Posted on May 6th, 2011 by jxh
People who suffer from pancreatitis, a sudden inflammation of the pancreas, can experience severe stomach pain, nausea, fever, shock, and even death.
In order to detect pancreatitis quickly, biochemistry researchers at University of Texas at Austin have developed a sensor the size of a matchbox using only aluminum foil, gelatin, a 12-cent LED light, and a few other inexpensive materials.
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Filed under: Biomedical, e-News | Comments Off on Jell-O Now Detects Organ Failure
Tags: Biomedical
Posted on May 4th, 2011 by jxh
After closely studying the biomechanics of
cats, dogs, and
jellyfish, engineers are turning their attention to more bothersome critters:
fire ants.Engineers at the Georgia Institute of Technology examined the notoriously feisty ants more closely and discovered that the hairy surface of their rough skin makes it difficult for water to penetrate, much as duck feathers repel water because of their tiny bumps. Their work could lead to the development of new and better waterproof materials.
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Filed under: e-News, Materials | 1 Comment »
Tags: Biomimicry, Materials, Robotics
Posted on May 3rd, 2011 by axb
Hankering for an undersea adventure this summer? Since catching a ride on the Virgin Oceanic sub is out of the question, a good alternative might be trying the new and somewhat hilarious-looking Aqua Star underwater scooter.
The AS1 (pictured above) is a one-person underwater vehicle that can cruise at up to 4 mph as riders take in marine vistas.
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Filed under: e-News, Ocean, Transportation | 6 Comments »
Posted on April 28th, 2011 by axb
Seven engineering students designed a water drill that might improve the lives of millions.
Lack of sanitary drinking water is a serious and well-known problem that continues to plague many third-world nations. In Tanzania alone, over 800,000 people do not have access to clean water.
A group of seven engineering students from Brigham Young University hope to alleviate this problem by giving Tanzanians an efficient and inexpensive way to obtain drinking water. For their senior capstone project, they have designed a human-powered drill that can dig a freshwater well much faster than many more expensive devices.
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Filed under: e-News, Environmental, Mechanical | 5 Comments »
Tags: Environmental, Giving Back, Mechanical
Posted on April 25th, 2011 by jxh
Is your lunch fresh enough to eat? Now the plastic wrap can tell you
Consumers often throw away perfectly edible food because they think it has “gone bad.” As a result, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that food scraps constitute 12 percent of municipal landfills, making food the single largest component of the country’s waste stream.
To help prevent consumers from prematurely throwing away food, researchers are developing a plastic wrap that will change colors when the food is no longer safe to eat.
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Filed under: Agricultural, e-News, Environmental, Materials | 2 Comments »
Tags: Agricultural, Environmental, Food, Green Technology, Materials
