental in building facilities for the lab and giving advice on how to best use the space.
The club also gives students opportunities beyond the classroom. Members have participated in the Forging Industry Educational and Research Foundation’s annual competition and secured funding from the nonprofit organization to support their work.
“We pride ourselves in our hands-on approach,” Moyer said. “There are a lot of materials science and engineering departments across the country, but many don’t allow undergraduate students into labs or use highly specialized equipment.”
For more information: Lehigh University
Image: Josh Swavely, ’26, is pictured forging a point in the soon to be blacksmithing lab. Swavely is the president of the Lehigh Blacksmithing Club. (Max Randall/B&W Staff)
Designing hypersonic aircraft that travel at five to seven times the speed of sound is a major challenge because their materials must be lightweight yet capable of withstanding extreme heat and pressure. To address this, researchers at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory, are developing a device that simulates the intense thermal and mechanical stresses of hypersonic flight. Paired with the ultrabright X-rays of Argonne’s Advanced Photon Source, this system will allow scientists to observe real-time changes in these materials under flight-like conditions.
“Recreating the environment of hypersonic flight can be complicated,” said Seetha Raghavan, professor of aerospace engineering and a co-principal investigator on the project. “There are so many factors and no perfect way to test them all. High enthalpy wind tunnels that can simulate the wind speed use a lot of energy resources and are limited in access.” (Enthalpy refers to the heat content of a system at constant pressure.)
The research team’s goal is an alternative that replicates hypersonic flight conditions using fewer energy resources and uses APS X-rays to capture detailed data. The APS is in the final stages of an upgrade that increased the brightness of its X-ray beams by up to 500 times. It is now the brightest synchrotron X-ray facility in the world, and according to Raghavan, the enhanced capabilities of the upgraded APS are crucial to this project.
“When you are talking about hypersonics, you’re talking about high speeds and fast changes, and response time is critical,” she said. “You can only get that kind of time resolution with enough flux (or brightness of the beam), and the upgraded APS is able to help with that.
“Additionally, the materials we’ll be testing are the thinnest that can be used, and at the upgraded APS you can focus the beam down to a small enough size to capture the data we need,” she said.
Victoria Cooley, an APS beamline scientist who worked with the Embry-Riddle team at beamline 1-ID, touted both the upgraded X-ray beam and the improved experiment station.
“It’s an exciting time for our beamline,” she said. “Brighter X-rays allow us to probe deep into materials with a higher-resolution beam and map very thin samples like these. At the same time, we have installed faster, more sensitive detectors to capture chemical or crystallographic changes occurring incredibly quickly. These two pieces come together to make world-changing projects such as this one possible.”
Uncovering materials that can withstand the conditions of hypersonic flight and are not prohibitively expensive to produce is key to unlocking their many applications. Durable hypersonic materials could be used for military and civilian aircraft, as well as cargo delivery vehicles.
The hypersonic materials project is supported by a $1.4 million contract from the U.S. Department of War Joint Hypersonics Transition Office through the University Consortium for Applied Hypersonics. The Embry-Riddle team’s principal investigator is William Engblom, professor of aerospace engineering, and Mark Ricklick, associate professor of aerospace engineering, is a co-principal investigator.
For more information: Embry-Riddle
Image: The Embry-Riddle research team at Beamline 1-ID, with Argonne scientist Victoria Cooley (back row, right). (Image by Mark Lopez/Argonne National Laboratory.)
Researchers at The Grainger College of Engineering have integrated their expertise in metals with advanced machine learning to create detailed spatial maps, enabling faster and more precise autonomous material design. Similar to how fingerprint technology captures intricate ridge and valley patterns for biometric identification, their approach leverages spatial mapping of fine details to revolutionize material engineering.
This evolution of recognition technology is mirrored in the field of materials science, where researchers seek new and efficient ways to fully characterize materials, accelerating the discovery of additional new materials. Much like human fingerprints, the performance of metal mixtures called alloys relies on the intricate spatial arrangement of microstructural features. Traditional methods reduce this complexity into a handful of averaged values, causing each alloy to lose its distinctive “fingerprint.”
In a recent complement of papers from the lab of Jean-Charles Stinville, assistant professor of materials science and engineering, Illinois Grainger engineers have introduced new machine learning approaches for identifying alloy microstructures and predicting their properties rapidly. The Illinois researchers’ method will provide new avenues for faster and more efficient materials design.
