Computer Science: Virtual Reality (VR) Offbeat: Computers and Math
Published

Hands-free tech adds realistic sense of touch in extended reality      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have demonstrated a new hands-free approach to convey realistic haptic feedback in virtual reality (VR). Their 'multisensory pseudo-haptics' uses a combination of headset visuals and tactile feedback from a wrist bracelet to convey sensations of touch.

Energy: Batteries Energy: Fossil Fuels Energy: Technology Engineering: Graphene
Published

Ramping up domestic graphite production could aid the green energy transition      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Given the growing importance of graphite in energy storage technologies, a team of esearchers has conducted a study exploring ways to reduce reliance on imports of the in high-demand mineral, which powers everything from electric vehicles (EVs) to cell phones.

Energy: Technology
Published

First transient electronic bandage speeds healing by 30%      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have developed a small, flexible, stretchable bandage that accelerates healing by delivering electrotherapy directly to the wound site. The bandage also actively monitors the healing process and then harmlessly dissolves -- electrodes and all -- into the body after it is no longer needed.

Computer Science: General Energy: Batteries Energy: Technology
Published

New technology turns smartphones into RFID readers, saving costs and reducing waste      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Imagine you can open your fridge, open an app on your phone and immediately know which items are expiring within a few days. This is one of the applications that a new technology would enable.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics Energy: Technology Physics: Acoustics and Ultrasound
Published

Study offers details on using electric fields to tune thermal properties of ferroelectric materials      (via sciencedaily.com) 

New research sheds light on how electric fields can be used to alter the thermal properties of ferroelectric materials, allowing engineers to manipulate the flow of heat through the materials. Ferroelectric materials are used in a wide variety of applications, from ultrasound devices to memory storage technologies.

Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Technology Engineering: Nanotechnology Physics: Optics
Published

Nanoparticles self-assemble to harvest solar energy      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers design a solar harvester with enhanced energy conversion capabilities. The device employs a quasiperiodic nanoscale pattern, meaning most of it is an alternating and consistent pattern, while the remaining portion contains random defects that do not affect its performance. The fabrication process makes use of self-assembling nanoparticles, which form an organized material structure based on their interactions with nearby particles without any external instructions. Thermal energy harvested by the device can be transformed to electricity using thermoelectric materials.

Computer Science: Virtual Reality (VR)
Published

How can the metaverse improve public health?      (via sciencedaily.com) 

The metaverse is a technological revolution in the field of virtual reality, with potential benefits to public health research. A new article proposes several new ways in which the metaverse can help us design, test, and experience health-promoting environments to minimize the risk of non-communicable diseases.

Energy: Technology Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Scientists engineer a 'self-charging' electrostatic face mask for prolonged air filtration, reducing the environmental burden      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have engineered an electrostatic face mask that can 'self-charge' through the user's breathing and continuously replenish its electrostatic charge as the user wears and breathes through the mask. This significantly increase the filtering performance in prolonged use of the mask for up to 60 hours, compared to four hours for a conventional surgical mask. This also benefits the environment.

Energy: Technology
Published

New ultrafast water disinfection method is more environmentally friendly      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have found a way to use small shocks of electricity to disinfect water, reducing energy consumption, cost, and environmental impact. The technology could be integrated into the electric grid or even powered by batteries.

Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Technology
Published

Physicists solve durability issue in next-generation solar cells      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Physicists jumped a major hurdle standing in the way of the commercialization of solar cells created with halide perovskites as a lower-cost, higher-efficiency replacement for silicon when generating electricity from the sun.

Energy: Technology
Published

Atom-thin walls could smash size, memory barriers in next-gen devices      (via sciencedaily.com) 

For all of the still-indistinguishable-from-magic wizardry packed into the three pounds of the adult human brain, it obeys the same rule as the other living tissue it controls: Oxygen is a must. So it was with a touch of irony that a scientists offered his explanation for a technological wonder -- movable, data-covered walls mere atoms wide -- that may eventually help computers behave more like a brain. 'There was unambiguous evidence that oxygen vacancies are responsible for this,' Tsymbal said.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics Energy: Technology
Published

Chiral phonons create spin current without needing magnetic materials      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers chiral phonons to convert wasted heat into spin information -- without needing magnetic materials. The finding could lead to new classes of less expensive, energy-efficient spintronic devices for use in applications ranging from computational memory to power grids.

Computer Science: General Computer Science: Virtual Reality (VR) Engineering: Graphene
Published

Virtual and augmented reality: Researchers pioneer process to stack micro-LEDs      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers are using emerging technology to demonstrate a process that will enable more immersive and realistic virtual and augmented reality displays with the world's smallest and thinnest micro-LEDs.

Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Technology Physics: Optics
Published

Research reveals thermal instability of solar cells but offers a bright path forward      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers reveal the thermal instability that happens within the cells' interface layers, but also offers a path forward towards reliability and efficiency for halide perovskite solar technology.

Energy: Batteries Energy: Technology
Published

Novel microscope developed to design better high-performance batteries      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A research team has developed an operando reflection interference microscope (RIM) that provides a better understanding of how batteries work, which has significant implications for the next generation of batteries.

Energy: Technology
Published

Make them thin enough, and antiferroelectric materials become ferroelectric      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Antiferroelectric materials have electrical properties that make them advantageous for use in high-density energy storage applications. Researchers have now discovered a size threshold beyond which antiferroelectrics lose those properties, becoming ferroelectric.

Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Energy: Technology
Published

Fighting climate change: Ruthenium complexes for carbon dioxide reduction to valuable chemicals      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Excessive use of fossil fuels leads to undesired carbon dioxide (CO2) generation, accelerating climate change. One way to tackle this is by converting CO2 into value-added chemicals. On this front, researchers have recently utilized a novel redox couple, for the purpose.

Energy: Batteries Energy: Technology Physics: Optics
Published

Controllable 'defects' improve performance of lithium-ion batteries      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Some defects can be good. A new study shows that laser-induced defects in lithium-ion battery materials improve the performance of the battery.

Energy: Technology Geoscience: Severe Weather
Published

Severe weather straining electrical grids: New research mitigates demand surges, increasing grid reliability and reducing costs      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Concerns are mounting among policymakers and utility companies amid the impact of severe weather on the nation's electrical grids. In recent months, electrical grids in Texas have been tested to the point of near failure. So it seems like perfect timing that new research identifies a new method that provides the best way to utilize 'direct load control contracts' to mitigate electricity demand surges, increase grid reliability and reduce electricity cost. All of this right down to the individual household.

Energy: Batteries Energy: Technology
Published

New sodium, aluminum battery aims to integrate renewables for grid resiliency      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A new sodium battery technology shows promise for helping integrate renewable energy into the electric grid. The battery uses Earth-abundant raw materials such as aluminum and sodium.