• ‘Super jelly’ material can withstand trampling by elephants

    The material looks and feels like a jelly, with a 'squishy' texture, but when compressed it acts like an ultra-hard, shatterproof glass. Never before has such resistance to compression been incorporated into a soft material. This is even more remarkable considering that it is mostly composed of water. The 'super jelly' could be used for a range of potential applications, including soft robotics, bioelectronics, or even as a cartilage replacement for biomedical use. The behaviour of materials is dependent on their molecular structure. Stretchy, rubber-like hydrogels have many useful properties (such as toughness, flexibility, and self-healing capabilities) that make them a popular research subject, particularly as a potential material for surgical applications. However, making hydrogels…

  • Google commits to privacy oversight from UK watchdog

    The CMA said that Google has laid out a set of commitments from Google regarding its 'Privacy Sandbox' plans, which it said risked squeezing competition by removing third-party cookies and other functionalities from its updated Chrome browser. The new system will split users into cohorts, and rather than a person’s browser history being sent to a central location, their own computer will figure out what they like and assign them to a group with similar interests. Online ads will still be personalised under the system, but Google claims it will afford users greater privacy. Investigators raised concern that Google concealing user data would impede competition in digital advertising markets. The CMA launched its investigation in June this year and heard from more than 40 third parties, who…

  • Ready-made tips for mass customisation

    We see it every day – a menu for a local takeaway, or that mug we picked up in a trade show goodie bag. Branded merchandise this is a staple of small business marketing. Becoming the design and marketing partner of choice for small businesses means constantly optimising for rock-solid reliability, predictably consistent customer experience, choice, availability, quality – and on-time delivery you can set your watch by. What does it take to get truly personalised, high-quality products into customers’ hands? Offering hundreds of product lines that are all 100 per cent tailored to a customer's specifications is a tall order. Especially if you think of the scale and complexity of a massive marketplace distribution warehouse, then add to that products which need to be custom-made first, not just…

  • ‘Magic wand’ imaging technology reveals nano-wonderland

    Materials scientists have developed materials for next-generation electronics so tiny that they are indistinguishable when closely packed. They are so small that, even under the most powerful optical microscopes, they do not reflect enough light (visible light varies in wavelength from 400-700nm) to show fine details such as colours. For instance, carbon nanotubes merely appear grey under an optical microscope. The inability to distinguish fine details and differences between individual pieces of nanomaterials makes it difficult for scientists to study their unique properties and discover ways to perfect them for practical applications. The advance permitted by this new technique improves colour-imaging resolution to an unprecedented 6nm level, helping scientists view nanomaterials in enough…

  • Over 300 new exoplanets identified from Kepler data

    The term ‘exoplanets’ is used to describe planets outside of our own solar system. The number of exoplanets that have been identified by astronomers totals fewer than 5,000 in all, so the identification of hundreds of new ones is a significant advance. The team from University Of California – Los Angeles (UCLA) believe that studying such a large new group of bodies could improve understanding of how planets form and orbits evolve, and it could provide new insights about how unusual our solar system is. “Discovering hundreds of new exoplanets is a significant accomplishment by itself, but what sets this work apart is how it will illuminate features of the exoplanet population as a whole,” said Erik Petigura, a UCLA astronomy professor and co-author of the research. One challenge in identifying…

  • Synthetic diamond glass is hardest known material of its kind

    The new ultrahard glass has a wealth of potential applications for electronic devices. When it comes to comprehending the properties of materials, function follows form. How a material’s atoms are chemically bonded, and their resulting structure, determines its physical qualities. This applies both to properties observable to the naked eye and those more subtle qualities only revealed by probing with specialist instrumentation. Carbon has unrivalled versatility when it comes to forming stable structures, both alone and in combination with other elements. Some carbon-based materials have highly organised structures (e.g. diamond structure) with repeating crystalline lattices while others are more disordered or amorphous. Glass is a non-crystalline, amorphous material typically formed by…

