The Japanese art of paper folding Origami (from ori meaning “folding”, and kami meaning “paper”) inspired researchers from Purdue University to develop a method they named Kaleidogami – computational algorithms and tools used to turn a single sheet of paper into precisely folded morphing mechanisms. They also devised a variation of Kaleidogami named Kinetogami –… »

Although termites represent one of the peskiest household pests, they could prove to be beneficial for biofuel production. Enzymes in termite guts are instrumental in the insect’s ability to break down the wood they eat, and a group of researchers from Purdue University have applied their knowledge of termites to develop a cocktail of enzymes… »

During surgery, surgeons routinely need to review medical images and records. However, stepping away from the operating table and touching a keyboard and mouse can delay the surgery and increase the risk of spreading infection-causing bacteria. The new approach which solves that problem is a system that uses a camera and specialized algorithms to recognize… »

Current lab-on-a-chip technology is relatively expensive because chips must be specifically designed to perform certain types of chemical analyses, with channels created in glass or plastic and tiny pumps and valves directing the flow of fluids for testing. In order to counter that, the researchers from Perdue University have invented a technique that uses inexpensive… »

After writing about ferrofluid sculptures and Stanford scientists that combined carbon nanotubes and paper, in this article we’re going to write about researchers at Purdue University who have created a magnetic ferropaper. The material is made by impregnating ordinary paper (even newsprint) with a mixture of mineral oil and “magnetic nanoparticles” of iron oxide. The… »