North Carolina State University

Plant wearable patches detect diseases

Researchers have developed a new technique that uses microneedle patches to collect DNA from plant tissues in one minute, rather than the hours needed for conventional techniques. DNA extraction is the first step in identifying plant diseases, and the new method holds promise for the development of on-site plant disease detection tools.

Ultrasound aligns living cells in bioprinted tissues

Researchers have developed a technique to improve the characteristics of engineered tissues by using ultrasound to align living cells during the biofabrication process.

Nanocrystal 'factory' could revolutionize quantum dot manufacturing

Researchers have developed a microfluidic system for synthesizing perovskite quantum dots across the entire spectrum of visible light. The system drastically reduces manufacturing costs, can be tuned on demand to any color and allows for real-time process monitoring to ensure quality control.

Elastic fibre with the strength of metal

Researchers have developed a fiber that combines the elasticity of rubber with the strength of a metal, resulting in a tougher material that could be incorporated into soft robotics, packaging materials or next-generation textiles.

3D printed soft mesh robots created

Researchers have created 3D-printed flexible mesh structures that can be controlled with applied magnetic fields while floating on water. The structures can grab small objects and carry water droplets, giving them the potential to be useful as soft robots that mimic creatures living on water surfaces or that can serve as tissue scaffolds for cell cultures.

Integration of single-crystal hybrid perovskites into electronics

A team of researchers has developed a technique that, for the first time, allows single-crystal hybrid perovskite materials to be integrated into electronics. Because these perovskites can be synthesized at low temperatures, the advance opens the door to new research into flexible electronics and potentially reduced manufacturing costs for electronic devices.

Stretchy wires for the future

Scientists have teamed up to create stretchable, flexible wires that conduct current and change colors to indicate they're about to reach the breaking point. Future uses could be wearable electronics, biomedical devices and soft robots.

3-D printing to create metallic glass alloys

Researchers have now demonstrated the ability to create amorphous metal, or metallic glass, alloys using three-dimensional printing technology, opening the door to a variety of applications - such as more efficient electric motors, better wear-resistant materials, higher strength materials, and lighter weight structures.

Using drones to feed billions

As our population continues its rapid growth, food is becoming increasingly scarce. By the year 2050, we will need to double our current food production to feed the estimated 9.6 million mouths that will inhabit Earth.

New technique allows printing of flexible, stretchable silver nanowire

Researchers have developed a new technique that allows them to print circuits on flexible, stretchable substrates using silver nanowires. The advance makes it possible to integrate the material into a wide array of electronic devices, as reported in Printed Electronics World.