  • 3D-printed prosthetic eye fitted at Moorfields Eye Hospital

    Conventionally, patients requiring an eye prosthesis receive a painted acrylic eye. During a two-hour session, the eye socket is moulded to create a comfortable prosthetic; this invasive procedure can be so difficult that it can require a general anaesthetic when the patient is a child. The eye is then painted. This process takes six weeks. The 3D-printed eye is more realistic, having clearer definition and “real depth” to the pupil. For conventional acrylic eyes, the iris is hand-painted onto a black disc embedded in the prosthesis, meaning that light cannot pass the full depth of the eye, while light can interact more naturally with the 3D-printed prosthesis. However, a 3D-printed prosthetic is not only more realistic but also reduces the manufacturing process to two to three weeks. The…

  • Sponsored: How Manchester is making material gains for cities of the future

    Recognised as one of the most innovative cities in the world, the city that was at the centre of the Industrial Revolution, is delivering new global firsts that are shaping cities and lives of tomorrow – from the built environment and transport, to healthcare, our food chain and carbon reduction. Home to world-leading institutes, Manchester is nurturing strong collaborations between business and academia – and demonstrating its ability to turn ideas into reality. Here we meet some of the people, places and thinking behind Manchester’s latest innovations in advanced materials and the future of manufacturing. Material innovators of Manchester Two scientists at The University of Manchester made history in 2004, when they isolated graphene for the first time, and went on to be awarded the Nobel…

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

  • China sees first fall in carbon emissions since pandemic recovery

    The country, which is the world’s largest carbon emitter, saw it emissions rise by approximately 9 per cent in the first half of the year before tapering off in the following months. The analysis from the Helsinki-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) found that much of the savings were achieved through emission declines in fossil fuel and concrete usage. Furthermore, the declining trend in the third quarter steepened into September – the first month during which monthly emissions returned to 2019 levels – and looks set to deepen further in October, based on preliminary data. This analysis is based on official figures for the domestic production, import and export of fossil fuels and cement, as well as commercial data on changes in stocks of stored fuel. In the case…

  • Smart sleeve lets wearer feel and understand any foreign language

    Through these vibrations, it is possible to understand any foreign language. The HART team plans to present its application tomorrow (Friday) to a number of fellow students on the campus of TU/e. It is thought that this is the first time that a sleeve with vibrating motors has been used for communication. The students have developed a 'vibratory language' based on the 39 different sounds of the English language. The sleeve works with a computer programme that converts written text into English and then into sound units, which in turn are converted into vibrations. Each sound has its own vibration. The vibrations that a user feels on his or her arm through the sleeve, together form words and sentences. Team member Lisa Overdevest, an Industrial Engineering student (pictured below), learned…

  • AI algorithm more accurately predicts when patients have developed sepsis

    Sepsis affects more than 30 million people worldwide, causing an estimated six million deaths. It is an extreme response from the human body to an infection and is often life-threatening. Every hour of delayed treatment can increase the odds of death by 4-8 per cent, so timely and accurate predictions of sepsis are crucial to reduce morbidity and mortality. Various healthcare organisations are already deploying predictive analytics to help identify patients with sepsis by using electronic medical record (EMR) data. But the new AI, developed by a team of international researchers from McMaster University and St Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, both in Canada, could greatly improve the timeliness and accuracy of data-driven sepsis predictions. “Sepsis can be predicted very accurately and very…

  • Hands-on review: Zhiyun Weebill 2 camera gimbal

    A year is a long time in Gimbal World. Last summer, we reviewed Zhiyun's Weebill S , finding much to admire about it. A little over 12 months later and Zhiyun launched its successor to the S, the Weebill 2 - reviewed here. If you're contemplating making a gimbal purchase for use with your mirrorless or DSLR camera, you will find yourself spoilt for choice. Not only by Zhiyun's own wide range, which updates at an almost bewildering pace, but similarly spec'ed offerings from established rivals such as DJI, FeiyuTech and Manfrotto. What does the Weebill 2 offer that could turn your head? First and foremost, it's the Weebill 2's new integrated, flip-out touchscreen that catches the eye. This 2.8" vari-angle colour touchscreen can double as both a monitoring device and for parameter adjustment…

