Pennsylvania State University

$5.5 million to apply machine learning to geothermal exploration

The US Department of Energy announced up to $5.5 million for 10 new projects to apply machine learning techniques to geothermal exploration and production. Machine learning - the use of advanced algorithms to identify patterns in and make inferences from data - could assist in finding and developing new geothermal resources.

Novel technology aims to improve lithium metal battery life, safety

Rechargeable lithium metal batteries with increased energy density, performance, and safety may be possible with a newly-developed, solid-electrolyte interphase.

Process to 3D print piezoelectric materials

The piezoelectric materials that inhabit everything from our cell phones to musical greeting cards may be getting an upgrade. Researchers have developed methods to 3D print piezoelectric materials that can be custom-designed to convert movement, impact and stress from any directions to electrical energy.

Machine learning-detected signal predicts time to earthquake

Machine-learning research published in two related papers reports the detection of seismic signals accurately predicting the Cascadia fault's slow slippage, a type of failure observed to precede large earthquakes in other subduction zones.

3D imaging technique unlocks properties of perovskite crystals

A team of materials scientists have, for the first time, visualized the 3D atomic and electron density structure of the most complex perovskite crystal structure system decoded to date.

Wearables powered by body movements

A wearable energy-harvesting device could generate energy from the swing of an arm while walking or jogging, according to a team of researchers. The device, about the size of a wristwatch, produces enough power to run a personal health monitoring system.

Fiber lasers: unique tools for automotive & aerospace manufacturing

Automotive and aerospace manufacturers are increasingly turning to fiber lasers to resolve their manufacturing challenges.

Self-heating, fast-charging battery for electric vehicles

Californians do not purchase electric vehicles because they are cool, they buy EVs because they live in a warm climate. Conventional lithium-ion batteries cannot be rapidly charged at temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, but now a team of engineers has created a battery that can self-heat, allowing rapid charging regardless of the outside chill.

Deep learning may help predict when people need rides

Computers may better predict taxi and ride sharing service demand, paving the way toward smarter, safer and more sustainable cities, according to an international team of researchers.

Wearable helps fight addiction

WearIT is a scientific framework that uses a wearable device — such as a Fitbit or Apple watch — along with a smartphone and a web server to detect indicators of stress and/or anxiety in the person wearing the device.

3-D printed microfibers could aid artificially grown body part

Much as a frame provides structural support for a house and the chassis provides strength and shape for a car, a team of engineers believe they have a way to create the structural framework for growing living tissue using an off-the-shelf 3-D printer.

Piezoelectrics stretch their potential

Thin-film piezoelectrics, with dimensions on the scale of micrometers or smaller, offer potential for new applications where smaller dimensions or a lower voltage operation are required.