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Category: engineering

Engineers at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering have introduced a universal framework for point spread function (PSF) engineering, enabling the synthesis of arbitrary, spatially varying 3D PSFs using diffractive optical processors. The research is published in the journal Light: Science & Applications.

This framework allows for advanced imaging capabilities—such as snapshot 3D —without the need for spectral filters, axial scanning, or digital reconstruction.

PSF engineering plays a significant role in modern microscopy, spectroscopy and computational imaging. Conventional techniques typically employ phase masks at the pupil plane, which constrain the complexity and mathematical representation of the achievable PSF structures.

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Researchers led by Kenichiro Itami at the RIKEN Pioneering Research Institute (PRI) / RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) have successfully used insects as mini molecule-making factories, marking a breakthrough in chemical engineering. Referred to as “in-insect synthesis,” this technique offers a new way to create and modify complex molecules, which will generate new opportunities for the discovery, development, and application of non-natural molecules, such as nanocarbons.

Molecular nanocarbons are super tiny structures made entirely of carbon atoms. Despite their minuscule size, they can be mechanically strong, conduct electricity, and even emit fluorescent light. These properties make them ideal for use in applications like aerospace components, lightweight batteries, and advanced electronics. However, the precision required to manufacture these tiny structures remains a major obstacle to their widespread use. Conventional laboratory techniques struggle with the fine manipulation needed to put these complex molecules together atom by atom, and their defined shapes make it especially difficult to modify them without disrupting their integrity.

“Our team has been conducting research on molecular nanocarbons, but along with that, we’ve also developed molecules that act on mammals and plants,” says Itami. “Through those experiences, we suddenly wondered — what would happen if we fed nanocarbons to insects?”

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The University of California San Diego is part of a new research partnership led by San Diego-based General Atomics that was recently awarded funding by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The project, called the Target Injector Nexus for Experimental Development (TINEX), aims to overcome critical obstacles in developing and scaling up inertial fusion power plants.

It is one of six awards, collectively totalling $107 million, made by the DOE as part of the Fusion Innovative Research Engine (FIRE) Collaboratives.

“The TINEX project will be important for our collective efforts to make inertial fusion energy practical,” said mechanical engineering professor Javier E. Garay, director of the Fusion Engineering Institute at the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering.

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Researchers at the University of Adelaide have developed a new dry electrode for aqueous batteries which delivers cathodes with more than double the performance of iodine and lithium-ion batteries.

“We have developed a new technique for –iodine batteries that avoids traditional wet mixing of iodine,” said the University of Adelaide’s Professor Shizhang Qiao, Chair of Nanotechnology, and Director, Center for Materials in Energy and Catalysis, at the School of Chemical Engineering, who led the team.

We mixed active materials as dry powders and rolled them into thick, self-supporting electrodes. At the same time, we added a small amount of a simple chemical, called 1,3,5-trioxane, to the electrolyte, which turns into a flexible protective film on the zinc surface during charging.

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Lithium-ion batteries power everything from electric cars to laptops to leaf blowers. Despite their widespread adoption, lithium-ion batteries carry limited amounts of energy, and rare overheating can lead to safety concerns. Consequently, for decades, researchers have sought a more reliable battery.

Solid-state batteries are less flammable and can hold more energy, but they often require intense pressure to function. This requirement has made them difficult to use in applications, but new research from Georgia Tech could change that.

The research group of Matthew McDowell, professor and Carter N. Paden Jr. Distinguished Chair in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering and the School of Materials Science and Engineering, has designed a new metal for solid-state batteries that enables operation at lower pressures. While is often used in these batteries, McDowell’s group discovered that combining lithium with softer metal results in improved performance and novel behavior.

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A new platform for engineering chiral electron pathways offers potential fresh insights into a quantum phenomenon discovered by chemists—and exemplifies how the second quantum revolution is fostering transdisciplinary collaborations that bridge physics, chemistry, and biology to tackle fundamental questions.