  • Samsung to invest $17bn in Texas chip factory

    The site is near the small city of Taylor, which is northeast of Austin, Texas. According to Samsung, the company chose the site after considering locations in Arizona and New York, but chose Texas due to the presence of government incentives, its proximity to its Austin plant, and the “readiness and stability” of local infrastructure. The plant is expected to generate 2,000 technology jobs and 6,500 construction jobs, Reuters reported. The Republican governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, celebrated the announcement with a tweet saying: “Welcome to Texas, Samsung!”. Abbott’s office said Samsung would receive a $27m grant to support job creation. Welcome to Texas, Samsung! Samsung will build a new semiconductor manufacturing facility in Taylor, Texas. ️ $17B capital investment ️ Thousands…

  • Tough cyber-security rules for internet-connected devices laid before parliament

    The Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill (PSTI) introduces a raft of new protocols that manufacturers and distributors of tech will need to adhere to. It will allow regulators to ban universal default passwords, force firms to be transparent to customers about what they are doing to fix security flaws in connectable products, and create a better public reporting system for vulnerabilities found in those products. The Bill will also speed up the roll-out of faster and more reliable broadband and mobile networks by making it easier for operators to upgrade and share infrastructure. The reforms will encourage quicker and more collaborative negotiations with landowners hosting the equipment, to reduce instances of lengthy court action which are holding up improvements…

  • ‘Living walls’ reduce heat loss by over 30 per cent

    The study was centred around the university’s own Sustainability Hub, an unremarkable pre-1970s building on the university campus. It was conducted by academics associated with Plymouth’s Sustainable Earth Institute. The researchers compared how effectively two sections of its walls retained heat. Despite being on the same west-facing elevation, one of the walls had been retrofitted with an exterior 'living wall' façade comprised of a flexible felt system with pockets for soil and planting. The other part of the wall was left plain. Following five weeks of measurements, the Plymouth researchers found that the amount of heat lost through the wall retrofitted with the living system was 31.4 per cent lower than that of the unchanged wall. They also discovered that daytime temperatures within…

  • UK finally embraces tidal stream projects with £20m annual subsidy

    Tidal energy is created using the movement of tides and oceans, where the intensity of the water from the rise and fall of tides is a form of kinetic energy that is converted into electricity. It can be harnessed in three different ways - tidal streams, barrages and lagoons - but has been relatively uneconomical compared to other forms of renewable electricity such as wind and solar. However, unlike those forms of generation, which produce variable electricity output depending on the climactic conditions, tidal energy offers a predictable and constant flow that makes it easier for engineers to design efficient systems. The government said that it hopes the latest investment will boost the popularity of the technology. As part of the fourth allocation round of the 'Contracts for Difference…

  • Singapore targets two million tonnes of CO2 capture by 2030

    Singapore is aiming to establish a testbed for carbon capture technology on Jurong Island, which is dominated by a large oil refinery hub. There are more than 100 companies based on the island, including Shell, ExxonMobile, BP, DuPont, Chevron, Singapore Petroleum Company, and Singapore Refining Company. Jurong allows Singapore to rank among the top oil-refining powers despite having no crude oil deposits of its own. Both Shell and ExxonMobile have expressed interest in building carbon capture facilities in the region; Shell revealed this week that it is exploring the possibility of a carbon capture and storage hub in Singapore. Carbon capture has not yet been deployed on a large scale and remains economically unfeasible. However, the International Energy Agency acknowledges that carbon…

  • 7 in 10 Brits positive about wider use of drones in future

    The research – conducted by Strive Insight and involving 2,000 nationally representative UK respondents – looked into public acceptance around the use of drones and found that nearly half (49 per cent) of the British public want to see drones used for risky jobs instead of people, specifically in firefighting (76 per cent) and inspecting infrastructure (70 per cent). The findings indicate the wider public's interest in seeing ground-breaking use cases such as those that BT and Project XCelerate are working on, including search and rescue missions, infrastructure inspection, rapid response for road-traffic-accidents, and the delivery of medical supplies in remote communities. The research from BT and the Altitude Angel-led 'Project XCelerate' consortium found that over two-thirds (68 per…

