University of North Carolina

Army Strengthens Future Tech with Muscle Bound Robots

Robotic systems packed with muscle tissue can produce never-seen-before agility and versatility, Army researchers said.

Off-the-Shelf Cardiac Patch Repairs Heart Attack Damage in Animals

Researchers have developed an "off-the-shelf" artificial cardiac patch that can deliver cardiac cell-derived healing factors directly to the site of heart attack injury. In a rat model of heart attack, the freezable, cell-free patch improved recovery. The researchers also found similar effects in a pilot study involving a pig model of heart attack.

Coin-Sized Smart Insulin Patch

Bioengineers have further developed a smart insulin-delivery patch that could one day monitor and manage glucose levels in people with diabetes and deliver the necessary insulin dosage. The adhesive patch, about the size of a quarter, is simple to manufacture and intended for once-a-day use.

'Wristwatch' Monitors Body Chemistry to Boost Athletic Performance

Engineering researchers have developed a device the size of a wristwatch that can monitor an individual's body chemistry to help improve athletic performance and identify potential health problems. The device can be used for everything from detecting dehydration to tracking athletic recovery, with applications ranging from military training to competitive sports.

Large, High-Quality Perovskite Films Created at Record Speed

Large perovskite films for solar cells can now be rapidly manufactured. The new approach, which combines the right amounts of volatile and less volatile solvents in a blade-coating process, could be an important step towards the commercialisation of perovskite solar cells.

Personalized drug delivery in 3D

On a mission for innovation and translational science, Rahima Benhabbour is using 3D-printing technology and her startup company AnelleO to create a breakthrough in women's health.

Brain stimulation improves depression symptoms

With a weak alternating electrical current sent through electrodes attached to the scalp, researchers successfully targeted a naturally occurring electrical pattern in a specific part of the brain and markedly improved depression symptoms in about 70 percent of participants in a clinical study.

Better particle tracking software using AI

Scientists have created a new method of particle tracking based on machine learning that is far more accurate and provides better automation than techniques currently in use.

Blue Current

Blue Current is a US-based early stage startup that is working on hybrid solid electrolytes for Li-ion batteries. They claim their electrolyte has an ionic conductivity >10{^-4} S/cm at room temperature and a transference number close to unity.

Novel 3-D printed high-performance polymer

Researchers have created a novel way to 3-D print the type of high-temperature polymeric materials commonly used to insulate space craft and satellites from extreme heat and cold. Previously, the polyimide could be made only in sheets.

Carbon3D

IDTechEx Technology Analyst Dr Bryony Core spoke with Kirk Phelps, Product Manager at Carbon3D about the latest innovations in their CLIP and DLS technology.

EV forecasts turn upwards

From its facts based research, IDTechEx has what some regarded as over-optimistic forecasts for electric cars. However, others are now matching or exceeding our optimism.

Technique leads to broader sunlight absorption in plastic solar cells

Researchers have developed a new strategy for fabricating more efficient plastic solar cells. The work has implications for developing solar cells with a wider absorption range and increased efficiency.

Wearable system aims to predict, prevent asthma attacks

Researchers have developed an integrated, wearable system that monitors a user's environment, heart rate and other physical attributes with the goal of predicting and preventing asthma attacks.

Advancements in diabetes patch

Researchers have devised a synthetic patch filled with natural beta cells that can secrete doses of insulin to control blood sugar levels on demand with no risk of inducing hypoglycemia.

New hybrid electrolyte for solid-state lithium batteries

Scientists have developed a novel electrolyte for use in solid-state lithium batteries that overcomes many of the problems that plague other solid electrolytes while also showing signs of being compatible with next-generation cathodes.