Innovation Map
2 May 2023
The Metamaterials Landscape
Innovation roadmap for the metamaterials landscape.
25 Oct 2022
Gel-Like, Radioactive Implant Obliterates Pancreatic Cancer in Mice
Biomedical engineers have demonstrated the most effective treatment for pancreatic cancer ever recorded in mouse models. While most mouse trials consider simply halting growth a success, the new treatment completely eliminated tumors in 80 percent of mice across several model types, including those considered the most difficult to treat.
External press release
22 Sep 2022
Artificial Soft Surface Autonomously Mimics Shapes From Nature
Engineers have developed a scalable soft surface that can continuously reshape itself to mimic objects in nature. Relying on electromagnetic actuation, mechanical modeling and machine learning to form new configurations, the surface can even learn to adapt to hindrances such as broken elements, unexpected constraints or changing environments.
18 Aug 2022
Lab-Made Cartilage Gel Outperforms the Real Thing
Researchers say they have created the first gel-based cartilage substitute that is even stronger and more durable than the real thing. Mechanical testing reveals that the team's hydrogel -- a material made of water-absorbing polymers -- can be pressed and pulled with more force than natural cartilage, and is three times more resistant to wear and tear.
18 Jul 2022
A Robot Learns to Imagine Itself
We humans acquire our body-model as infants, and robots are following suit. A Cresearch team announced today they have created a robot that—for the first time—is able to learn a model of its entire body from scratch, without any human assistance. The researchers demonstrate how their robot created a kinematic model of itself, and then used its self-model to plan motion, reach goals, and avoid obstacles in a variety of situations. It even automatically recognized and then compensated for damage to its body.
23 May 2022
Hubble Reaches New Milestone in Mystery of Universe's Expansion Rate
Pursuit of the universe's expansion rate began in the 1920s with measurements by astronomers Edwin P. Hubble and Georges Lemaître. In 1998, this led to the discovery of "dark energy," a mysterious repulsive force accelerating the universe's expansion. In recent years, thanks to data from Hubble and other telescopes, astronomers found another twist: a discrepancy between the expansion rate as measured in the local universe compared to independent observations from right after the big bang, which predict a different expansion value.
Background
19 May 2022
Kymeta
Kymeta are a US-based metamaterial satellite antenna company with a focus on broadband satellite connectivity.
21 Dec 2021
Innovative Textile Vents to Release Heat When you Sweat
Scientists have developed a lightweight material that traps thermal energy when dry, but opens a series of tiny vents to let heat escape when a person starts sweating. The vents close again to retain heat once they are dry.
15 Oct 2021
Wearable Head Scanner for Comfort, Mobility During Brain Scans
To collect accurate images of a patient's brain, the patient must be still and confined in a tube-like MRI scanner for a long period of time. To better assess their brain function and behavioral health, however, they should move naturally and freely during a scan. Researchers have proposed a solution to both clearly visualize and accurately assess the brain via photoacoustic imaging with a stretchable, flexible material.
22 Sep 2021
First-in-World Heart Implant: Women Receives Novel Artificial Heart
A cardiothoracic surgical team has performed the world's first Aeson bioprosthetic total artificial heart implantation in a female patient. The investigational device, currently intended as a bridge to heart transplant, is part of an Early Feasibility Study.
27 Aug 2021
Paving the Way for Small but Mighty Robots
An interdisciplinary team of roboticists, engineers and biologists have modeled the mechanics of the mantis shrimp's punch and built a robot that mimics the movement. The research sheds light on the biology of these pugnacious crustaceans and paves the way for small but mighty robotic devices.
28 Apr 2021
Fully Recyclable Printed Electronics
Engineers have developed the world's first fully recyclable printed electronics. By demonstrating a crucial and relatively complex computer component — the transistor — created with three carbon-based inks, the researchers hope to inspire a new generation of recyclable electronics to help fight the growing global epidemic of electronic waste.
Update
26 Apr 2021
Duke University (Recyclable Electronics)
Researchers at Duke University have developed a circuit made from fully recyclable printed electronics, including the transistors. This work, published in Nature Electronics, fits the growing interest in 'sustainable electronics'.
19 Apr 2021
AI Pinpoints Local Pollution Hotspots Using Satellite Images
Researchers have developed a method that uses machine learning, satellite imagery and weather data to autonomously find hotspots of heavy air pollution, city block by city block.