Microstructures are tiny structural features of metals that influence their strength and behavior. Scientists look to the microstructural properties of metals to assess their functionality. Metals used in propulsion devices like rockets and airplanes have special requirements.
“We are sending these materials into increasingly extreme environments,” Stinville said. “They are exposed to intense environments; for instance, structural materials for space applications must be resistant to mechanical loading under extremely low or high temperatures. Conventional alloys don’t do as well in these conditions because their mechanical properties tend to degrade under these extreme environments. We want to find new ways to accelerate the identification of alloy chemistries and microstructures that can withstand these harsh conditions.”
The complete details of these microstructures, including small-scale influential variances called heterogeneities, cannot be easily captured by existing methods. Instead, Stinville and his colleagues used deep learning to analyze diffraction patterns, or the way electrons interact with metals. By encoding these interactions through a machine learning method onto a spatial latent representation, the researchers captured the full extent of an alloy’s microstructure and its heterogeneity — an approach Stinville calls Material Spatial Intelligence.
“Traditionally, we have used single descriptors or average values to guide data-based alloy design,” he said. “But spatial information from local measurements over a large field of view allows us to capture microstructure heterogeneity of the alloy. Using such spatial information in a data-based model provides significant improvement in prediction accuracy and enables alloy and microstructure design.”
The initial model is a machine learning approach that successfully identified microstructures and material heterogeneity in unprecedented detail. In a second paper published in Scripta Materialia, Stinville further progressed the model towards the prediction of mechanical properties using the developed approach of material spatial intelligence. This method accelerates alloy property prediction by orders of magnitude and provides a rapid fundamental understanding of structure properties in metals.
“I started my career as an experimentalist, where I developed tools that allowed us to collect large fields of view with very high resolution,” he said. “Then I went over to the numerical side to develop machine learning tools to actually use all this spatial information. As a metallurgist, I have an understanding that metals are controlled by local properties and their heterogeneities. My unique material scientist background really helped me in developing these novel models.”
By combining high-resolution digital image correlation with alloy microstructure characterization, Stinville examined tiny regions of metal surfaces and how they deformed at a small scale when loaded. Training a new model to recognize these deformation fingerprints allowed him to reliably predict important properties like strength, fatigue life, and ductility (the ability to extend without breaking). The model significantly decreases the time for testing, lessening the time needed to evaluate new alloys. This acceleration brings the field one step closer to intelligent alloy design.
Stinville envisions a future model that works backwards from a user’s desired properties to suggest a chemical composition and microstructure that best suits the given parameters. By integrating these approaches with his group’s advances in automated characterization, Stinville’s lab is setting the stage for fully autonomous alloy design, marking their next frontier.
But even as exciting advancements loom, Stinville still marvels at his field’s early beginnings.
“This approach unites our field’s fundamental understanding of metals with new and efficient AI database tools,” he said. “We’re not just taking these new tools and leaving behind what we’ve already learned. We’re integrating the present with the past.”
Mathieu Calvat, Chris Bean and Dhruv Anjaria significantly contributed to this research.
For more information: NPJ Computational Materials
Image: Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) maps of the investigated Inconel 718 alloys. Inverse pole figure (IPF) maps along the X direction (horizontal) are presented for a A wrought and fully recrystallized 718 alloy, and a B additively manufactured as-built 718 alloy
Microscopy images are indispensable in nanomaterials science. Yet scientists now fear that generative AI is diluting the significance of these images by polluting the pool with fake, AI-generated photos that are indistinguishable from the real ones. Even seasoned researchers find it increasingly difficult to distinguish between real microscopy images of nanomaterials and those created by AI as shown in a new study.
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Researchers from the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have discovered a new way to produce high-entropy alloys (HEAs), at near-room temperatures. Their technique gives users much more control of the alloy’s crystal structure and overall morphology compared with existing methods, opening the door for a new paradigm of custom-made HEAs.
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Sandia National Labs researchers have created a new dataset on the rates and types of rooftop photovoltaic connector failures and published the first large-scale investigation of harvested PV connectors, drawing from a dataset of 6276 connectors from residential rooftop solar systems across the United States.
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Toyota and Lexus have launched one of the year’s biggest recalls, affecting over a million vehicles from 2023–2026 due to a parking assist camera issue.
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