Spacecraft Makers: Simulating Space to Test Europa Clipper

In this video, see how the team at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory tests whether NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft will work properly in outer space during its upcoming 1.6 billion-mile, six-year journey to explore Jupiter’s icy moon Europa for conditions suitable for life.

Engineering cellular scaffolding to advance nanotechnologies

By channeling a living cell’s machinery, Princeton researchers are developing a system to control the growth of microtubules. They call this robust nanotechnology platform, “cytoskeletal circuits,” with potential applications in soft robotics and new medicines.

One Minute Mentor: Process Control in Nitriding Systems

Modern gas nitriding and nitrocarburizing furnaces are equipped with sensor systems and a process control unit that allow the measurement and automatic control of the nitriding potential (KN). The figure shows an example of how the process control can be carried out.  Defined amounts of ammonia, nitrogen, and—for nitrocarburizing processes—carbon dioxide, can be chosen for […]

Preparation and high-temperature oxidation resistance of zirconium alloys

Researchers from the National Engineering Research Center for Instrument Functional Materials and Chongqing University, both in Chongqing, China, have highlighted the pivotal role of zirconium alloys in nuclear power systems. Their latest paper reviews the significant advancements in coating technologies for zirconium alloy fuel cladding, a crucial component in nuclear reactors. The study discusses various […]