  • US Defence Department creates new body to keep track of UFOs

    Under the snappy title of Airborne Object Identification and Management Synchronisation Group (AOIMSG), the body will investigate reports of airborne objects that enter US ‘special use airspace’ (SUA) in a way that could be deemed a threat to national security. Areas designated SUA are typically used for military operations and come with strict limitations of when and what aircraft can fly through them. “Incursions by any airborne object into our SUA pose safety of flight and operations security concerns, and may pose national security challenges,” AOIMSG said in a post announcing its creation. “DoD takes reports of incursions – by any airborne object, identified or unidentified – very seriously, and investigates each one.” The DoD said it wanted a better understanding of "unidentified…

  • European scientists bounce first-ever LoRa message off the Moon

    A European team of scientists have, for the first time ever, bounced a LoRa (LOng RAnge) message off the Moon. The feat set a new record of 730,360km for the furthest distance a LoRa message has ever travelled. It was also the first time a data message was bounced using an off-the-shelf small RF (radio-frequency) chip. For a brief moment in time, the entire message 'PI9CAM' (the call sign of the telescope; actual message pictured below) was in space on its way from Earth to the Moon and back. The experiment also proved that LoRa technology, used for many IoT (Internet of Things) applications, can cover such great distances and that it is possible to send and receive low-powered messages from the Moon. This could become relevant for future lunar communications. Image…

  • View from India: CFO’s responsibility increases with the pandemic

    With the pandemic, almost all operations have come together on a digitised platform. In that sense, everything is more or less visible and digitisation makes it possible to track and monitor any section of a company. This has brought a paradigm shift in the world of the chief financial officer (CFO). The role has broadened and is holistic across the entire organisation and, in order to extract value, the CFO may have to chalk out measures to enhance business outcomes. In its new avatar, the CFO may be at the forefront of decision making as transactions across the board are customised. “The CFO’s role goes beyond making the payroll more effective. It’s like a 30,000-feet view of all functions that are interlinked. What could happen in the future, is that they can engage in the services offered…

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

  • Japan backs domestic chipmaking with stimulus package

    The world’s largest chip foundry, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), was reported to be making plans to start manufacturing chips in Japan. Construction is set to begin in 2022 in western Japan, with production expected to begin by the end of 2024. The chip plant could create 1,500 jobs with a monthly capacity of 45,000 wafers, initially using mature 22nm and 28nm technologies and later moving on to high-end chips. This would be part of a joint venture with Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation, after the two companies signed a deal for a $7bn (£5.3bn) chipmaking plant. Local media has suggested that Denso Corp, a major Japanese autoparts company, may be among the partners in the TSMC-Sony deal. The announcement was warmly welcomed by the Japanese government. Now, it has…

  • Free public transport paid with carbon taxes could substantially reduce emissions

    University of Leeds researchers said that providing these services for free could significantly reduce home energy emissions and motor fuel emissions. Carbon taxes on home energy and motor fuel often place a greater burden on low-income households because the same tax rate applies to every taxpayer, regardless of income. However, they contribute much less to climate change than high-income households. The researchers compared two ways of using revenue from carbon taxes to reduce emissions and fuel and transport poverty. They found that providing free green services would be more effective than redistributing the tax revenue among the population to address the regressive impacts of the taxes on lower earners. “Stringent climate policies, including carbon taxes on home energy and motor…

  • Hands-on review: WAU X Plus electric bike

    WAU has a single electric bike model on the market at one time and has recently discontinued the WAU X and replaced it with the WAU X Plus, the model under review here. First thing that strikes you as you haul it out of its box is that it is heavy – a really solid bit of kit. This makes it feel well-made, but weight is not the friend of the cyclist. More on this later. The box didn’t contain the instruction book, presumably because it was a review sample that had passed through other reviewers' hands before me. However, anyone who is acquainted with tinkering around a bike with an allen key would have had no problem putting on the front wheel, pedals and aligning the front fork. In other words, setup is not difficult. So, as you stand back and admire your fully assembled purchase, here…

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