IBM and 3M developing new types of adhesives to create 3D semiconductors

By Damir Beciri
10 September 2011

ibm-stacked-chipsIBM partnered with 3M in order to develop adhesives that can be used to package semiconductors into 3D semiconductors. In order to develop these densely stacked silicon “towers”, IBM will draw on their expertise in creating unique semiconductor packaging processes, and 3M will provide their expertise in developing and manufacturing adhesive materials. The joint research… »

Polymer extracted from seaweed may improve battery performance

By Damir Beciri
8 September 2011

brown-algae-kelpCollaboration between researchers at the Clemson University and the Georgia Institute of Technology resulted with a promising new binder material for lithium-ion battery electrodes. Known as alginate, the material is extracted from common, fast-growing brown algae, and it could boost energy storage, while eliminating the use of toxic compounds now used to manufacture the components…. »

Full-duplex technology enables double wireless capacity without new towers

By Damir Beciri
6 September 2011

rice-university-full-duplex-technologyRice University engineering researchers have made a breakthrough that could allow wireless phone companies to double throughput on their networks without adding a single cell tower. Instead using two frequencies to send and receive data, Rice’s new “full-duplex” technology allows wireless devices like cell phones and electronic tablets perform this communication with cell towers while… »

Simple templating technology allows stamping of biomimetic gecko toes

By Damir Beciri
2 Comments6 September 2011

geckoThe adhesive surface of gecko’s toes has inspired many research groups to try to mimic this ability in an artificial material. Researchers at the A*STAR Institute of Materials Research and Engineering and co-workers at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore claim that they came up with the closest biomimicry yet, and that their synthetic gecko toe… »

Green architecture – Warren and Katharine Schlinger Laboratory for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

By Damir Beciri
5 September 2011

warren-and-katharine-schlinger-laboratory-for-chemistry-and-chemical-engineering-1The Warren and Katharine Schlinger Laboratory for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering building is a part of California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and it is expected to receive LEED Gold certification. Along with focus on sustainability and resource conservation, the Schlinger Laboratory will foster innovative and productive scientific collaborations between diverse research groups in chemistry and… »

Research enables robots to manipulate objects and recognize new places

By Damir Beciri
3 September 2011

cornell-university-personal-robotics-lab-object-placementProgramming a computer to observe events and find commonalities is called machine learning. There are many examples of this process being perfected by many researchers around the world, but a team of researchers from the Cornell University Personal Robotics Laboratory is teaching robots to find their way around in new environments and manipulate objects with… »

Researchers developing a tougher and lighter wind turbine blade

By Damir Beciri
One Comment3 September 2011

wind turbineA Case Western Reserve University researcher has built a prototype blade that is substantially lighter and more durable compared to materials currently used in blades of wind turbines. He came up with a polyurethane blade reinforced with carbon nanotubes, which make the material eight times tougher compared to other materials which are currently used as… »

Nature inspires lighter and tougher plastic components

By Damir Beciri
One Comment1 September 2011

fraunhofer-bionic-inspired-polyamide-printingCertain biological materials exhibit exceptional strength due to their complex structure which has been perfected through time. Inspired by the perfected structures found in nature, researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute are collaborating on a project named Bionic Manufacturing. It aims to develop plastic products that are lightweight and strong, while being economic in their use… »