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A popular 2D active material, molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), just got a platinum upgrade at an atomic level. A study led by researchers from the University of Vienna and Vienna University of Technology embedded individual platinum (Pt) atoms onto an ultrathin MoS2 monolayer and, for the first time, pinpointed their exact positions within the lattice with atomic precision.

The study, published in the journal Nano Letters, achieved this feat with an innovative approach that integrates targeted defect creation in the MoS2 monolayer, controlled platinum deposition, and a high-contrast computational microscopic imaging technique—ptychography.

The researchers believe that this new strategy for ultra-precise doping and mapping offers new pathways for understanding and engineering atomic-scale features in 2D systems.

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IBM has just unveiled its boldest quantum computing roadmap yet: Starling, the first large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computer—coming in 2029. Capable of running 20,000X more operations than today’s quantum machines, Starling could unlock breakthroughs in chemistry, materials science, and optimization.

According to IBM, this is not just a pie-in-the-sky roadmap: they actually have the ability to make Starling happen.

In this exclusive conversation, I speak with Jerry Chow, IBM Fellow and Director of Quantum Systems, about the engineering breakthroughs that are making this possible… especially a radically more efficient error correction code and new multi-layered qubit architectures.

We cover:
- The shift from millions of physical qubits to manageable logical qubits.
- Why IBM is using quantum low-density parity check (qLDPC) codes.
- How modular quantum systems (like Kookaburra and Cockatoo) will scale the technology.
- Real-world quantum-classical hybrid applications already happening today.
- Why now is the time for developers to start building quantum-native algorithms.

00:00 Introduction to the Future of Computing.
01:04 IBM’s Jerry Chow.
01:49 Quantum Supremacy.
02:47 IBM’s Quantum Roadmap.
04:03 Technological Innovations in Quantum Computing.
05:59 Challenges and Solutions in Quantum Computing.
09:40 Quantum Processor Development.
14:04 Quantum Computing Applications and Future Prospects.
20:41 Personal Journey in Quantum Computing.
24:03 Conclusion and Final Thoughts.

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A groundbreaking advancement in the field of vision restoration has recently emerged from the intersection of nanotechnology and biomedical engineering. Researchers have developed a novel retinal prosthesis constructed from tellurium nanowires, which has demonstrated remarkable efficacy in restoring vision to blind animal models. This innovative approach not only aims to restore basic visual function but also enhances the eye’s capability to detect near-infrared light, a development that holds promising implications for future ocular therapies.

The retina, a thin layer of tissue at the back of the eye, plays a crucial role in converting light into the electrical signals sent to the brain. In degenerative conditions affecting the retina, such as retinitis pigmentosa or age-related macular degeneration, this process is severely disrupted, ultimately leading to blindness. Traditional treatments have struggled with limitations such as electrical interference and insufficient long-term impacts. However, the introduction of a retinal prosthesis made from tellurium offers a fresh perspective on restoring vision.

Tellurium is a unique element known for its semiconductor properties, making it an excellent choice for developing nanostructured devices. The researchers carefully engineered tellurium nanowires and then integrated them into a three-dimensional lattice framework. This novel architecture facilitates easy implantation into the retina while enabling efficient conversion of both visible and near-infrared light into electrical impulses. By adopting this approach, the researchers ensured that the prosthesis would function effectively in various lighting conditions, a significant consideration for practical application in real-world scenarios.

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Turning crude oil into everyday fuels like gasoline, diesel, and heating oil demands a huge amount of energy. In fact, this process is responsible for about 6 percent of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions. Most of that energy is spent heating the oil to separate its components based on their boiling points.

Now, in an exciting breakthrough, engineers at MIT have created a new kind of membrane that could change the game. Instead of using heat, this innovative membrane separates crude oil by filtering its components based on their molecular size.

“This is a whole new way of envisioning a separation process. Instead of boiling mixtures to purify them, why not separate components based on shape and size? The key innovation is that the filters we developed can separate very small molecules at an atomistic length scale,” says Zachary P. Smith, an associate professor of chemical engineering at MIT and the senior author of the new study.

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