Robotic touch sensors are not just skin deep

Researchers at Northwestern University and Tel Aviv University have addressed a key challenge in developing affordable robotic touch by identifying a flaw in the materials used for robotic skin. They discovered that inexpensive silicone rubber composites form insulating layers on their surfaces, which block electrical contact between the sensing polymer and electrodes, leading to inaccurate […]

Machine learning powers new approach to detecting soil contaminants

Researchers at Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine have developed a novel method to detect hazardous soil pollutants, including previously unstudied compounds, using a combination of light-based imaging, theoretical predictions of molecular light signatures, and machine learning algorithms. This technique enables the identification of toxic substances like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their derivatives […]

Tapping a new toolbox, engineers buck tradition in high-performing heat exchanger

Engineers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison have developed a high-performance, twisty high-temperature heat exchanger using a combination of topology optimization and advanced 3D metal printing. This innovative design significantly outperforms traditional straight-channel heat exchangers in terms of heat transfer, power density, and overall effectiveness. These heat exchangers are critical in industries such as aerospace, power […]

Researchers uncover why cracks in materials break their symmetry while spreading

All materials, including those in our bodies and the structures around us, contain tiny imperfections like cracks, which can sometimes spread suddenly and dangerously—but also form fascinating patterns. Physicists have long struggled to explain why these cracks often branch unpredictably and slow down. However, two recent studies from the Weizmann Institute of Science have revealed […]