ScienceDaily: Top Technology News

New optimization approach helps design lighter carbon fiber composite materials

Posted: 24 May 2021 03:31 PM PDT

Carbon fibers, due to their superior strength and lightness, are popular in aerospace engineering applications. While much effort goes into improving the strength of carbon fiber composites, such as fiber-reinforced plastic, only fiber orientation optimization is considered. Now researchers have adopted a new design method that optimizes both fiber thickness and orientation, achieving weight reduction in reinforced plastic and opening doors to lighter aircrafts and automobiles.

Chemical changes to peptide siRNA-carrier enhance gene silencing for future cancer drugs

Posted: 24 May 2021 01:18 PM PDT

Researchers found a modified peptide carrier that was delivering the siRNA drug by adhering to and potentially moving along cell filopodia, leading to more efficient cell entry and improved gene silencing.

Young teens should only use recreational internet and video games one hour daily

Posted: 24 May 2021 08:02 AM PDT

Middle-school aged children who use the internet, social media or video games recreationally for more than an hour each day during the school week have significantly lower grades and test scores, according to a new study.

36 dwarf galaxies had simultaneous 'baby boom' of new stars

Posted: 24 May 2021 08:02 AM PDT

Three dozen dwarf galaxies far from each other had a simultaneous 'baby boom' of new stars, an unexpected discovery that challenges current theories on how galaxies grow and may enhance our understanding of the universe.

Pristine quantum criticality found

Posted: 24 May 2021 08:02 AM PDT

Physicists searching for evidence of quantum criticality in topological materials have found one of the most pristine examples yet observed.

To make particles flow more efficiently, put an obstacle in their way

Posted: 24 May 2021 08:02 AM PDT

A bottleneck limits the effectiveness of microfluidic chips. Reaction-containing droplets can collide, break up, and foul experiments. 'It's a traffic problem, like several lanes of cars trying to squeeze through a tollbooth,' says a mechanical engineering professor. Placing 'traffic circles' in the flow path causes droplets to line up in an orderly fashion so they can zoom through the system with far fewer collisions.

Clean water and toilets for healthy shelters

Posted: 24 May 2021 08:02 AM PDT

The devastating Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011 displaced some 500,000 people to evacuation shelters. A research team that conducted regular visits to shelters to assess their status and inhabitants well-being have analyzed their data and found that about half of shelters had inadequate clean tap water and toilets, leading to worsening health outcomes for inhabitants.

Generating electricity from heat using the spin Seebeck device

Posted: 24 May 2021 08:02 AM PDT

A research team proposes the direction for designing highly efficient spin Seebeck-based thermoelectric devices.

Digital Twin technology a 'powerful tool' but requires significant investment, say experts

Posted: 24 May 2021 08:02 AM PDT

Healthcare and aerospace experts have said advances in digital twin technology make it a powerful tool for facilitating predictive and precision medicine and enhancing decision-making for aerospace systems.

Using waste heat to power an environmentally sustainable future

Posted: 24 May 2021 08:01 AM PDT

Researchers explore a novel organic Rankine system for converting waste heat into electricity.

Plasma jets reveal magnetic fields far, far away

Posted: 24 May 2021 06:20 AM PDT

For the first time, researchers have observed plasma jets interacting with magnetic fields in a massive galaxy cluster 600 million light years away, thanks to the help of radio telescopes and supercomputer simulations. The findings can help clarify how such galaxy clusters evolve.

New study targets secrets of great entrepreneurial cities

Posted: 24 May 2021 06:20 AM PDT

New study by Australian and US researchers describe how an 'open-minded' population empowers city life.

Accurate evaluation of CRISPR genome editing

Posted: 24 May 2021 06:20 AM PDT

Researchers have developed a new software tool to detect, evaluate and quantify off-target editing activity, including adverse translocation events that can cause cancer. The software is based on input taken from a standard measurement assay, involving multiplexed PCR amplification and Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS).

Implantable piezoelectric polymer improves controlled release of drugs

Posted: 24 May 2021 06:19 AM PDT

A membrane made from threads of a polymer commonly used in vascular sutures can be loaded with therapeutic drugs and implanted in the body, where mechanical forces activate the polymer's electric potential and slowly release the drugs. The novel system overcomes the biggest limitations of conventional drug administration and some controlled release methods, and could improve treatment of cancer and other chronic diseases.

Silicon chips combine light and ultrasound for better signal processing

Posted: 20 May 2021 10:39 AM PDT

High-end wireless and cellular networks rely on light for the distribution of signals. The selective processing of such signals requires long delays: too long to support on a chip using light alone. A research team brought together light and ultrasonic waves to realize ultra-narrow filters of microwave signals, in silicon integrated circuits. The concept allows large freedom for filters design.